Lecture 4: Check for Understanding

1. If a researcher can repeat a study and get the same results, the study is considered:

a) Valid b) Ethical c) Reliable d) Biased

2. The "do no harm" principle in sociological research refers to:

a) Only physical harm b) Only financial harm c) Physical, emotional, and social harm d) Only harm to the researcher

3. A researcher lives with a homeless community for several months to understand their daily lives. This is an example of:

a) A survey b) An experiment c) Participant observation d) Secondary data analysis

4. What is the main advantage of using surveys in sociological research?

a) They provide rich, qualitative data. b) They are the best way to understand people's subjective experiences. c) They can be used to collect data from a large number of people. d) They are not subject to bias.

5. The ethical principle of "informed consent" means that:

a) Participants must be paid for their time. b) Participants must be told the true purpose of the research and agree to participate. c) The researcher does not know the identity of the participants. d) The research has been approved by the government.

6. If a researcher is measuring what they think they are measuring, their measurement is:

a) Reliable b) Valid c) Ethical d) Replicable

7. What is a major ethical concern when using large datasets in social data science?

a) The data may be out of date. b) Protecting the privacy of individuals in the dataset. c) The data may be too difficult to analyze. d) The dataset may be too large to store.

8. A researcher who does not know the identity of their participants is ensuring:

a) Confidentiality b) Anonymity c) Validity d) Reliability

9. Which of the following is NOT a core research method in sociology?

a) Surveys b) Observation c) Philosophical debate d) Interviews

10. Why is it important for sociological research to be replicable?

a) It ensures the research is interesting. b) It allows other researchers to verify the findings. c) It makes the research easier to publish. d) It guarantees that the research is free of bias.