Methods
Short Answer Review Exercises
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| 1. What is the difference between causality and correlation? Use the example from the beginning of the chapter—on the link between cohabitation and divorce—to illustrate this difference. |
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| 2. Describe one of the studies discussed in this chapter, its methodology (e.g., interviews), and general findings. Then imagine how an additional study using a different methodology (e.g., comparative research) might build on these findings and generate new questions. |
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| 3. A sociologist observes the work-seeking habits of welfare recipients. After weeks of observation, trends emerge and the researcher forms a theory about the behaviors of this group. Is the sociologist in this example using a deductive or inductive approach? How would the sociologist study this phenomenon using the other approach? |
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| 4. A sociologist analyzes the effects of social class and gender on intelligence based on standardized test scores. The study consistently gets similar results but actually measures the ability to read quickly. What are the dependent and independent variables in this example? Are the results of this study valid or reliable? |
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| 5. What are white coat effects? How might Mitchell Duneier’s work with street vendors represent an example of white coat effects? |
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| 6. Participant observation research is often long, painstaking, and personally demanding for the sociologist. Why bother with this data collection method? Use the example of Lynne Haney’s research to support your answer. |
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| 7. Surveys are complicated to design, are costly to administer, and (once administered to a sample) potentially suffer from selection bias. Why use this data collection method? Draw on the example of the General Social Survey to support your answer. |
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| 8. Why do sociologists have to run their projects by institutional review boards? What are the “golden rules” sociologists should keep in mind when conducting research? |
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