Question

develop a sociological research question, a testable hypothesis, and a set of variables.
identify the measurement methods that would yield results generalizable to the student population of a large university.
generalizable
comprehensive school records are used to randomly select a sample group of 100 students, who will fill out a short questionnaire.
students passing by a campus booth are invited to fill out a questionnaire. several hundred students do so.
five students are randomly selected for in-depth interviews, each lasting half an hour.
school records are used to select 100 students from different categories (male and female, white and nonwhite, etc.) in numbers that mirror the overall student population. these students will fill out a short questionnaire.
not generalizable

Explanation:

1. Generalizable methods: These use random sampling that represents the full student population, ensuring results can be extended to the whole group.

• Random selection from comprehensive school records ensures the sample mirrors the diverse student body.
• Stratified random sampling (selecting from demographic categories matching the population) guarantees representation of all subgroups.
• Random selection of students for in-depth interviews, while smaller, still uses random sampling from the full population.

1. Not Generalizable method: This uses a convenience sample (students passing a booth), which only captures a narrow, non-representative group of the student population, so results cannot be generalized.

Answer:

Generalizable:

• Comprehensive school records are used to randomly select a sample group of 100 students, who will fill out a short questionnaire.
• Five students are randomly selected for in-depth interviews, each lasting half an hour.
• School records are used to select 100 students from different categories (male and female, White and nonwhite, etc.) in numbers that mirror the overall student population. These students will fill out a short questionnaire.

Not Generalizable:

• Students passing by a campus booth are invited to fill out a questionnaire. Several hundred students do so.