Sample Test Questions

1. Protagonists of sociologycal theory and methodology have historically come from separate camps in part, no doubt, because Sociology, as a perspective, has evlved more from grand theory. Yet the scientific process dictates we develop hypotheses as very particularistic, testable, statements. Choose examples from the readings to comment on this seeming dichotomy by first elaborating on the essence of the scientific method and then suggest how various views on epistomology argue for or against this method

2. The application of measurement to concepttualization is the art of operationalization, thus allowing researchers to turn concepts into variables and relationships between variables into testable hypotheses. Comment by elaborating the levels of measurement available to researchers and the process by which we can examine the consistency and accuracy of such measurement. How do these static approaches to observation contrast with the interpretive approach of Blumer, for example?

3. All samples are a subset of some population. The problem is that , typically, it is not the population to which we want to generalize. Elaborate on this problem by differentiating between a universe vs. population, on one hand and non-probability vs. probability samples on the other. How do different types of probability sampling procedures address the problem?

4. Experimental design can be characterized as the control over the sequence and proportion of the independent variables(s). Compare the three types of experiments discussed in class and contrast that typology with Campbell and Stanley, in light of this definition. How does each effect the concept of internal and external validity? Why would researchers be interested in more elaborate factorial designs and how do they approach the tradeoff of including more independent variables vs. limiting the number of subjects?

5. Survey research is a dominant data collection technique in Sociology. Assess why this may be true by focussing on the methodological and social constraints that mandate and facilitate this technique. What are the steps in the procedure of survey research and how do they portend a more statistical approach to controlling exogenous variables than an equivalent experimental methodology?