Social Research: Nature and Purpose

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Questions and Answers

Which question does exploratory research primarily address?

'What' (correct)

'How'

'Who'

'Why'

What is the primary goal of exploratory research?

To formulate more precise questions for future research (correct)

To provide definitive answers

To focus on 'why' questions

To address the 'how' question

What is the focus of descriptive research?

Providing definitive answers

Addressing 'why' questions

Explaining new issues

Describing how things are (correct)

Which data gathering techniques are commonly used by descriptive researchers?

Field research Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of a descriptive study?

A detailed picture of the subject Signup and view all the answers

Which type of researchers are less wedded to a specific theory or research question according to the text?

Exploratory researchers Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of explanatory research?

To find out 'why' something occurs Signup and view all the answers

Which type of research is usually the simplest and least costly?

Cross sectional research Signup and view all the answers

What is the main disadvantage of cross sectional research?

It cannot capture social processes or change Signup and view all the answers

Which type of longitudinal research follows exactly the same people across time periods?

Panel study Signup and view all the answers

What does cohort analysis focus on in longitudinal research?

Observing a category of people with similar life experiences Signup and view all the answers

Why is longitudinal research considered more powerful than cross-sectional research when studying social change?

It captures social processes effectively Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of social research according to the text?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a source of knowledge in the text?

Intuition Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of knowledge?

It is a product of its social context Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes quantitative research according to the text?

Both A and C Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a source of knowledge mentioned in the text?

Revelation Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of seeking knowledge?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of studying correlations between variables?

To identify patterns and associations between variables Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes a spurious relationship?

It is a coincidental correlation caused by a third variable Signup and view all the answers

If there is a positive relationship between two variables, what does it mean?

As one variable increases, the other variable also increases Signup and view all the answers

Which pattern of relationship indicates that knowing the value of one variable provides no information about the other variable?

No relationship Signup and view all the answers

If inflation and unemployment are correlated, what can be inferred?

They move in the same direction, but causation is unknown Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the number of fire engines responding to a fire and the amount of damage done?

A spurious relationship Signup and view all the answers

What does internal validity refer to?

The quality of measuring precisely what one intends to measure Signup and view all the answers

What is precision in measurements?

The quality of measuring precisely what one intends to measure Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes external validity?

The extent to which study findings can be generalized beyond the sample Signup and view all the answers

What does accuracy refer to in measurements?

The closeness of a measured value to a standard or known value Signup and view all the answers

In research, what is the unit of analysis?

The major entity being analyzed in a study Signup and view all the answers

Can you be very precise but still inaccurate in your measurements?

Yes, because precision and accuracy are independent of each other. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social research is a scientific analysis of social phenomena to formulate broad principles and concepts.
It involves exploring, analyzing, and conceptualizing social life to extend, correct, or verify knowledge.

Sources of Knowledge

Social life is based on a shared sense of reality, which is based on knowledge.
Knowledge is a product of its social context and varies from one context to another.
There are five sources of knowledge:
- Common Sense: relying on general knowledge and assumptions.
- Tradition: knowledge based on cultural practices and beliefs.
- Authority: knowledge based on expert opinions and authority.
- Personal Experience: knowledge gained through observations and experiences.
- Scientific Activity: knowledge derived through systematic and scientific procedures.

Dimensions of Research

Quantitative research involves numerical representation and manipulation of observations to describe and explain phenomena.
Purposes of Research:
- Exploration: formulating questions and gathering preliminary data.
- Description: presenting a detailed picture of a situation or phenomenon.
- Explanation: identifying causes and reasons for a phenomenon.

Types of Relationships

Correlation: an empirical relationship between two variables, where changes in one are associated with changes in the other.
Spurious relationship: a coincidental statistical correlation between two variables caused by a third variable.
Patterns of relationships:
- No relationship: lack of association between variables.
- Positive relationship: increase in one variable is associated with an increase in the other.

The Time Dimension in Research

Cross-sectional research: observing a phenomenon at a single point in time.
Longitudinal research: observing a phenomenon over multiple time points.
Types of longitudinal research:
- Time series research: collecting data on a group of people or units across multiple time periods.
- Panel study: observing the same people or units across multiple time periods.
- Cohort analysis: observing a category of people who share a similar life experience in a specific time period.

Research Concepts

Internal validity: the extent to which the effects detected in a study are a true reflection of what is real.
External validity: the extent to which study findings can be generalized beyond the sample used.
Precision: the closeness of two or more measurements to each other.
Accuracy: the closeness of a measured value to a standard or known value.
Unit of Analysis: the major entity being analyzed in a study, such as individual voters or college students.

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Description

Explore the nature and purpose of social research with quotes from Gopal and Mary Stevenson. Learn about the systematic method used to analyze social life and develop scientific concepts.