SOCI 301 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026
Nomothetic Causation - Answers a) X related to Y (observable)
b) Cause must be before effect (IV before DV)
c) Nonspuriousness - no other factors causing relationship
Generalizable
Idiographic Causation - Answers Not generalizable, although something is true for a few cases.
Unique individuals/ experiences, yes they happened but not regularly
Best research method to find Nomothetic - Answers The Classical Design
True Experimental Design - Answers 2 experiment groups: control and experimental
Random Assignment
Assess change in both groups DV, after experimental group recieves experimental condition
Quasi Experimental Design - Answers Impact on Target Population (not random)
less explanatory power more validity problems
Cross- Sectional Design - Answers Observations made at one point in time,
can't determine casual order
Can infer things if info exists
Longitudinal Study - Answers Repeated cross- sectional designs: snapshots from samples, Fixed
sample Panel designs, Event or cohort based designs
Internal Validity and Threats - Answers When X causes Y
1. Selection Bias
2. Endogenous Change (maturing/ regression)
3. External Events
4. Contamination/ diffusion (groups communicate)
5. Treatment Misidentification (Treatment does not equal outcome)
Trend Design - Answers 2 or more points in time, different samples least powerful
Time Series Design - Answers Studies impact of policy analysis, many time points, single treatment
group measured many times before and after implementation
Panel Design - Answers Same group of people for more interview, very expensive and rarely done .
Collect repeated measures from the same sample at different points in time
Solomon 4 Group Design - Answers 2 of each group, used to show pretest did not influence results,
combats validity issues
Process Evaluation - Answers also called program monitoring or mplementation assessment, did
program operate according to plan?
Efficency Evaluation - Answers Do financial benefits of program offset the cost of providing program?
Cost benefit analysis
Impact Evaluation - Answers Did program have intended consequences, did IV have desired effect on
DV
Complete Observation - Answers Subjects may or may not know they are being observed
Covert Observation - Answers Subjects are not aware they are being viewed... ethical?
Mixed Observation - Answers Eliminate ethical issues of covert
Intensive Interviewing - Answers Semi structured interviewing seeks to understand and
interpretation often open ended questions, need listening skills
focus group - Answers Group of 7-10 people, discussion led by researcher
Mixed Methods - Answers "triangulation" using more than one method to answer a question
Methodological Purists - Answers believe only quantitative or qualitative methods provide adequate
tools for investigating social work
Methodological Pragmatics - Answers Different methods should be used to answer question to which
they are most suited
Methodological Pluralists - Answers Believe social work is composed of multiple realities, cannot be
understood without multiple methods
Pretest - Answers Measure of DV prior to experimental intervention
Post Test - Answers Measure of DV before experimental intervention and after experimental
intervention. In both groups
Non-Equivalent Groups Design - Answers Similar groups (classrooms/ communities) compare treated
groups to comparasin groups, weakest type. Not exactly the same but more relateable than random
assignment
Nomothetic Causation - Answers a) X related to Y (observable)
b) Cause must be before effect (IV before DV)
c) Nonspuriousness - no other factors causing relationship
Generalizable
Idiographic Causation - Answers Not generalizable, although something is true for a few cases.
Unique individuals/ experiences, yes they happened but not regularly
Best research method to find Nomothetic - Answers The Classical Design
True Experimental Design - Answers 2 experiment groups: control and experimental
Random Assignment
Assess change in both groups DV, after experimental group recieves experimental condition
Quasi Experimental Design - Answers Impact on Target Population (not random)
less explanatory power more validity problems
Cross- Sectional Design - Answers Observations made at one point in time,
can't determine casual order
Can infer things if info exists
Longitudinal Study - Answers Repeated cross- sectional designs: snapshots from samples, Fixed
sample Panel designs, Event or cohort based designs
Internal Validity and Threats - Answers When X causes Y
1. Selection Bias
2. Endogenous Change (maturing/ regression)
3. External Events
4. Contamination/ diffusion (groups communicate)
5. Treatment Misidentification (Treatment does not equal outcome)
Trend Design - Answers 2 or more points in time, different samples least powerful
Time Series Design - Answers Studies impact of policy analysis, many time points, single treatment
group measured many times before and after implementation
Panel Design - Answers Same group of people for more interview, very expensive and rarely done .
Collect repeated measures from the same sample at different points in time
Solomon 4 Group Design - Answers 2 of each group, used to show pretest did not influence results,
combats validity issues
Process Evaluation - Answers also called program monitoring or mplementation assessment, did
program operate according to plan?
Efficency Evaluation - Answers Do financial benefits of program offset the cost of providing program?
Cost benefit analysis
Impact Evaluation - Answers Did program have intended consequences, did IV have desired effect on
DV
Complete Observation - Answers Subjects may or may not know they are being observed
Covert Observation - Answers Subjects are not aware they are being viewed... ethical?
Mixed Observation - Answers Eliminate ethical issues of covert
Intensive Interviewing - Answers Semi structured interviewing seeks to understand and
interpretation often open ended questions, need listening skills
focus group - Answers Group of 7-10 people, discussion led by researcher
Mixed Methods - Answers "triangulation" using more than one method to answer a question
Methodological Purists - Answers believe only quantitative or qualitative methods provide adequate
tools for investigating social work
Methodological Pragmatics - Answers Different methods should be used to answer question to which
they are most suited
Methodological Pluralists - Answers Believe social work is composed of multiple realities, cannot be
understood without multiple methods
Pretest - Answers Measure of DV prior to experimental intervention
Post Test - Answers Measure of DV before experimental intervention and after experimental
intervention. In both groups
Non-Equivalent Groups Design - Answers Similar groups (classrooms/ communities) compare treated
groups to comparasin groups, weakest type. Not exactly the same but more relateable than random
assignment
