7/1/25, 8:12
PM
Methods of Social Research Midterm Exam Questions and
answers with complete solutions Verified Latest update
2025/2026
Terms in this set (161)
overgeneralize when we unjustifiably conclude that what is true for
some cases is true for all cases
selective/inaccurate choosing to look only at things that are in line with our
observation preferences or beliefs
illogical reasoning the premature jumping to conclusions or arguing on the
basis of invalid assumptions
resistance to change the reluctance to change our ideas in light of new
information
social science the use of scientific methods to investigate
individuals, societies, and social processes;
the knowledge produced by these
investigations
descriptive research research in which social phenomena are defined or
described
exploratory research seeks to find out how people get along in the
setting under question, what meaning they
give to their actions, and what issues
concern them
explanatory research seeks to identify causes and effects of social
phenomena and to predict how one
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12
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phenomenon will change or vary in response to
variation in another phenomenon
evaluation research that describes or identifies the impact of
social policies and programs
validity when our statements or conclusions about empirical
reality are correct
measurement validity when an indicator measures what we think it measures
exists when a conclusion holds true for the
generalizability population, group, setting, or even that we say
it does, given the conditions that we specify; it
is the extent to which a study can inform us
about persons, places, or events that were
not directly studied
sample generalizability conclusions based on a sample of a larger population
holds true for that population
cross population findings about one population or setting holds true for
generalizability other populations or settings
causal validity (internal exists when a conclusion that A leads to, or results in, B
validity) is correct
a social research a question about the social world that is
questions answered through the collection of analysis
firsthand, verifiable, empirical data
theory a logically interrelated set of propositions about
empirical reality. They help us make
connections to general social processes and
large bodies of research
the type of research in which a specific expectation is
deductive research deduced from a general
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12
PM
Methods of Social Research Midterm Exam Questions and
answers with complete solutions Verified Latest update
2025/2026
Terms in this set (161)
overgeneralize when we unjustifiably conclude that what is true for
some cases is true for all cases
selective/inaccurate choosing to look only at things that are in line with our
observation preferences or beliefs
illogical reasoning the premature jumping to conclusions or arguing on the
basis of invalid assumptions
resistance to change the reluctance to change our ideas in light of new
information
social science the use of scientific methods to investigate
individuals, societies, and social processes;
the knowledge produced by these
investigations
descriptive research research in which social phenomena are defined or
described
exploratory research seeks to find out how people get along in the
setting under question, what meaning they
give to their actions, and what issues
concern them
explanatory research seeks to identify causes and effects of social
phenomena and to predict how one
1/
12
, 7/1/25, 8:12
PM
phenomenon will change or vary in response to
variation in another phenomenon
evaluation research that describes or identifies the impact of
social policies and programs
validity when our statements or conclusions about empirical
reality are correct
measurement validity when an indicator measures what we think it measures
exists when a conclusion holds true for the
generalizability population, group, setting, or even that we say
it does, given the conditions that we specify; it
is the extent to which a study can inform us
about persons, places, or events that were
not directly studied
sample generalizability conclusions based on a sample of a larger population
holds true for that population
cross population findings about one population or setting holds true for
generalizability other populations or settings
causal validity (internal exists when a conclusion that A leads to, or results in, B
validity) is correct
a social research a question about the social world that is
questions answered through the collection of analysis
firsthand, verifiable, empirical data
theory a logically interrelated set of propositions about
empirical reality. They help us make
connections to general social processes and
large bodies of research
the type of research in which a specific expectation is
deductive research deduced from a general
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12
