Reading Passage Question
As sociologists Trimble and Medicine point out in a survey paper published in 1966, many of the studies dealing with the Native American (Indian) experience have tended to focus on negative aspects of Native American life and have characterized the Native American in a negative vein. Prominent among these negative characterizations is the contention that Native Americans tend to have low self-esteem.
In 1973 a small group of Native American professionals challenged the accuracy of these negative reports. Their experiences suggested to them that most Native Americans viewed themselves positively. After a series of discussions, they formulated a research task, specifically: “What would the self-image of the Native Americans be if it were researched by Native Americans?”
In due course, an official research project was initiated. A crucial feature of the project was the formation of a Native American advisory board, consisting of community representatives from different regions of the country. One of the purposes of the advisory board was to help dispel any antagonism that there might be against the presence of social scientists in Native American communities. In some of those communities, unfortunately, social scientists had come to be resented as “predators merely using the Native American to further their own careers”.
Another important function of the advisory board was to assist in identifying trained Native American interviewers for data collection. The idea of using local residents as interviewers was rejected early on since it was felt that respondents might be concerned, however needlessly, that personal information might eventually turn into community gossip. The board opted for selection of culturally sensitive nonresidents as interviewers.
The board also had a hand in shaping the survey questionnaire to be used. Since time constraints made it impossible to devise a questionnaire that would have been sensitive to the full diversity of the many distinct Native American groups or tribes, a compromise solution had to be settled on that would tap commonalities particular to Native Americans.
Finally, a total of 792 Native Americans ranging in age from 17 to over 80 and representing more than 150 tribal and Alaska Native groups were administered a 309-page questionnaire.
One hundred and nine respondents also completed open-ended interviews. Questionnaire items clustered around 38 subscales that yielded indices of self-regard, values, philosophy of human nature, locus of control, and satisfaction with life. Items contained in the interviews served to validate questionnaire responses and supplement the questionnaire data with situation-specific information. Findings included the following: (a) at least 95 percent of the respondents have a moderate to strong sense of self-regard that is stable and enduring; (b) there is a high degree of consistency of positive self-regard irrespective of sex, tribe, and age; and (c) persons with a strong sense of self-regard also tend to have a strong sense of personal values.
“As Sociologists Trimble and Medicine Point Out in a Survey Paper Published” is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates must have a solid grip in English GMAT reading comprehension. There are 8 multiple choice questions in the above GMAT Reading Comprehension passages. GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions are delineated to evaluate candidates’ abilities to analyze and be conceptual for the answers. Candidates can brace up and take preparation by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solution and Explanation
1) The primary purpose of the passage is to:
(A) present a piece of research on Native Americans as a model for other researchers to emulate.
(B) describe some of the background, methods, and results of a study of Native Americans’ self-regard.
(C) analyze the efficacy of advisory boards in social science research.
(D) contrast the questionnaire method in social science with the method of open-ended interviews.
(E) discuss the conceptual difficulties in investigating self-regard through groups of questions clustering around subscales
Answer: B
Explanation: The passage describes that the paper came to view in the year of1966. The survey conveyed that due to low value, the Native American had an unfavorable attitude. In the year of 1973, the survey paper of 1966 was challenged by a small association of Native American. Native American advisory board communities were developed for the same survey legitimacy at the same time. For the purpose of the data collection advisory board was to help to identify the trained interviewers. Advisory board has their involvement in the survey and the participation was conducted with a 309-page question set. The findings consist of three points. Thus, option(B) justifies the needs of the above question.
2) According to the passage, hostility toward social scientists in some Native American communities resulted from the communities’ perception that:
(A) many of the social scientists focused unduly on negative aspects of community life.
(B) none of the social scientists employed local residents as interviewers.
(C) none of the social scientists used questionnaires sufficiently sensitive to those Communities’ distinctive cultural backgrounds.
(D) the social scientists carried out their studies for their own professional benefit only.
(E) Native American advisory boards, where used, were not truly representative of the diversity of Native American tribes.
Answer: D
Explanation: Option(D) fits here the best. The passage depicts that an essential point of the project was the formation of Native American advisory board. This board is made of community representatives from different corners of the country. To eliminate any antagonism is one of the sole motives of the advisory board. As this antagonism may be against the presence of social scientists in Native American communities. Social scientists had come to be disliked, like the Native American being used by the predators to flourish their own careers, in some of those communities.
