The Basics of Social Research 7th Edition by Earl R. Babbie – Test Bank

1. The topic of surrogate mothers interested Professor Snyder. Snyder read the available materials on the topic and wanted to develop an age, education, and income profile of women who serve as surrogate mothers in the United States. To develop this profile, Snyder should undertake a(n):
   a. trend study.

   b. descriptive study. c. explanatory study. d. panel study.
   e. cohort study.

   ANSWER: b
   REFERENCES: TheTimeDimension TOPICS: Applied
   NOTES: Pickup

2. Professor Dooley examined the literature on AIDS and found nothing that examined children’s attitudes toward parents and friends with AIDS. To examine this topic, Dooley should undertake a(n):
   a. examination of reductionism.
   b. descriptive study.

   c. exploratory study. d. explanatory study. e. panel study.

   ANSWER: c
   REFERENCES: Three Purposes of Research TOPICS: Applied
   NOTES: Pickup

3. If a researcher wanted to know why there was a noticeable increase in the number of burglaries in the town of Southpaw during 2005, the researcher would design a(n):
   a. descriptive study.
   b. explanatory study.

   c. panel study.
   d. study of characteristics. e. exploratory study.

   ANSWER: b
   REFERENCES: Three Purposes of Research TOPICS: Applied
   NOTES: Pickup

4. Which of the following employs the nomothetic model of explanation?

1. An examination of all the considerations that resulted in 85% of the senior class members being hired for the

   jobs of their choice.

2. An attempt to understand all the reasons concerning why five former presidents of the United States ran for office.
3. An isolation of the three most important reasons as to why men were selected to all the leadership positions at a former women’s college that went coed.
4. Listing the reasons given by first-year students for selecting the college they currently attend.
5. All of these choices employ the nomothetic model of explanation.

ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: TheLogicofNomotheticExplanation TOPICS: Applied
NOTES: Pickup

5. Analytical success in idiographic explanation can be proven with a(n): a. ANOVA test.
b. chi-square test.
c. logit test.

d. probit test.
e. There is no statistical test to prove the achievement of success.

ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: IdiographicExplanation TOPICS: Conceptual
NOTES: Modified

6. For a nomothetic causal relationship to exist, there must be evidence:

1. of an empirical correlation between the variables.
2. that one variable precedes the other in time.
3. that a third variable did not cause the changes observed in the first two variables.
4. of an empirical correlation between the variables, one variable precedes the other in time, and a third variable did not cause the change observed in the first two variables.
5. of an empirical correlation between the variables and that one variable precedes the other in time.

ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: TheLogicofNomotheticExplanation TOPICS: Factual
NOTES: Pickup

7. Which of the following hypotheses best fits the criteria of causality? a. Males have higher suicide rates than females.
b. As income increases, age tends to increase.
c. As education increases, murder rates decrease.

d. As education increases, income tends to increase. e. Gender tends to influence jury verdicts.

ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: TheLogicofNomotheticExplanation TOPICS: Applied
NOTES: Modified

8. Professor King examined all the reasons given by 100 couples for their marriages. In the final research report, King listed all the reasons given by the 200 people for their marriages. Professor King is:
   a. seeking a probabilistic explanation for marriage.
   b. using a nomothetic explanation for marriage.

   c. using an idiographic explanation for marriage. d. committing the error of suppressed evidence. e. none of these choices.

   ANSWER: c
   REFERENCES: IdiographicExplanation TOPICS: Applied
   NOTES: Pickup