As sociologists Trimble and Medicine point out in a survey paper publi

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.    1 
 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.

2 
 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.

3 
 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

4 
 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.

5 
 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.

6 
 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.

7 
 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

8 
 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.

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 38 Date: 25-Jan-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

Source: 800Score GMAT Free Course

100mitra · Answer

Paraphrasing:   
  Para 1:   Survey paper published in 1966, expressed Native American having negative attitude, due to low self-esteem.
  Para 2:   1973 small group of Native American challenged 1966 survey paper
  Para 3:   Same time, Native American advisory board community was formed for same survey authenticity 
  Para 4:   Advisory board was to assist in identifying trained interviewers for data collection
  Para 5:   Advisory board was involved in survey 
  Para 6:   Participation were administered a 309-page questionnaire.
  Para 7:   Survey involves and 3 findings

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
  Wrong:   passage tone, is about challenge the research paper and re-exam the survey with proper methodology and involvement of natives
  (B) describe some of the background, methods, and results of a study of Native Americans’ self-regard
Correct: In line with the passage tone, as explained in the paraphrasing above  
(C) analyse the efficacy of advisory boards in social science research.
  Wrong:   Passage does not challenge the effectiveness of advisory board 
(D) contrast the questionnaire method in social science with the method of open-ended interviews
  Wrong:   Out of scope, this stem adds new assumption, seems irrelevant
(E) discuss the conceptual difficulties in investigating self-regard 
through groups of questions clustering around subscales
  Wrong:   Trap! I would say, indeed passage does mention about this procedure for the survey, but not difficulty in investigating.

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.
  Wrong:   Trap! Out of scope, this information is not present in passage

(B) none of the social scientists employed local residents as interviewers.
  Wrong:   Not about employing local residents as interviewers, as it 
“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”

(C) none of the social scientists used questionnaires sufficiently sensitive 
to those Communities’ distinctive cultural backgrounds.
  Wrong:   Out of scope, this information is not present in passage

(D) the social scientists carried out their studies for their own professional benefit only.
Correct: as mentioned in the passage, 
“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”

(E) Native American advisory boards, where used, were not 
truly representative of the diversity of Native American tribes.
  Wrong:   Out of scope, this information is not present in passage

3) The author of the passage views the fact that 
some Native American communities perceived social scientists as “predatory” with:  
 Sentence mentioned in the passage, indicating “predatory”  
“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”

(A) alarm   Wrong:   Not as a alert indicator
(B) suspicion   Wrong:   Not as doubtful 
(C) contrition   Wrong:  Not as a guilty for wrong committed 
(D) empathy   Wrong:   Not in tone of understanding or sympathy 
  (E) regret – Left with this option – Well Unfortunate means regrettable

4) It can be inferred from the passage that 
those designing the study wished to ensure that:  
  Eliminate, A, B, C and E, as not related to   
advance publicly known, 
hostile social scientist, 
related to sociological theory, and 
career advancement of any.

(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.
(E) any success the study might have would not lead directly to career advancement for any of them

(D) the confidentiality of any information gained would be protected to the respondents’ satisfaction.
Correct: support sentence from passage,” 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.”

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  Wrong:  
(B) a fundamental critique of all of social science research  Wrong:  
  (C) a well-supported corrective to a body of questionable assertions - Correct  
(D) the optimistic projections made by the Native American advisory board   Wrong:  
(E) a number of intuitively appealing but largely speculative notions   Wrong:

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:  
Sentence: 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? ”

Eliminate B, C, D and E – Irrelevant, there comparison is not in line with passage tone  
(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.

(A) there had been no previous research on the self-image of Native Americans conducted by Native Americans.
Correct: as mentioned in the passage, this indicates and in line with passage tone
“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”

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   Wrong:   Native Americans tended to focus on negative aspects
(B) local residents serving as interviewers   Wrong:   The idea of using local residents as interviewers was rejected
  (C) the Native American advisory board - Correct  
(D) the group of Native American professionals challenging the previous studies   Wrong:   challenged not designed
(E) the communities that were resentful of social scientists   Wrong:   not the concerned 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   Wrong:   Comparison between positive and negative aspects

Eliminate C, D, and E,   firstly its not about social scientist, it about social science research, and does not indicate about general policy, research result availability to others, and policy making
(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

(B) Social science research on ethnic and/or racial groups should be carried out by 
researchers who themselves belong to the groups studied.
Correct: Comparison between researchers of same group studied

hydr01 · Answer

Curious how long this passage took others to complete. Is 17 minutes solid?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

You can see timer stats and get an idea of your time vs other's time spent on these questions.

hydr01 · Answer

Thanks! Unfortunately, I don't think the timer stats are super accurate since they don't take into account the time taken to read the passage!

Akarshkhan86 · Answer

Hello  Sajjad1994  can you share the OE of Question 5 if possible? Thanks

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

5) The author’s purpose in the passage is most probably to make more accessible to the public:

Difficulty Level:   650

Explanation

(A) Certain innovative ideas of a group of Native American professionals. 
This answer choice is partially supported by the passage. The passage does discuss the ideas and experiences of a group of Native American professionals who challenged the negative reports and formulated the research task. However, the passage does not focus solely on presenting these innovative ideas. Instead, it provides an overview of the research project as a whole.

(B) A fundamental critique of all of social science research. 
This answer choice is not supported by the passage. The passage does not critique all of social science research. It mainly focuses on the specific research project initiated by the Native American professionals and the steps taken to ensure cultural sensitivity and accuracy in studying Native Americans.

(C) A well-supported corrective to a body of questionable assertions.  
This answer choice is supported by the passage. The passage highlights that many studies dealing with the Native American experience have tended to focus on negative aspects and negative characterizations, such as the contention that Native Americans have low self-esteem. The research project undertaken by the Native American professionals aims to challenge these negative reports and provide a corrective perspective supported by their experiences and findings. Therefore, the author's purpose is to present a well-supported corrective to a body of questionable assertions.

(D) The optimistic projections made by the Native American advisory board. 
This answer choice is not supported by the passage. While the Native American advisory board played a role in shaping the research project and ensuring cultural sensitivity, the passage does not focus on presenting their specific optimistic projections. The passage provides an overview of the research project and its methodology, rather than solely emphasizing the advisory board's projections.

(E) A number of intuitively appealing but largely speculative notions.
This answer choice is not supported by the passage. The passage presents a research project that was initiated to explore the self-image of Native Americans and challenge negative characterizations. The project used a structured questionnaire and interviews to collect data from a diverse group of Native Americans. The findings are presented as empirical evidence rather than speculative notions. Therefore, this option is not supported by the passage.

Answer: C

As sociologists Trimble and Medicine point out in a survey paper publi

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As sociologists Trimble and Medicine point out in a survey paper publi

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