Applied Social Research Practice Exam
Course Introduction
Applied Social Research explores the practical application of research methods and statistical techniques to investigate real-world social issues. Students will learn how to design research projects, collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, and interpret findings within various social contexts. The course emphasizes ethical considerations, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, equipping students to evaluate evidence and generate insights relevant to government, nonprofit, and private sector organizations. Through case studies and hands-on projects, students gain experience in using research to inform policy, improve programs, and address contemporary societal challenges.
Recommended Textbook
Making Sense of the Social World Methods of Investigation 4th Edition by Daniel F. Chambliss
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Chapter 1: Science, Society, and Social Research
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Q1) Social science reduces the likelihood of overgeneralization by:
A) Using systematic procedures for selecting individuals to study that are representative for the groups to which we hope to generalize
B) Using explicit criteria for establishing causality
C) Requiring systematic measurement and sampling
D) Using empirical evidence
E) Answering questions from an ego-based commitment
Answer: A
Q2) When the results of a study hold true for multiple populations, it can be said that the study has:
A) Cross-population generalizability
B) Measurement validity
C) Sample generalizability
D) Internal validity
E) Causal validity
Answer: A
Q3) Internal validity is also referred to as causal validity.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Chapter 2: The Process and Problems of Social Research
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Q1) The Gallup Poll, which takes different samples from the U.S. population and asks them similar questions at different points in time, is a good example of which kind of research design?
A) A panel study
B) A fixed sample design
C) A cohort study
D) A trend study
E) An event-based design
Answer: D
Q2) Panel studies are distinguished by which of the following designs?
A) Data are collected from individuals in the same room.
B) Data are collected from the same individuals at multiple points in time.
C) Data are collected at only one point in time.
D) Data are collected from different samples in the same population.
E) Data are collected from control and experimental groups.
Answer: B
Q3) Longitudinal research collects data at more than one point in time.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Chapter 3: Ethics in Research
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is a way to ensure and protect a subject's privacy and confidentiality after a research study as stated in the text?
A) Locking up records
B) Creating special identifying codes
C) Use pseudonyms when writing up research
D) a and b
E) All of the above
Answer: D
Q2) Describe an instance where a researcher would be obligated to break confidentiality and report an incident to the proper authorities.
Answer: Child abuse or elderly abuse
Q3) According to the text, which of the following is not given special protections because of their vulnerability to coercion?
A) Pregnant women
B) Prisoners
C) Mentally disabled persons
D) Elderly
E) Educationally or economically disadvantaged persons
Answer: D
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Chapter 4: Conceptualization and Measurement
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Q1) Predictive validity occurs when:
A) A measure can predict scores on a criterion measured in the past.
B) A measure relates to other measures specified in a social theory.
C) A measure is associated with a criterion collected at the same time.
D) A measure can predict scores on a criterion measured in the future.
E) A measure is operationalized as a variable.
Q2) Reliability is a prerequisite for measurement validity.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which of the following is a synonym for the social scientific meaning of the work "operation"?
A) Measurement
B) Mechanism
C) Context
D) Process analysis
E) Variable
Q4) Develop a conceptualized definition of terrorism, making certain to consider the potential dimensions of the concept (and therefore construct validity). Write an index that measures this concept with closed ended questions.
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Chapter 5: Sampling and Generalizability
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Q1) Cluster sampling is a form of non-probability sampling.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In social research, what is the importance of sampling? Why are probability sampling techniques superior to non-probability sampling in achieving this end?
Q3) A list of registered voters in City X show that 30% of the population is registered Democrat, 50% is registered Republican, and 20% is registered Independent/Other. Which of the following would be closest to a proportionate stratified random sample of 100 voters in City X?
A) 33 Democrats, 33 Republicans, and 34 Independent/Others
B) 40 Democrats, 40 Republicans, and 20 Independent/Others
C) 50 Democrats, 30 Republicans, and 20 Independent/Others
D) 30 Democrats, 50 Republicans, and 20 Independent/Others
E) 50 Democrats, 50 Republicans, and 0 Independent/Others
Q4) A census collects data from every element in the entire population of interest.
A)True
B)False
Q5) How does a simple random sample differ from an availability sample? Which is better for social research and why?
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Chapter 6: Causation and Experimental Design
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Q1) Is it possible to determine whether a treatment led to a change in the value of cases on the dependent variable in an experiment in which there was no pretest? Explain your answer.