3) The author of the passage views the fact that some Native American communities perceived social scientists as “predatory” with:
(A) alarm
(B) suspicion
(C) contrition
(D) empathy
(E) regret
Answer: E
Explanation: The narrator described in the passage that some Native American communities regarded social scientists as the form of regret or disappointment. The passage states that the social scientists had come to be represented as “predators” by the Native Americans. They used this term for the social scientists to gain prosperity in their own career. Therefore, option(E) stands to be perfect for this question.
4) It can be inferred from the passage that those designing the study wished to ensure that:
(A) the identity of those completing open-ended interviews was made publicly known in advance.
(B) no respondents were selected from communities known to have been hostile to social scientists.
(C) data collection was carried out by interviewers thoroughly versed in sociological theory.
(D) the confidentiality of any information gained would be protected to the respondents’ satisfaction.
(E) any success the study might have would not lead directly to career advancement for any of them.
Answer: D
Explanation: The passage describing that using local residents as interviewers was an idea, which was not acknowledged early. It was not approved since the fact was felt that respondents may get to be concerned. Although without any need, it was rejected so that personal information might eventually turn into a matter of gossip in the community. So, the secrecy of any information achieved for the need of satisfaction of the respondents, would not be harmed. So, option(D) fits best against the above question.
5) The author’s purpose in the passage is most probably to make more accessible to the public:
(A) certain innovative ideas of a group of Native American professionals.
(B) a fundamental critique of all of social science research.
(C) a well-supported corrective to a body of questionable assertions.
(D) the optimistic projections made by the Native American advisory board.
(E) a number of intuitively appealing but largely speculative notions.
Answer: C
Explanation: Option(C) is an appropriate answer for this question. The passage states that the open-ended interviews have been finished by a number of one hundred and nine respondents. The set of questions had a mixture of around 38 subscales which generated indications of some points. These points include self-regard, values, philosophy of human nature, locus of control, and satisfaction with life. Items which are mentioned in the interviews, are presented to certify questionnaire responses. It was also presented to improve the questionnaire data with information which are specific according to the situation.
6) The wording of the research task formulated by the group of Native American professionals as quoted in the last sentence of the second paragraph suggests that:
(A) there had been no previous research on the self-image of Native Americans conducted by Native Americans.
(B) reports about the self-image of Native Americans had been difficult to reconcile with one another.
(C) the group of Native American professionals had commissioned the survey paper by Trimble and Medicine.
(D) research into the self-image of Native Americans was intended to be preliminary to a larger research program.
(E) informal polls had led the group of Native American professionals to question existing characterizations of Native American self-esteem.
Answer: A
Explanation: The second paragraph of the passage describes that the efficiency of these negative reports was challenged in the year of 1973. It was challenged by a small group of Native American professionals. Most of the Native Americans viewed themselves positively according to the experiences which were suggested to them. They drew a research task after a long discussion session. This research tasks questions about the self-image of the Native Americans, if it were researched by Native Americans. Considering all these points, option(A) fits the best as an answer.
7) The author of the passage ascribes to which of the following a particularly important role in the design of the study?
(A) sociologists Trimble and Medicine
(B) local residents serving as interviewers
(C) the Native American advisory board
(D) the group of Native American professionals challenging the previous studies
(E) the communities that were resentful of social scientists
Answer: C
Explanation: The passage states that an official research project was proposed in the meantime. The development of a Native American advisory board was an important element of the project. It consists of community representatives from all corners of the country. One of the targets of the advisory board was to eliminate any kind of antagonism. The narrator described the Native American advisory board as a beneficial role in the design of the study. Hence, option(B) will be the appropriate one.
8) The passage suggests that the researchers conducting the study would most likely agree with which of the following principles?
(A) Social science research should carefully balance studies of negative aspects of society with studies of positive aspects.
(B) Social science research on ethnic and/or racial groups should be carried out by researchers who themselves belong to the groups studied.
(C) Social scientists should adopt a general policy of reimbursing their respondents for the time spent on questionnaires and/or interviews.
(D) Social scientists should make their research results available in a form readily accessible to the group or groups they have studied.
(E) Social scientists should concentrate on studies that promise results that can be utilized for purposes of practical policy making.
Answer: B
Explanation: It is clear in the beginning of the passage. In the year of 1966, the sociologists Trimble and Medicine pointed out in a survey paper. Many of the studies marketing with the Native American(Indian) experience have inclined to target wrong aspects of Native American life. Native American have also been characterized in a negative vein. The Native Americans tend to have low dignity is important among these negative characterizations. Thus, option(B) stands to be correct.
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