COM 240 Exam 1 – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Unlock answers
question
the science of finding out
answer
Methodology is best described as:
question
the science of knowing
answer
Epistemology is best described as:
question
age
answer
Professor Rodgers found that the average level of happiness reported by people under 65 years of age declined from 1957 to 1970. However, for this same group, the average level of happiness increased slightly from 1970 to 1978. Rodgers also found that the average level of happiness reported by people age 65 and older increased from 1957 to 1978. A(the) variable(s) in this study is(are):
question
the error of overgeneralization
answer
Assume that Professor Rodgers from the previous question had studied only three people aged 65 or older. Suppose he concluded that the average level of happiness increased for people aged 65 and older. Rodgers would be committing:
question
all of these choices
answer
Our attempts to learn about the world we live in come from:
question
what is
answer
Social scientific theory addresses:
question
Why Mr. Smith quit his job
answer
Which of the following would a sociologist be LEAST likely to study?
question
x tends to be y
answer
A probabilistic explanation takes the form:
question
illogical reasoning
answer
One of your friends scored in the 90s on her last ten exams. Although she has been studying for this exam and feels prepared, she told you, "I know I'm going to flunk this exam. I've been doing too well on exams." Your friend is committing the error of:
question
recursive
answer
A form of human interference in which what we learn about society can change reality so what we learned is not true is known as being:
question
race
answer
A study reported in American Sociological Review (1994) was entitled "Race Differences in Sexual Activity Among Adolescent Women." The dependent variable was probably:
question
Judging social values
answer
Which of the following is NOT an aim of social science?
question
idiographic
answer
Interviewing an exceptionally talented and noteworthy athlete about his physical training regimen is what kind of research?
question
nomothetic and probabilistic
answer
After examining divorce court records, Jenny concludes that Moms are more likely than Dads to obtain custody of their children. This type of statement is:
question
all of these choices
answer
Safeguards against error in social research include:
question
takes special precaution to avoid error
answer
In comparison to nonscientific inquiry, scientific inquiry:
question
variable influencing other variables
answer
An independent variable is a:
question
When serving as jurors, women tend to vote for acquittal.
answer
Which of the following is(are) a probabilistic statement(s)?
question
Occupation, political party preference, birthrate
answer
Which of the following is most likely to be a list of variables?
question
All of these choices are TRUE
answer
Which of the following is TRUE of quantification?
question
tolerance for ambiguity
answer
The ability to have two different, conflicting ideas in one's mind simultaneously without denying or dismissing either of them is known as:
question
idiographic
answer
Pregnant at age 15, Tammy decided to have her baby. Her parents were upset with her decision and threatened to "cut her off" if she did not complete high school. A difficult pregnancy and embarrassment resulted in Tammy's dropping out of school. After the baby was born her parents said that they would raise the baby but that she would have to leave the house. At age 16 Tammy was on her own and without any money or job market skills. She began to work as a prostitute. This explanation of Tammy's prostitution is:
question
deductive reasoning
answer
Steve had a hunch that female students were more punctual than males in the classes that he taught. So, he began to keep track for a week in each class, how many male and female students came in after the class was scheduled to begin. His results supported his hypothesis. Steve is using:
question
idiographic, nomothetic
answer
Qualitative explanations tend to be ___ and quantitative explanations tend to be ___ :
question
selective observation
answer
The development and implementation of simple and complex measurement devices is a safeguard against:
question
It enables us to seek a different understanding of what we all know to be true
answer
Which of the following is FALSE concerning the use of tradition in inquiry?
question
authority
answer
Fred's biology teacher told him about the "birds and the bees." By relying on his biology teacher's explanation, Fred relies on ______ as a way of knowing.
question
selective observation
answer
The analysis of deviant cases - cases that do not fit the general pattern - helps guard against:
question
attributes
answer
Female, ages 18-25, brown hair, and teacher are examples of:
question
determinism versus agency
answer
The dichotomy of scientific research in which we exert our free will or are the product of our environment is the duality of:
question
FALSE
answer
If an exception is found to a sociological pattern, the pattern is invalid.
question
FALSE
answer
Theory that is logically inconsistent is acceptable as long as it is empirically accurate.
question
TRUE
answer
Patterns of cause and effect are probabilistic in nature.
question
FALSE
answer
Idiographic explanations are inductive and nomothetic explanations are deductive.
question
TRUE
answer
The variable age has the attribute of 18 to 24.
question
FALSE
answer
A misuse of authority occurs when experts publicly discuss their area of expertise.
question
TRUE
answer
Social scientific theory aims at the determination of logical and persistent patterns of regularities in social life.
question
TRUE
answer
We can predict without understanding.
question
FALSE
answer
There is never a time that we should generalize.
question
FALSE
answer
Every observation is quantitative at the outset.
question
FALSE
answer
If you do not do research, the study of social science research methods is of little use in your life.
question
TRUE
answer
The basis of knowledge is agreement.
question
FALSE
answer
The concept of free will is also known as determinism.
question
TRUE
answer
Social regularities are probabilistic patterns.
question
FALSE
answer
Nomothetic reasoning is more useful than idiographic reasoning.
question
Structural Functionalism
answer
While doing research on crime, Professor Middler notes that crime creates jobs in law enforcement and related careers. He also notices that crime reinforces community norms when criminals are caught and punished. Professor Middler has probably adopted a _______ approach to the study of crime.
