Chapter 3 Ethics in Social Research
3.1 Essay Questions
1 ) Why are some groups of people called "special populations" in social research? What things must a researcher do differently when studying them?
Diff: 5 Page Ref: 55
Topic: Ethical Issues Involving Research Participants
Skill: 1...
1 ) Describe the kinds of errors you are likely to make with each of the following:
premature closure, overgeneralization, and selective observation.
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Alternatives to Social Research
Skill: 02. Recognize difference between scientific & nonscientific
Objective: 01.02 Explain limits/weaknesses of non-research approaches
2 ) Briefly describe each of the steps involved in conducting a research project. Discuss
how "fixed" the steps are and the implications of this for a person doing research.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 10
Topic: Steps in the Research Process
Skill: 05. Show awareness of appropriate procedures/techniques
Objective: 01.07 Organize steps of the research process
3 ) Explain how you would distinguish a qualitative from a quantitative social research
study, and give examples of each.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 11
Topic: Dimensions of Research
Skill: 08. Provide examples of abstract ideas/principles
Objective: 01.06 Distinguish between qualitative & quantitative research
4 ) What is the difference between basic and applied research?
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 11
Topic: Dimensions of Research
Skill: 04. Express familiarity with the range of techniques/methods
Objective: 01.04 Distinguish among goals/purposes of social research
5 ) What is social impact assessment (SIA)? How does it work?
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 11
Topic: Dimensions of Research
Skill: 05. Show awareness of appropriate procedures/techniques
Objective: 01.03 Identify types of social research & weakness/strengths
6 ) Describe the differences between exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory research.
,Topic: Dimensions of Research
Skill: 04. Express familiarity with the range of techniques/methods
Objective: 01.04 Distinguish among goals/purposes of social research
7 ) How does a panel study differ from a time-series study?
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 11
Topic: Dimensions of Research
Skill: 05. Show awareness of appropriate procedures/techniques
Objective: 01.03 Identify types of social research & weakness/strengths
8 ) Give an example of a cohort study, describing what features make it a cohort study.
Diff: 4 Page Ref: 11
Topic: Dimensions of Research
Skill: 03. Display ability to extend learning to new situations
Objective: 01.03 Identify types of social research & weakness/strengths
1.2 Multiple Choice Questions
1 ) Professor Rodgers examined survey information on people who were 65 years old and
older. He found the average level of happiness reported increased from 1982 to 2002. He
concluded that people under 65 years of age also experienced increasing levels of
happiness from 1982 to 2002. The error he committed is called
A) the error of overgeneralization.
B) the error of selective observation.
C) the error of illogical reasoning.
D) the error of inaccurate observation.
E) no errors.
Answer: A
Diff: 5 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Alternatives to Social Research
Skill: 01. Apply abstract learning to realistic situations
Objective: 01.01 Compare/evaluate social research & alternatives
2 ) What is the purpose of basic social research?
A) It solves social problems and find which policies are best.
B) It improves social programs so they become more effective.
C) It invents new taxonomies and jargon.
D) It creates fundamental knowledge about how the social world works.
E) It predicts what future society will be like.
, Topic: Dimensions of Research
Skill: 04. Express familiarity with the range of techniques/methods
Objective: 01.04 Distinguish among goals/purposes of social research
Refer to the following paragraph to answer the questions below.
After graduating from university, Samantha got a job with the county government. One-
year into her new job, she learned that a Big Corporation planned to build a huge new
factory on farmland outside the quiet, small town of Smallsville that had 2,000 residents.
The Big Corporation flew in a high-powered public relations team of five people who
showed a slick video, threw out a few statistics, and promised that many new jobs and
income would come to the county and town. Two of the public relations people said they
were Factory Site Experts. They said that in the three other locations where Big
Corporation had built factories in the past two years, the local people were very happy.
They said the same would occur in Smallsville and further study was unnecessary. Just
before the County Board was about to vote for approval, Samantha asked some questions.
How would the new factory with 1,000 employees affect the way of life in Smallsville?
Would the new factory create traffic congestion, noise, and air or water pollution? Would
the town need to upgrade its police, fire, or ambulance services? Would it raise housing
prices? What percent of the jobs would go to local people, and would the jobs be well-
paying and stable? Would there be three shifts with some shifts ending late at night or
early in the morning? How would the local schools and sewage treatment services be
affected? Would the new factory's location adjacent to the area's only park limit the use
of the park and its playground and bicycle trail by local children?
3 ) Samantha questioned the corporate Factory Site Expert's claims that the company had
created jobs and done wonderful things in two other towns, so the same thing would
happen here, so no further issues were involved. She challenged their claims that use all
EXCEPT which of nonscientific basis of knowledge?
A) tradition
B) authority
C) overgeneralization
D) premature closure
E) selective observation
Answer: A
Diff: 6 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Alternatives to Social Research
Skill: 01. Apply abstract learning to realistic situations
Objective: 01.02 Explain limits/weaknesses of non-research approaches
4 ) Based on her questions, Samantha urged the County Board to delay a decision and
first conduct a(n)
A) social impact assessment study.
B) evaluation research study.
C) time-series study
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