Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.
*Note: each answer should be between 500 (minimum) to 750 words (maximum), singl
*Note: each answer should be between 500 (minimum) to 750 words (maximum), single-spaced.
Document (word or PDF) should have all answers in order. Number each question according to list below.
Instructions and Guidelines:
– You must answer 4 out of the following 6 questions
– We will mark only the first 4 answers, if you have more than 4
– Each answer is worth 5 points
– Provide in text-citations of course readings when relevant
– No need to cite lectures
– Provide a title page on first page only
– Provide a works cited page
– Everything must be written single-spaced
– 2.54 cm, normal margins
– Address all components of the question
– Less than 500 words or more than 750 words for an answer will result in an automatic
fail
– Number all your questions according to list below and provide page number on bottom
right
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EXAM QUESTIONS (CHOOSE AND ANSWER 4 out of the 6 choices)
Question 1 (5 pts)
When prompted, Chat-GPT proposed the following two research designs on the same topic,
which are both flawed:
1. Quantitative Research
o Research Question: What is the relationship between neighborhood safety and
levels of social trust among residents in urban areas?
o Sampling Strategy: Using a stratified random sample, we’ll distribute online
surveys across various urban neighborhoods in the United States. Participants will
be adults aged 18 and older, stratified by age group, gender, and neighborhood to
ensure a representative sample of the population.
o Conceptualization: Key concepts in this study are neighborhood safety, defined
as the perceived safety of one’s neighborhood, and social trust, specifically
focusing on trust in neighbors and local institutions.
o Measurement: Neighborhood safety will be measured using self-reported ratings
on a Likert scale. Social trust will be measured using standardized survey items,
such as those from the General Social Survey (GSS), which assess trust in neighbors and local government.
2. Qualitative Research
o Research Question: How do residents of urban neighborhoods perceive the
impact of neighborhood safety on their social trust and community engagement?
o Sampling Strategy: Purposeful sampling will be used to recruit participants for
semi-structured interviews. We will specifically target adults who have lived in
the same urban neighborhood for at least five years.
o Conceptualization: Key concepts include “neighborhood safety,” viewed here as
both perceived and experienced safety, and “social trust,” focusing on individual
experiences and perceptions of trust in neighbors and local institutions.
o Measurement: In-depth, semi-structured interviews will be conducted to explore
participants’ perceptions of the impact of neighborhood safety on their social trust
and community engagement. Questions will probe their experiences with safety,
trust in neighbors and local authorities, and involvement in community activities.
The resulting qualitative data will be analyzed thematically to identify patterns
and draw conclusions.
Based on lectures and readings, and as an informed social scientist, identify 5 elements that you
would improve across the two proposed study designs. Explain what you would modify and your
rationale.
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Question 2 (5 pts)
Below is a research question about social media usage and political engagement among
university students. Identify the issues with the question and explain why they are problematic
while referring to at least four of the criteria discussed in class:
“Do university students use social media to engage in political activism, and how often do they
participate in online political discussions?”
While referring to the 10 criteria we established in class, outline as many issues found in the
research question and explain why these issues make this a poor research question. Additionally,
propose an improved research question and justify your modifications.
Question 3 (5 pts)
Firebaugh advances the principle to “Let method be the servant, not the master” and illustrates
this through several examples, including discussions pertaining to neighborhood effects and the
Nineteenth Amendment to the American Constitution. First, explain what Firebaugh is striving to
convey about sound research design. Second, discuss how principles such as multi-level data and
triangulation can enhance the validity and reliability of social research. Relate your discussion to
issues and practices in research design, as well as concrete examples to help illustrate your
answer.
Question 4 (5 pts)
You are tasked to do a presentation. Your supervisor asks you to focus on explaining the
difference between ‘back-loading’ qualitative research vs. ‘front-loading’ quantitative research.
Provide the write-up for that presentation. While explaining the difference between the two study
logics, your supervisor wants you to make sure to provide a concrete example for each on the
same general topic and discuss appropriate sampling plans. Based on your examples, discuss
ways that you could integrate the two examples together into a more comprehensive, but still
coherent project.
