SCC Sociological Practice 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Sociologists who work as consultants to assess the social impact of a new housing policy are engaging in:
- Pure theoretical research
- Applied sociological practice (Correct answer)
- Historical comparative analysis
- Demographic modeling
Correct answer: Applied sociological practice
Applied sociological practice uses sociological tools to evaluate real-world programs and inform policy decisions.
Question 2: Which sampling technique is most appropriate when studying a hidden or hard-to-reach population?
- Stratified random sampling
- Systematic sampling
- Snowball sampling (Correct answer)
- Cluster sampling
Correct answer: Snowball sampling
Snowball sampling relies on existing participants to recruit future participants, making it ideal for populations that are difficult to identify.
Question 3: The process of turning an abstract concept like 'social cohesion' into a measurable variable is called:
- Generalization
- Operationalization (Correct answer)
- Triangulation
- Sensitization
Correct answer: Operationalization
Operationalization defines how an abstract concept will be measured in concrete, observable terms for a study.
Question 4: A focus group differs from an individual interview in that it:
- Uses only closed-ended survey questions
- Generates data through group interaction and discussion (Correct answer)
- Requires each participant to remain anonymous
- Is always conducted online
Correct answer: Generates data through group interaction and discussion
Focus groups produce data from the dynamic interplay among participants, revealing shared perspectives and social norms.
Question 5: Which term describes the degree to which a study's findings can be applied to a broader population beyond the sample?
- Internal validity
- Reliability
- External validity (Correct answer)
- Construct validity
Correct answer: External validity
External validity refers to how well research findings can be generalized from the studied sample to the wider population.
Question 6: In program evaluation, a 'logic model' is used to:
- Randomly assign participants to control groups
- Map the relationship between program inputs, activities, and expected outcomes (Correct answer)
- Calculate statistical significance of survey data
- Determine the sample size needed for a study
Correct answer: Map the relationship between program inputs, activities, and expected outcomes
A logic model visually represents the theory of change behind a program, linking resources and activities to intended results.
Question 7: A sociologist notices that men and women in her study interpret the same workplace experience very differently. This variation is best captured by which method?
- Random controlled trial
- In-depth qualitative interviews (Correct answer)
- Standardized achievement tests
- National census data
Correct answer: In-depth qualitative interviews
In-depth qualitative interviews allow respondents to describe their experiences in their own words, revealing subjective meaning and group differences.
SCC Sociological Practice 3
Sociologists who work as consultants to assess the social impact of a new housing policy are engaging in: