CHAPTER 1:
1. Identify the two criteria needed for scientists to accept the reality of something they have not personally experienced.
2. Differentiate the scientific approach from the native human inquiry approach to causal and probabilistic reasoning.
3. Define and illustrate each of the following errors in personal human inquiry: Inaccurate observation, overgeneralization, selective observation, made-up information, ex post facto hypothesizing, illogical reasoning, ego involvement in understanding, premature closure of inquiry, and mystification.
CHAPTER 2:
1. List and define the three main elements in the traditional model of science.
2. Demonstrate how these three main elements are linked in the scientific research process.
3. Define hypotheses and give three examples.
4. Identify the major tenets of the three major social scientific paradigms.
5. Out line and illustrate the basic steps in theory construction.
CHAPTER 3:
1. Contrast ideographic and nomothetic models of explanation by definition and example.
2. List and illustrate the three prerequisites for establishing causality.
3. Differentiate a necessary cause from a sufficient cause by definition and example.
4. Define and illustrate each of the following errors or reasoning: provincialism, hasty conclusion, questionable cause, suppressed evidence, and false dilemma.
5. List in proper order the five steps underlying the scientific method, and summarize each.
CHAPTER 4:
1. Define and illustrate the three basic purposes of research.
2. Define and illustrate the ecological fallacy.
3. Define and illustrate reductionism.
4. Compare cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in terms of the advantages and weaknesses of each.
5. Differentiate among the three types of longitudinal studies by definition and example.
CHAPTER 5:
1. Restate the argument that anything that exists can be measured.
2. Link the concepts of conception and terms.
3. Select three concepts and develop both nominal and operational definitions for each.
4. Define reliability and list four strategies for improving the reliability of measures.
5. Define validity and compare the four types of validity.
CHAPTER 6:
1. Explain why it is important to know the level of measurement for the variables in a study.
2. Outline the conditions under which open-ended and close-ended questions are used.
3. List three guidelines for good questionnaire format.
4. Describe the role of contingency questions and list three principles for their use.
5. Describe the role of matrix questions and list the principles for their use.
CHAPTER 8:
1. Document the historical connection between sampling and political polling.
2. List two advantages of probability sampling over non-probability sampling.
3. Define sampling error and show how confidence levels and confidence intervals are used in interpreting sampling errors.
4. Explain how to interpret a standard error in terms of the normal distribution.
5. Describe and illustrate each of the following types of non-probability sampling: purposive (judgmental) sampling, quota sampling, and available subjects sampling.
CHAPTER 9:
1. Describe and illustrate with an example the three major pairs of components in the classical experiment.
2. Contrast the following three strategies for selecting subjects: probability sampling, randomization, and matching.
3. Explain how the following factors may threaten internal validity: history, maturation, testing, instrumentation, statistical regression, selection biases, experimental mortality, causal time order, diffusion or imitation of treatments, compensation, compensatory rivalry, and demoralization.
4. Show how the true experimental designs address the problems of external validity.
5. Examine the strengths and weaknesses of the experimental method.
CHAPTER 10:
1. State the response rate that Babbie considers adequate, good, and very good.
2. Restate the five general rules for successful interviewing.
3. List five advantages and three problems with telephone interviewing.
4. Contrast questionnaires and interviews, and describe when each is most important.
5. Give two examples of secondary analysis and/or data archives, and summarize the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.
CHAPTER 11:
1. Summarize the three key strengths of field research.
2. Describe and give examples of each of the following types of social phenomena addressed by field researchers: meanings, practices, episodes, encounters, roles, relationships, groups, organizations, and settlements.
3. Compare the following four roles that field researchers may play, and give examples of each: complete participant, participant-as-observer, observer-as participant, and complete observer.
4. Explain why sampling in field research is more complicated than in the other types of design.
5. Address the strengths and weaknesses of field research, comparing field research with experiments and surveys in terms of validity, reliability, and generalizability.
CHAPTER 12:
1. Describe and compare the three unobtrusive research designs: content analysis, analysis of existing statistics, and historical/comparative analysis.
2. Outline the strengths and weaknesses of content analysis.
3. Explain why reliability is a problem with existing statistics, and present two strategies for resolving this problem.
4. Discuss the role of corroboration in enhancing the quality of existing statistics.
5. Discuss the role of hermeneutics, verstehen, and ideal types in the analysis of existing statistics.
CHAPTER 15:
1. Define and give examples of univariate analysis.
2. Define and explain the utility of frequency distributions and marginals.
3. Compare the mode, mean, and median in terms of calculation and interpretation.
4. Compare the range, standard deviation, and inter-quartile range in terms of calculation and interpretation.
5. Provide guidelines for balancing the demands of detail versus manageability of data presentation.
CHAPTER 16:
1. Describe the goal of the elaboration model
2. Define partial tables and partial relationships.
3. Differentiate antecedent from intervening variables by definition and by example.
4. Differentiate the following outcomes of the elaboration model by definition and example: replication, explanation, interpretation, and specification.
5. Discuss the positive and negative features of ex post facto hypothesizing.
CHAPTER 17:
1. Differentiate descriptive statistics from inferential statistics.
2. Define and state the relationship between confidence level and confidence interval and give an example.
3. List three assumptions underlying inferential statistics.
4. Using the null hypothesis, describe how chi square is calculated and interpreted.
5. Summarize three dangers in interpreting the results of tests of significance.
CHAPTER
18:
1. Describe why ethical issues are frequently not apparent to the researcher.
2. Describe and illustrate the ethical issues involved in the following: voluntary participation, no harm to subjects, anonymity and confidentiality, the researcherŐs identity, and analysis and reporting.
3. Summarize the link between objectivity and ideology.
4. Compare the positions on the issues that social science can (or can not) be separated from politics.
5. Compare the positions on the issues that social science should (or should not) be separated from politics.