A set of propositions that explain how the world is perceived is a
1. methodology
2. paradigm
3. method
4. hypothesis
A model that entails theoretical principles as well as a framework for social research is a
1. methodology
2. paradigm
3. method
4. hypothesis
Which of the following theoretical perspectives stresses Verstehen (sympathetic understanding) as its goal?
1. positivism
2. interpretivism
3. critical perspective
4. conflict theory
Which of the following theories perceives reality as experienced through the senses?
1. positivist perspective
2. interpretivist perspective
3. critical perspective
4. conflict perspective
Which theoretical perspective perceives human beings as rational individuals governed by social laws?
1. positivist perspective
2. interpretive perspective
3. critical perspective
4. constructionist perspective
Which of the theoretical perspectives listed below distinguish between appearance and reality?
1. positivism
2. interpretivism
3. critical perspective
4. realism
Which of the theories listed below perceive reality as being dominated by conflicts and tensions?
1. positivism
2. Marxism
3. feminism
4. both b and c
The notion that science is based on strict procedures and not on common sense is proposed by
1. positivists
2. interactionists
3. interpretivists
4. critical theorists
The notion that science is nomothetic means that
1. science has the purpose of helping introduce laws (nomos = law)
2. science is based on universal laws
3. research has the purpose of discovering laws
4. science aims to study laws in all aspects of life
The notion that knowledge is derived through the senses only is held by
1. positivism
2. symbolic interactionism
3. interpretivism
4. critical perspective
The notion that science is inductive, proceeding from the specific to the general and from the concrete to the abstract is held by
1. positivism
2. interpretive perspective
3. critical theory
4. realism
Which of the theories listed below proposes that the purpose of research is to understand people?
1. positivism
2. interpretive perspective
3. critical perspective
4. objectivism
The notion that explanation is derived exclusively from sense experiences is proposed by
1. positivism
2. symbolic interactionism
3. interpretive perspective
4. critical perspective
The notion that facts should be kept apart from values is proposed by
1. positivism
2. symbolic interactionism
3. interpretive perspective
4. critical perspective
The view that the social world is a human creation not a discovery is proposed by
1. positivism
2. neopositivism
3. interpretive perspective
4. critical perspective
Which of the following is NOT one of the six central principles of qualitative methodology?
1. openness
2. retrospectivity
3. reflexivity
4. flexibility
Which of the following is NOT one of the strengths of qualitative research?
1. it offers a more realistic view of the world
2. it offers deep understanding of the respondents’ world
3. it offers quick data collection
4. it offers high flexibility
Positivism proposes that
1. one should enter the research process with a positive attitude
2. positive phenomena do not exist
3. research should investigate positive phenomena only
4. one should avoid negative impressions of reality
Positivism was developed and introduced to the social sciences by
1. Spencer
2. Plato
3. Comte
4. Marx
Positivist principles as introduced by Comte entail an aversion to
1. speculation
2. metaphysics
3. theological explanations
4. all of the above
Positivism suggests that social sciences should
1. adopt the scientific method
2. employ the positive method
3. study positive phenomena
4. all of the above
Symbolic interactionism
1. helped develop the basic elements of ‘positive methods’
2. is theoretically and methodologically in accord with positivist principles
3. objected strongly to positivist principles of social research
4. is the result of positivist efforts to establish a realistic methodology
The Frankfurt School adheres to methodological principles that
1. are in accord with positivist thinking
2. are different but compatible to positivist principles
3. are contrary to positivist theory and methodology
4. are akin to the philosophical principles of positivism of the early 1800s
Marxists from the very beginning
1. supported positivism as long as it favoured the struggles of the oppressed
2. sharply criticised positivism for a number of reasons
3. were divided about the relevance of positivism for the class struggle
4. were impressed with and followed the position of neopositivists
General criticisms levelled against positivism addressed mainly
1. its perception of reality
2. the goals it pursued
3. the moral prescriptions it assumed
4. all of the above
Qualitative research is one that
1. is based on theories such as symbolic interactionism and phenomenology
2. is geared towards exploration of social relationships
3. describes reality as experienced by researchers
4. all of the above
Which of the following statements is NOT correct?
1. in qualitative research, theory is deductive; in qualitative research, theory is inductive
2. quantitative research begins with reality, qualitative research begins with theory
3. quantitative research employs fixed concepts, qualitative research employs sensitising concepts
4. quantitative research allows inductive generalisations, qualitative research makes analytic generalisations
Which of the following is NOT one of the aims of positivist research?