Question 5 (5 pts)
You are reading the UTSC Times and encounter the following short op-ed:
“In our fast-paced society, fueled by digital interactions and rapid technological advancements,
an unsettling phenomenon is quietly shaping the very essence of our public life. Alienation – an
escalating sense of meaninglessness, powerlessness, and social isolation – appears to be leading
to a dwindling involvement in communal affairs, and its implications are profound.
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It seems the world has never been so interconnected, yet paradoxically, individuals have never
felt so detached. A burgeoning sense of meaninglessness creeps into the minds of citizens who
feel their actions hold no weight in the grand scheme of things, their voices lost in the noise of
the digital crowd. How can one feel a sense of purpose when their individual agency seems
insignificant compared to the overwhelming din of the collective?
Furthermore, social isolation – exacerbated by our growing dependence on virtual interactions –
is pushing individuals away from their local communities and into the solitude of their digital
havens. The loss of face-to-face interactions, neighborly chats, and communal gatherings can
make the idea of participating in public life seem almost foreign, if not entirely daunting.
The feeling of powerlessness, or the belief that one lacks control over their social and political
circumstances, adds another layer to this issue. Many feel that decisions are made by those in
power, with little consideration for their input. The conviction grows that regardless of how
active one’s participation might be, the impact on public policies and community initiatives is
minimal.
To draw a parallel, it’s as though citizens have been turned into mere spectators, rather than
participants, in the grand theater of public life. The performance continues, policies are drafted,
decisions made, and all the while, the audience looks on, feeling disconnected and powerless.
Yet, the question that we need to ask ourselves is: How does this increasing sense of alienation
impact an individual’s active participation in public life?
There is a pressing need to examine the role of alienation, to recognize it not merely as a
personal struggle, but as a social issue that demands a collective response. By tackling this issue
head-on, we may be able to rekindle the sense of purpose, community, and empowerment that
could help to draw individuals out of their shells and back into the vibrant tapestry of public
life.”
You turn to your friend and say – I see a research design in there even if there are flaws and it
was written for a totally different audience.
Given the op-ed above, identify and explain how it could be used to identify:
a) A sound research question
b) The central concept and its significance to the outcome explored
c) Three core dimensions for the central concept
d) An example of quantitative AND qualitative measurement for a chosen dimension
Question 6 (5 pts)
A researcher is interested in studying the impact of remote work on employee productivity and
job satisfaction. They plan to approach this research using both quantitative and qualitative
methods but are unsure how to navigate the differences between these two research cultures.
They have drafted the following two projects:
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1. Quantitative Project
o Research Question: What is the relationship between the amount of time spent
working remotely and levels of productivity and job satisfaction among
employees in tech companies?
o Sampling Strategy: Using a simple random sample, we will distribute online
surveys to employees across various tech companies in the United States.
o Conceptualization and Measurement: Key concepts include remote work
(measured by the number of hours worked remotely per week), productivity
(measured by self-reported performance metrics and manager evaluations), and
job satisfaction (measured using standardized scales such as the Job Satisfaction
Survey (JSS)).
2. Qualitative Project
o Research Question: How do employees in tech companies perceive the impact of
remote work on their productivity and job satisfaction?
o Sampling Strategy: Purposeful sampling will be used to recruit participants for
in-depth interviews, targeting employees with varying levels of experience with
remote work.
o Conceptualization and Measurement: Key concepts include remote work
(explored through participants’ narratives about their work experiences),
productivity (understood through descriptions of work habits and outcomes), and
job satisfaction (explored through personal reflections and experiences).
Based on the provided scenario, evaluate the two research projects by addressing the following:
1. Identify and explain strengths and limitations of each research approach (quantitative and
qualitative).
2. Discuss how the differences in sampling strategies reflect the distinct cultures of
quantitative and qualitative research.
3. Propose one improvement for each approach to enhance the validity and reliability of the
findings.
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