question
Theory helps to gloss over any shortcomings in research findings.
answer
Which of the following is NOT a function of theory for research?
question
paradigm
answer
A model or scheme for helping us organize and interpret the world is referred to as:
question
The relationships between government, family, and the economy.
answer
Which of the following topics would a macrotheorist be more likely to study than a microtheorist?
question
that fertility plans are a function of (or are affected by) occupational plans and is an hypothesis
answer
In a study of women the following notation was used: Y = f(X) where Y represented fertility plans and X represented occupational plans. This states:
question
Observations, pattern finding, and generalization
answer
Which of the following illustrates the use of the inductive method?
question
grounded theory
answer
Chen is beginning a research study in which he has an idea of what he's looking to find, but is letting his own observations shape the specifics of his theory. What approach is he taking to constructing his research?
question
symbolic interactionism
answer
Maureen is performing a study in which she interviews disabled military veterans about how they are adapting to being back home. She is focusing on questions about what it means to be perceived by others as both "disabled" and a "veteran." What paradigm is Maureen's work most likely shaped by?
question
Which unstated norms govern the interactions between family members?
answer
A sociologist with a symbolic interactionist orientation would be MOST likely to do research on which of the following question(s)?
question
Theoretical understanding, operationalization of concepts, a testable hypothesis, empirical observations
answer
Which of the following outlines the steps in the traditional of science model?
question
hypothesis
answer
A ____ is a testable statement about a relationship between two variables.
question
positivism
answer
The idea that knowledge is based on observation made through one of the five senses rather than on belief alone is termed:
question
Lobbyists advocate for causes that their constituents support, but benefit them personally
answer
Which of the following scenarios best outline the concept of interest convergence:
question
ethnomethodologists
answer
Walking with an open umbrella on a beautiful day or going home on semester break and calling your mom or dad Mr. or Mrs. (with their surname) are techniques used by ______ to understand social norms or rules.
question
There is no relationship between gender and jury verdict
answer
Which of the following statements BEST exemplifies a null hypothesis?
question
a paradigm
answer
Many cultures view the United States as a society committed to capitalism, an economic arrangement which they believe inevitably creates inequality. These views and feelings represent:
question
Paradigms are more or less useful
answer
Which of the following statements about paradigms is TRUE?
question
symbolic interactionism
answer
22. Sally was introduced to Robert and Robert immediately worries about what Sally thinks of him. Upon shaking her hand in greeting Robert notices that he grasps her hand more firmly than usual and quickly releases his grasp. He then finds himself chuckling at comments that he does not find amusing because he wants Sally to feel comfortable. A useful paradigm for analyzing Robert's behavior is:
question
FALSE
answer
Social scientists generally believe that the succession from one paradigm to another represents progress from a false view to a true one.
question
FALSE
answer
In deduction we start from observed data and develop a generalization that explains the relationship between the observed concepts.
question
TRUE
answer
The idea that knowledge is based on observations made through the five senses rather than on beliefs is called positivism.
question
TRUE
answer
Scientific inquiry is a process involving an alternation of deduction and induction.
question
FALSE
answer
Sophisticated positivists assume that humans will always act rationally.
question
FALSE
answer
The traditional model of science uses inductive logic.
question
TRUE
answer
While our subjectivity is individual, our search for objectivity is social.
question
TRUE
answer
In the traditional scientific method, the first step is developing a theory.
question
FALSE
answer
The conflict paradigm is limited to economic analysis.
question
FALSE
answer
The deductive model tends to link to theory development and the inductive model to theory testing.
question
FALSE
answer
Feminist paradigms focus only on how inequities hurt women.
question
TRUE
answer
All of our experiences are inescapably subjective.
question
TRUE
answer
Theory is directly relevant to "why" questions.
question
FALSE
answer
You must always have a fully developed theory before beginning observations
question
FALSE
answer
All quality social science research is tightly intertwined with social theory.
question
FALSE
answer
We always want to reject the null hypothesis when conducting research.
question
FALSE
answer
Deliberately choosing a specific research paradigm in order to get specific results is totally acceptable.
question
The systematic investigation of a problem involving gathering evidence to make inferences.
answer
Research
question
A question that describes the relationship between two or more variables/concepts.
answer
Research Question
question
Any concept that can have two or more values.
answer
Variable
question
The process of systematically investigating and explaining symbolic acts and artifacts for the purpose of understanding rhetorical processes.
answer
Rhetorical Criticism
question
Any message created by people that is the subject of a rhetorical analysis.
answer
Text or Artifact
question
The creator of an artifact used in a rhetorical analysis.
answer
Rhetor
question
The influence of an individual, group, or state in a political conflict or struggle.
answer
Power
question
The idea of responding to pressure from more powerful people or organizations.
answer
Resistance
question
Linked to critical theory and Marxism, a perspective looking at the reproduction of power relations in a multiplicity of forms.
answer
Critical Studies
question
Linked to interdisciplinary traditions, a perspective exploring marginality oppression, and class discrimination from a multiplicity of sites.
answer
Cultural Studies
question
A tentative statement about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
answer
Hypothesis
question
The come or effect in the casual relationship.
answer
Dependent Variable
question
The predictor or cause in a causal relationship.
answer
Independent Variable
Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New