1. to emancipate people
2. to explore social reality
3. to explain social phenomena
4. to make predictions
Ontology is concerned with
1. how we know what we know
2. the way in which reality is known to us
3. the nature of reality
4. the methods of studying reality
Epistemology is concerned with
1. how we know what we know
2. what it means to know
3. the way in which reality is known to us
4. all of the above
Which of the following is NOT an ontology?
1. positivism
2. realism
3. objectivism
4. constructionism
Which of the following is NOT an epistemology?
1. realism
2. objectivism
3. constructionism
4. all of the above
Which of the following is NOT a part of the constructionist principles?
1. there is neither objective reality nor objective truths
2. reality is socially constructed
3. meanings are embedded within the objects
4. meaning construction is a cooperative effort of subjects and objects.
Which of the following is a principle of objectivism?
1. meanings are ‘printed’ on the objects, awaiting to be discovered
2. meanings are created not discovered
3. reality is socially constructed
4. reality is subjective
Which of the following is NOT associated with qualitative research?
1. objectivism
2. interpretivism
3. constructionism
4. symbolic interactionism
Which of the following proposes that reality is independent of human consciousness?
1. positivism
2. constructionism
3. interpretivism
4. symbolic interactionism
Which of the following proposes that reality is internally experienced and socially constructed?
1. positivism
2. interpretivism
3. empiricism
4. realism
Which of the following reflects a positivist perception of science?
1. science is normativist
2. science is ideographic
3. science is engaged
4. science is nomothetic
Which of the following reflects a positivist perception of research?
1. research exposes reality, discloses hidden processes, emancipates
2. research interprets; helps understand
3. research discovers, explains, documents, predicts
4. research is politically laden and researchers committed to and involved in it
Which of the following theories sees reality as everything perceived only through the senses
1. positivism
2. interpretivism
3. critical theory
4. constructionism
The nature of qualitative research allows only
1. analytic generalisations
2. conceptual generalisations
3. inductive generalisations
4. a and b above
The notion that human beings act towards things on the basis of the meanings these things have for them is an element of the theory of
1. symbolic interactionism
2. realism
3. objectivism
4. empiricism
The concepts of intentionality, natural attitude and bracketing are parts of
1. hermeneutics
2. phenomenology
3. critical paradigm
4. positivism
Which of the following is NOT consistent with the principles of qualitative methodology?
1. reality is constructed
2. knowledge is exclusively derived from experience
3. analysis is inductive
4. research focuses on contextuality
Which of the following is NOT one of the principles of quantitative methodology?
1. there is one reality, one truth
2. facts should be kept apart from values
3. reality is a human reaction not discovery
4. a and b above
Which of the following is NOT one of the six central principles of qualitative methodology?
1. openness
2. objectivity
3. reflexivity
4. flexibility
Which of the following is NOT one of the strengths of qualitative research?
1. it offers a more realistic view of the world
2. it facilitates a deep understanding of the respondents’ world
3. it produces representative findings
4. it is marked by a high flexibility
Which of the following researcher roles is NOT a part of qualitative research?
1. being active (not passive)
2. being interactive
3. feeling not separate from the respondent
4. none of the above
Which of the following propositions is a part of positivist research?
1. reality exists in the minds of people
2. reality cannot be objectively defined
3. reality is interpreted social action
4. none of the above
Quantitative research has been criticised for being thought to
1. restrict experience to one source only
2. focus on sense impressions only
3. employ standardised tools based on quantifiable data
4. all of the above
Which of the following reflects an interpretivist orientation in research?
1. distinguishing between appearance and essence of events is of no importance
2. quality is more important than quantity
3. quantity is more important than quality
4. both a and b are correct
The hermeneutic circle is a technique
1. employed to link the unknown whole with the known parts
2. working on the assumption that the whole and the parts are interdependent
3. resting on the notion that understanding is circular
4. containing all points listed above
The notion of Verstehen as employed in social research implies
1. psychological Verstehen
2. meaning-Verstehen
3. elementary/higher Verstehen
4. all of the above
In qualitative research, the process nature of research and subject means
1. that reality is created and interpreted in interaction
2. that reality is not constructed but explained
3. that statements collected through research are not parts of the process of creation of social reality
4. all of the above
Quantitative and qualitative research share criteria related to
1. the role of values
2. the researcher's role
3. generalisations
4. none of the above
Which of the following is NOT correct?
1. quantitative research aims to explain social life; qualitative research aims to understand social life
2. quantitative research aims to test theories; qualitative research aims to build theories
3. quantitative research is holistic; qualitative research is particularistic
4. none of the above is correct

Quiz