Q2) Which of the following includes several pretest and posttest observations, allowing the researcher to study the process by which an intervention or treatment has an impact over time?
A) Multiple group before-and-after design
B) Time series design
C) Repeated measures panel design
D) Ex post facto design
E) Test design
Q3) Aggregate matching is when individual cases in the treatment group are matched with similar individuals in the comparison group.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Association, time order, and nonspuriousness are required to establish a causal effect.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 7: Survey Research
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Q1) Group surveys differ from other types of surveys in the following way:
A) Respondents do not fill out the questionnaires themselves.
B) The cost of group surveys is usually prohibitively high.
C) The questionnaire is distributed to more than one respondent at a time.
D) An interviewer reads the questions to the respondent.
E) The questionnaire can be loosely structured.
Q2) Which of the following is not a benefit of web surveys?
A) They are flexible and inexpensive
B) Is representative of the whole population
C) Respondents can view definitions of words or instructions for answering questions
D) Lengthy sets of responses can be presented with pull-down menus
E) Pictures and audio segments can be added
Q3) A cognitive interview is conducted to understand how respondents interpret survey questions.
A)True
B)False
Q4) An omnibus survey does not need a specific research focus.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 8: Elementary Quantitative Data Analysis
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Q1) In a normal curve, about what percent of all cases falls within plus or minus two standard deviations?
A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 68%
E) 95%
Q2) Standard deviation is defined as the square root of the variance.
A)True
B)False
Q3) When researchers analyze data that they did not collect, such as the General Social Survey, they are conducting what type of research?
A) Primary research
B) Data cleaning
C) Historical research
D) Secondary research
E) Repetition
Q4) A frequency polygon contains solid bars separated by spaces.
A)True
B)False
Page 10
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Chapter 9: Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, Listening
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Q1) A reactive effect occurs when an observer alters conditions in the field simply because of his or presence.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Ethnomethodology is the study and systematic recording of human cultures.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Qualitative analysis can only follow an inductive approach: moving from data to a more general theory.
A)True
B)False
Q4) In intensive interviewing, active listening involves all of the following except:
A) Just being quiet
B) Asking for explanations
C) Showing a genuine curiosity
D) Suspending judgment on what respondent is saying
E) Probing for in-depth responses
Q5) How is an intensive interview different from a survey?
Q6) What are the roles available to a field researcher?
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Chapter 10: Qualitative Data Analysis
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Q1) Outline the general phases of qualitative data analysis, beginning in the field and ending with a research report.
Q2) When a researcher is conducting interviews and enhances them by using systematic measuring techniques, the researcher is:
A) Combining qualitative methods
B) Combining qualitative and quantitative methods
C) Employing quantitative analyses only
D) Masking quantitative analysis as qualitative
E) Being a good researcher
Q3) Which of the following is false regarding computer assisted qualitative data analysis?
A) Most programs allow multiple codes to be assigned to text.
B) Most programs can generate the frequencies of specified codes.
C) Most programs can assign codes based on key words.
D) Most programs can allow you to revise codes.
E) Most programs can identify how context changes word use.
Q4) What is a case study? Why is it used?
Q5) Describe the ethics involved in qualitative data analysis. Do these differ from ethics in other forms of data analysis? Explain.
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Chapter 11: Unobtrusive Measures
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Q1) The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 requires what of government programs?
A) IRB oversight
B) Cost-benefit of analysis
C) Needs assessment
D) Evaluability assessment
E) Some sort of evaluation
Q2) The preferred method for maximizing internal validity in impact analysis is:
A) Process theory
B) Stakeholder orientation
C) Black box orientation
D) Experimental design
E) Qualitative methods
Q3) A study specifically designed to investigate whether a program can be evaluated is known as a:
A) Needs assessment
B) Evaluability assessment
C) Process evaluation
D) Impact analysis
E) Efficiency analysis
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Chapter 12: Evaluation Research
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Q1) Despite conscientious use of sampling, reliable coding procedures, and the use of multiple measures, Melbin's "Night as Frontier" study has limited generalizability because of self-selection of subjects.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In a research proposal, in which section do you identify how you will respond to working with human subjects in a responsible manner?
A) The introductory statement
B) The literature review
C) The methodological plan
D) The ethics statement
E) The statement of limitations
Q3) In a research report, in which section do you summarize findings and draw implications for the theoretical framework used?
A) The introductory statement
B) The findings section
C) The discussion section
D) The conclusion section
E) The appendixes
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