The Basics of Social Research 6th International Edition by Earl R. Babbie – Test Bank

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Methodology is best described as:
2. the science of knowing
3. the science of finding out
4. the discovery of reality through agreement
5. the discovery of reality through personal experience
6. the logical aspect of science

2. Epistemology is best described as:
3. the science of knowing
4. the discovery of reality through experimentation
5. the discovery of reality through agreement
6. the science of finding out
7. the logical aspect of research

3. Professor Rodgers found that the average level of happiness reported by people under 65 years of age declined from 1957 to 1970. However, for this same group, the average level of happiness increased slightly from 1970 to 1978. Rodgers also found that the average level of happiness reported by people age 65 and older increased from 1957 to 1978. A(the) variable(s) in this study is(are):
4. aged 65 and older
5. less than age 65
6. age
7. age 65
8. all of these choices are variables

4. Assume that Professor Rodgers from the previous question had studied only three people aged 65 or older. Suppose he concluded that the average level of happiness increased for people aged 65 and older.  Rodgers would be committing:
5. the error of overgeneralization
6. the error of inaccurate observation
7. the error of illogical reasoning
8. the error of selective observation
9. no error

5. Our attempts to learn about the world we live in come from:
6. direct experience
7. tradition
8. direct, personal inquiry
9. authority

e.         all of these choices