Multiple choice questions
Question 1
Which of the following is a problem associated with survey research?
a) The problem of objectivity
b) The problem of "going native"
c) The problem of omission
d) The problem of robustness
Question 2
The key advantage of structured observation over survey research is that:
a) It does not rely on the researcher's ability to take notes
b) The researcher is immersed as a participant in the field they are studying
c) It does not impose any expectations of behaviour on the respondents
d) It allows you to observe people's behaviour directly
Question 3
What is an observation schedule?
a) A set of explicit rules for assigning behaviour to categories
b) A timetable of days on which you plan to carry out your observation
c) A list of questions to ask your interviewees
d) A way of testing for measurement validity
Question 4
LaPiere conducted a study of the way restaurant owners granted or refused access to a Chinese couple. This is an example of observing behaviour in terms of:
a) Individuals
b) Incidents
c) Short time periods
d) Long time periods
Question 5
It may not be possible to use a probability sample to observe behaviour in public places because:
a) The findings of such studies are not intended to have external validity
b) It is not feasible to construct a sampling frame of interactions
c) It is difficult to gain access to such social settings
d) Researchers prefer not to use random samples whenever possible
Question 6
Which of the following is not a type of sampling used in structured observation?
a) Focal sampling
b) Scan sampling
c) Emotional sampling
d) Behaviour sampling
Question 7
Cohen's kappa is a measure of:
a) Inter-surveyor consistency
b) Intra-observer validity
c) Intra-coder validity
d) Inter-observer consistency
Question 8
What is meant by the term "reactive effect"?
a) If people know they are being observed, they may change their behaviour
b) Research subjects may have a bad reaction to the drugs they are given
c) Researchers sometimes react to their informants' behaviour with horror
d) The categories on an observation schedule may not be mutually exclusive
Question 9
What did Salancik mean by "field stimulations"?
a) Being immersed in the field can help to simulate the experience of your informants
b) Researchers can intervene in and manipulate a setting to observe the effects
c) Surveys conducted in the field are more effective than structured observation
d) Some researchers find their projects so stimulating that they have to lie down
Question 10
One of the criticisms often levelled at structured observation is that:
a) It does not allow us to impose any framework on the social setting
b) It only generates a small amount of data
c) It is unethical to observe people without an observation schedule
d) It does not allow us to understand the intentions behind behaviour