Research Methods BESC 3020 Test
Questions and Answers All Correct
Define and find examples of indicators. - Answer-Like any illness will almost always
show symptoms, abstract concepts also have signs, manifestations, or "indicators" that
can be observed and measured.
Find examples of interchangeability of indicators. - Answer-SAT and ACT scores are
interchangeable indicators of academic excellence for college admission. It is very rare
for a poor performer on SAT to get a high score on ACT.
Define and find examples of operationalization. - Answer-an extension of
conceptualization and it specifies the exact procedures that will be used to measure the
attributes of variables and indicators of concepts.
Define and find examples of reliability and VALIDity - Answer-reliability means getting
consistent results from the same measure,
validity refers to getting results that accurately reflect the concept being measured
Define and find examples of exclusive and exhaustive qualities of a variable. - Answer-
Exclusive: Cannot overlap EXAMPLE: Religion
Exhaustive: Complete EXAMPLE: Income
Find examples of nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio measurements. - Answer-Nominal:
Categories: Gender, Religion, Race
Ordinal: Rank: Sports winners, faculty ranking
Interval: Can be ranked but no absolute zero: Temperature and Elevation
Ratio: Can be ranked but no zero (No negative #) Age, Weight, Income
Find examples of reliable but invalid measurement - Answer-Measuring tape to
measure weight
What is Construct? - Answer-A proposed attribute of a person that often cannot be
measured directly, but can be assessed using a number of indicators or manifest
variables.
Major Sources of Knowledge (3) - Answer-Personal Experience, Tradition or existing
knowledge, Authority or experts.
What truths are we looking for in science and social research? (2) - Answer-Absolute
Truth & Relative Truth
, What are the major causes of errors and biases? (4) - Answer-Inaccurate observations,
Over generalization, Selective Observation, & Illogical Reasoning.
Discrete and Continuous Variables - Answer-A discrete variable has two or more
logically related attributes or categories. For example, "occupation" is a discrete variable
that includes categories like professor, plumber, farmer, etc.
A continuous variable can have many values. Its value increases "continuously" in tiny
fractions. "Age" and "Income" are examples of continuous variable.
Define and find examples of independent and dependent variables - Answer-The cause
is the independent variable, and the affected variable is the dependent.
Example: Drinking alcohol makes you drunk, (babies and accidents)
How many values does a constant have? - Answer-One
What does social science research attempt to address? - Answer-Why something
happens
Define and find examples of overgeneralization. - Answer-An issue internal validity vs.
external validity
Example: "Anyone seen in a bus over the age of 30 has been a failure in life."
Define and find examples of idiographic and nomothetic explanations. - Answer-
Idiographic: Explains a single situation in great details. Case studies, comparative,
historical research.
Nomothetic: Explains a class of situations or events rather than a single one, using one
for just a few explanatory factors and seeking a partial explanation.
Define and find examples of induction and deduction. - Answer-Induction: An inductive
reasoning, moves from the particular to the general, from a set of specific observations
to the discovery of regular patterns. EX: global warming is rising sea level.
Deduction: The opposite. Moves from the general to specific, or start from general
statements and predict specific observations. EX: 10% of beaches will flood in the next
10 years.
Identify the steps of inductive and deductive reasoning. - Answer-IN - Logical reasoning
turns into specific observations.
DE - Specific observations turn into reasoning.
What are the major purposes of social research? - Answer-1. To find patterns in social
life
Questions and Answers All Correct
Define and find examples of indicators. - Answer-Like any illness will almost always
show symptoms, abstract concepts also have signs, manifestations, or "indicators" that
can be observed and measured.
Find examples of interchangeability of indicators. - Answer-SAT and ACT scores are
interchangeable indicators of academic excellence for college admission. It is very rare
for a poor performer on SAT to get a high score on ACT.
Define and find examples of operationalization. - Answer-an extension of
conceptualization and it specifies the exact procedures that will be used to measure the
attributes of variables and indicators of concepts.
Define and find examples of reliability and VALIDity - Answer-reliability means getting
consistent results from the same measure,
validity refers to getting results that accurately reflect the concept being measured
Define and find examples of exclusive and exhaustive qualities of a variable. - Answer-
Exclusive: Cannot overlap EXAMPLE: Religion
Exhaustive: Complete EXAMPLE: Income
Find examples of nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio measurements. - Answer-Nominal:
Categories: Gender, Religion, Race
Ordinal: Rank: Sports winners, faculty ranking
Interval: Can be ranked but no absolute zero: Temperature and Elevation
Ratio: Can be ranked but no zero (No negative #) Age, Weight, Income
Find examples of reliable but invalid measurement - Answer-Measuring tape to
measure weight
What is Construct? - Answer-A proposed attribute of a person that often cannot be
measured directly, but can be assessed using a number of indicators or manifest
variables.
Major Sources of Knowledge (3) - Answer-Personal Experience, Tradition or existing
knowledge, Authority or experts.
What truths are we looking for in science and social research? (2) - Answer-Absolute
Truth & Relative Truth
, What are the major causes of errors and biases? (4) - Answer-Inaccurate observations,
Over generalization, Selective Observation, & Illogical Reasoning.
Discrete and Continuous Variables - Answer-A discrete variable has two or more
logically related attributes or categories. For example, "occupation" is a discrete variable
that includes categories like professor, plumber, farmer, etc.
A continuous variable can have many values. Its value increases "continuously" in tiny
fractions. "Age" and "Income" are examples of continuous variable.
Define and find examples of independent and dependent variables - Answer-The cause
is the independent variable, and the affected variable is the dependent.
Example: Drinking alcohol makes you drunk, (babies and accidents)
How many values does a constant have? - Answer-One
What does social science research attempt to address? - Answer-Why something
happens
Define and find examples of overgeneralization. - Answer-An issue internal validity vs.
external validity
Example: "Anyone seen in a bus over the age of 30 has been a failure in life."
Define and find examples of idiographic and nomothetic explanations. - Answer-
Idiographic: Explains a single situation in great details. Case studies, comparative,
historical research.
Nomothetic: Explains a class of situations or events rather than a single one, using one
for just a few explanatory factors and seeking a partial explanation.
Define and find examples of induction and deduction. - Answer-Induction: An inductive
reasoning, moves from the particular to the general, from a set of specific observations
to the discovery of regular patterns. EX: global warming is rising sea level.
Deduction: The opposite. Moves from the general to specific, or start from general
statements and predict specific observations. EX: 10% of beaches will flood in the next
10 years.
Identify the steps of inductive and deductive reasoning. - Answer-IN - Logical reasoning
turns into specific observations.
DE - Specific observations turn into reasoning.
What are the major purposes of social research? - Answer-1. To find patterns in social
life
