Quiz
1. What is representativeness in research?
a) The extent to which the sample reflects the broader population
b) The ability to conduct experiments
c) The number of participants in a study
d) The cost of research
2. What is a case study?
a) A survey method for large populations
b) A research technique investigating a specific group or case
c) A type of longitudinal study
d) A method used only for qualitative data
3. Which of the following is a strength of case studies?
a) High generalizability
b) Large sample sizes
c) Detailed, rich data from a specific group
d) Low cost for large groups
4. What is a limitation of case studies?
a) High cost for small groups
b) High generalizability
c) Detailed data collection
d) Quick data collection
5. What type of data do cross-sectional surveys capture?
a) Data over long periods
b) Snapshot of behavior at a single point in time
c) Data from a single participant
d) Historical data
6. Which method focuses on understanding a group’s cultural meanings and behaviors?
a) Case Study
b) Ethnography
c) Longitudinal Study
d) Social Survey
7. What is a key characteristic of longitudinal studies?
a) Studying different groups at one time
b) Tracking changes over a long period
c) Gathering data from a single point in time
d) Observing a single event
8. Which of the following is an example of methodological triangulation?
a) Using multiple researchers to validate findings
b) Combining quantitative and qualitative data
c) Collecting data from various sources
d) Comparing questionnaire and observation results
9. What does the interpretivist approach in sociology emphasize?
a) Objectivity and scientific methods
b) Understanding meanings and experiences
c) Predicting social behaviors
d) Large-scale quantitative data
10. What is a common method used in interpretivist research?
a) Structured interviews
b) Statistical analysis
c) Participant observation
d) Experiments
11. Which approach argues that social behavior can be studied with scientific methods
similar to natural sciences?
a) Interpretivism
b) Positivism
c) Phenomenology
d) Constructivism
12. What does the positivist approach prioritize in research?
a) Validity
b) Subjective understanding
c) Objectivity and reliability
d) Personal values
13. What is the main goal of positivist research?
a) To describe social phenomena
b) To uncover general rules or laws of human behavior
c) To understand subjective experiences
d) To explore personal meanings
14. What is the focus of qualitative cross-sectional surveys?
a) Analyzing numerical data
b) Illustrating specific behaviors or characteristics
c) Tracking changes over time
d) Comparing different groups
15. In which study did Erving Goffman use participant observation to study a mental
institution?
a) Asylums
b) The British Cohort Study
c) The Unification Church
d) The Suicide Study
16. What is methodological pluralism?
a) Using multiple research methods within a single study
b) Applying a single method repeatedly
c) Focusing only on quantitative data
d) Emphasizing subjective interpretations
17. Which principle of the scientific ethos involves sharing knowledge publicly?
a) Universalism
b) Communalism
c) Disinterestedness
d) Skepticism
18. What does the term "verstehen" refer to in interpretivism?
a) Objective measurement of data
b) Understanding through empathy and perspective
c) Statistical analysis
d) Reliable replication of results
19. What is the main advantage of using mixed methods in research?
a) Reducing data complexity
b) Improving reliability and validity
c) Simplifying data analysis
d) Minimizing research costs
20. What does a longitudinal study track?
a) Short-term changes in a group
b) Single-point data collection
c) Long-term changes in a representative sample
d) Qualitative data from multiple sources
21. What is a limitation of longitudinal studies?
a) High cost for small samples
b) High sample attrition
c) Difficulty in tracking changes
d) Inability to analyze large data sets
22. What approach argues that complete objectivity is unachievable in sociology?
a) Positivism
b) Interpretivism
c) Quantitative Methodology
d) Methodological Pluralism
23. In positivist research, what is the focus on data collection?
a) Subjective interpretations
b) Quantitative measurements
c) Participant experiences
d) Cultural meanings
24. What does the term "social reality" mean in interpretivism?
a) Objective measurements of behavior
b) Constructed through interactions and meanings
c) Observable phenomena
d) Predictable patterns of behavior
25. What is the primary goal of ethnography?
a) Collecting large-scale data
b) Analyzing numerical data
c) Achieving an in-depth understanding of social practices
d) Testing hypotheses
26. Which approach emphasizes validity over reliability?
a) Positivism
b) Interpretivism
c) Longitudinal Studies
d) Mixed Methods
27. What type of data do quantitative cross-sectional surveys primarily focus on?
a) Descriptive data
b) Numerical data
c) Cultural meanings
d) Personal experiences
28. What does "social surveys" involve?
a) Observing individuals in natural settings
b) Collecting data from a large number of people
c) Studying small groups in detail
d) Analyzing historical data
29. Which principle of the scientific ethos is concerned with avoiding personal or
financial bias?
a) Universalism
b) Communalism
c) Disinterestedness
d) Skepticism
30. What is an example of a longitudinal study?
a) Durkheim’s study of suicide
b) Westwood’s study of factory workers
c) The British Cohort Study
d) Barker’s study of the Unification Church
31. What is the main purpose of triangulation in research?
a) To ensure methodological consistency
b) To improve reliability and validity by using multiple methods
c) To reduce research costs
d) To simplify data collection
32. What does "data triangulation" involve?
a) Using different research methods
b) Collecting data from various sources and contexts
c) Multiple researchers validating findings
d) Combining qualitative and quantitative data
33. Which research method focuses on the meanings people attach to their behavior?
a) Ethnography
b) Case Study
c) Social Survey
d) Longitudinal Study
34. What is a major strength of case studies?
a) Large sample size
b) High generalizability
c) Detailed and rich data
d) Low cost
35. What is the main characteristic of cross-sectional surveys?
a) Tracking changes over time
b) Capturing a snapshot of behavior at a single time
c) Collecting data from multiple sources
d) In-depth participant observation
36. What does the interpretivist approach prioritize in research?
a) Reliability
b) Objectivity
c) Validity
d) Generalizability
37. What method did Barker use in his study of the Unification Church?
a) Ethnography
b) Case Study
c) Longitudinal Study
d) Social Survey
38. What is the purpose of using methodological pluralism?
a) To apply a single method consistently
b) To balance strengths and weaknesses of different methods
c) To simplify research processes
d) To avoid using qualitative data
39. What is a key characteristic of ethnography?
a) Large sample sizes
b) High cost
c) Detailed observation in natural settings
d) High level of statistical analysis
40. What does the positivist approach in sociology aim to uncover?
a) Subjective meanings
b) Personal experiences
c) General rules or laws of human behavior
d) Cultural contexts
