Social Research Methods

When forming basic research questions, sociologists develop an _____, that is, they define the concept in terms of the physical or concrete steps it takes to objectively measure it.

• operational definition

• functional definition

• non-functional definition

• objective definition

True or False: The literature review helps researchers gain a broad understanding of work previously conducted on the topic at hand and enables them to position their own research to build on prior knowledge.

• True

• False

In research, _____ are the cause of the change and the _____ is the effect, or thing that is changed.

• dependent variables, independent variables

• independent variables, dependent variables

_____ seeks to understand social worlds from the point of view of participants, which leads to in-depth knowledge.

_____ refers to how well the study measures what it was designed to measure.

_____ refers to how likely research results are to be replicated if the study is reproduced.

If people know they are being observed, they may change their behavior to appear in a more favorable and acceptable manner. This creates an artificial observation of behavior. This is referred to as the _____.

• Dartmouth effect

• Hawthorne effect

• Hollywood effect

• Durkheim effect

True or False: All studies shape the research design, while research design simultaneously shapes the study.

• False

• True

A survey consisting of yes-or-no and multiple choices questions is an example of _____ research methods.

• qualitative

• quantitative

Surveys are not an effective tool for _____.

• capturing the ways people really behave in social situations

• discovering how people feel and think