Chapter 2 Approaches to Sociological Research

chapter 2 Reading Questions 2.1 Approaches to Sociological Research 1. A measurement is considered valid if it actually measures what it is intended to measure, according to the topic of the study. 2. Sociological studies test relationships in which change in one variable causes change in another. 3. In a study, a group of ten-year-old boys are fed doughnuts every morning for a week and then weighed to see how much weight they gained. Which factor is the dependent variable? a. The doughnuts b. The boys c. The duration of a week d. The weight gained 4. Which statement provides the best operational definition of “childhood obesity”? a. Children who eat unhealthy foods and spend too much time watching television and playing video games b. A distressing trend that can lead to health issues including type 2 diabetes and heart disease c. Body weight at least 20 percent higher than a healthy weight for a child of that height d. The tendency of children today to weigh more than children of earlier generations 2.2 Research Methods 6. Which materials are considered secondary data? a. Photos and letters given to you by another person b. Books and articles written by other authors about their studies c. Information that you have gathered and now have included in your results d. Responses from participants whom you both surveyed and interviewed 7. What method did researchers John Mihelich and John Papineau use to study Parrotheads? a. Survey b. Experiment c. Web Ethnography d. Case study 8. Why is choosing a random sample an effective way to select participants? Everyone has the same chance of being part of the study  9. What research method did John S. Lynd and Helen Merrell Lynd mainly use in their Middletown study? a. Secondary data b. Survey c. Participant observation d. Experiment 10. Which research approach is best suited to the scientific method? Why? Questionnaire because it uses statistical analysis to collect, analyze and interpret data and focuses on data that can be measured numerically 11. What is the main difference between ethnography and other types of participant observation? ethnography isn't based on hypothesis testing 12. Which best describes the results of a case study? a. It produces more reliable results than other methods because of its depth b. Its results are not generally applicable c. It relies solely on secondary data analysis d. All of the above 13. Using secondary data is considered an unobtrusive or ________ research method. a. Nonreactive b. Nonparticipatory c. Nonrestrictive d. Nonconfrontive 2.3 Ethical Concerns 17. Which statement illustrates value neutrality? a. Obesity in children is obviously a result of parental neglect and, therefore, schools should take a greater role to prevent it b. In 2003, states like Arkansas adopted laws requiring elementary schools to remove soft drink vending machines from schools c. Merely restricting children’s access to junk food at school is not enough to prevent obesity d. Physical activity and healthy eating are a fundamental part of a child’s education 18. Which person or organization defined the concept of value neutrality? a. Institutional Review Board (IRB) b. Peter Rossi c. American Sociological Association (ASA) d. Max Weber 19. To study the effects of fast food on lifestyle, health, and culture, from which group would a researcher ethically be unable to accept funding? a. A fast-food restaurant b. A nonprofit health organization c. A private hospital d. A governmental agency like Health and Social Services