COMM 710
equation for z for an individual score
z is the z score; ⎼X is the individual score; ⎼μis the population mean ⎼s is the distribution standard deviation z=x-μ / s
Characteristics of the normal curve:
⎼Mean, median, and mode are equal to one another .⎼Perfectly symmetrical about the mean ⎼Tails are asymptotic (get closer to horizontal axis but never touch it)
The mode is always a category or score, not a _________
frequency
Which of the following is(are) aimed primarily at explanation? - Univariate - Multivariate analysis - Bivariate analysis - Only multivariate and bivariate analyses are aimed at explanation
Only multivariate and bivariate analyses are aimed at explanation
What are the characters of a good hypothesis?
- Be stated in declarative form ⎼Posit a relationship between variables, ⎼Reflect a theory or a body of literature on which they are based ⎼Be brief and to the point, and ⎼Be testable.
Certain guidelines should be kept in mind when coding. Among these is (are) the following - The coding scheme should be appropriate to the analysis intended in the study - The coding scheme should be appropriate to the theoretical concepts being examined - The reliability of the coder(s) should always be verified - Code categories should be both mutually exclusive and exhaustive
- Code categories should be both mutually exclusive and exhaustive
Which of the following is NOT TRUE of paradigms? -Paradigms shape the kinds of observations we are likely to make -Paradigms determine the kinds of facts we will discover -Paradigms shape the conclusions that we draw from facts -Paradigms determine whether we look at micro or macro concerns -Paradigms are selected by a researcher to achieve desired results
-Paradigms are selected by a researcher to achieve desired results
Which of the following topics would a macrotheory be more likely to explain than a microtheory? -The effect of the judges' instructions on jury deliberations -The relationships between government, family and the economy -The grandparent-grandchild relationship -Student-faculty interactions -Dating behaviors
-The relationships between government, family and the economy
Which of the following is NOT a function of theory for research? -Theory helps to prevent our being taken in by flukes -Theory helps to gloss over any shortcomings in research findings -Theory helps us to make sense out of observed patterns -Theory shapes and directs research efforts -Theory helps us to explain occurances
-Theory helps to gloss over any shortcomings in research findings
What are the two types of hypotheses?
1) Research hypothesis 2) Null hypothesis
Which of the following distributions has the largest variability? scores: 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 scores: 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 scores: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 scores: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
1, 3, 6, 9, and 12
Contingency tables can be used to present and describe:
Bivariate and multivariate relationships
The College of Arts and Science at Delta University has nine departments. The number of faculty in each department is shown below. What is the mean number of faculty in College of Arts and Science?8, 12, 9, 15, 17, 11, 13, 14, 7
11.8
The College of Arts and Science at Delta University has nine departments. The number of faculty in each department is shown below. What is the median number of faculty in the College of Arts and Science?8, 12, 9, 15, 17, 11, 13, 14, 7
12
Given the following age distribution, the mean is _____.18, 33, 7, 32, 6, 5, 4
15
Given the following age distribution, the range is _____.12, 15, 8, 17, 34, 43, 2, 16, 43, 3
2 to 43
What must the sample size be higher than to have a normal curve on a distribution of sample means graph?
30
A psychologist records the number of bar presses by a group of rats (N = 8) to receive food. This is only a portion of rats the researcher is interested in. The psychologist records the following number of bar presses: 5, 3, 8, 2, 9, 7, 4, and 5.What is the mean of the number of bar presses?
5.37
Given a mean of 12 and a standard deviation of 2, we can conclude:
68 percent of cases are between 10 and 14
A teacher is entering her student's exam score into an online gradebook. After calculating the mean (M = 86), she remembers that each student had turned in an assignment which earned them 5 bonus points added to their overall exam score.If the teacher adjusts each student's score, what is will be the new mean?
91
What is the Z score?
A standard score that is the result of dividing the amount that a raw score differs from the mean of the sample scores by the standard deviation (Tells us where our raw scores fall)
Which of the following statistics can be calculated on continuous data? - Mean - Median - Standard deviation - All of the above
All of the above
Which of the following statements about data entry is FALSE? - There are many ways to enter data on the computer - Optical scan sheets can be fed into machines that convert the marks into data - Data entry can sometimes occur in the process of data collection - All of these choices are TRUE
All of these choices are TRUE
An example of multivariate analysis would be:
An analysis of the relationship between age, sex, and type of nightspot frequented in a givencity in the Midwest
What is the difference between applied sociology and pure sociology? -There is no difference. -Applied sociology research doesn't use social theory. -Pure sociology research doesn't use social theory. -Pure sociology research aims to reform society. -Applied sociology research aims to reform society.
Applied sociology research aims to reform society.
What shape is the normal distribution of the Sample Means on a graph?
Bell shape
Marco wants to conduct a research study to determine if students living a campus feel more or less safe than those who live off campus. At the most basic level, he should use _____.
Bivariate Analysis
Looking at your data and frequency distribution, you find that a variable labeled LEVEL has only whole number values between 1 and 5. You can conclude that the variable a(n):
Discrete variable
Construction of explanatory bivariate tables involves:
Dividing cases into the appropriate subgroups, describing each subgroup in terms of a given variable, and comparing those descriptions across subgroups
"Researchers should refrain from participating in public debates because their personal opinions can interfere with their research. T/F
FALSE
A univariate analysis examines the distribution of cases on one or more variables.
False
A univariate analysis examines the distribution of cases on one or more variables. T/F
False
Bivariate and multivariate analyses use dependent variables to explain independent variables.
False
Coding should always begin with a relatively well-developed coding scheme derived from your research purpose.
False
Deliberately choosing a specific research paradigm in order to get specific results is totally acceptable T/F
False
Every observation is quantitative at the outset T/F
False
Frequency distributions indicate the number of times that variables are observed.
False
In deduction we start from observed data and develop a generalization that explains the relationship between the observed concepts. T/F
False
In multivariate analysis a second depended variable is added.
False
Nomothic reasoning is more usefyl than idiographic reasoning T/F
False
Quantitative data coding is always a simple and straightforward process.
False
Quantitative research with a single researcher need not construct a codebook. T/F
False
The "don't know" category should always be excluded from analysis.
False
The mean describes data that are positively skewed. TrueFalse
False
The mean is a particularly useful statistic when there is a great disparity in a distribution.
False
The traditional model of science uses inductive logic. T/F
False
Ultimately, there is only one way to properly code a variable.
False
When analyzing quantitative data, you can increase the detail of a variable collected at a more general level via coding.
False
When coding and analyzing data, you always want to have your numbers as specific as possible.
False
Methodology might be called the science of _______-
Finding out - procedures of scientific investigation
A description of the number of times that the various attributes of a variable are observed in a sample is called a _____.
Frequency distribution
In reading a table that someone else has constructed, the rule of thumb is:
If the table is percentaged down, read across, and if the table is percentaged across, read down
Which of the following scenarios best outlines the concept of interest convergence? -Lobbyists advocate for positions that help their constituency. -Lobbyists lobby for causes that they think is a good idea. -Lobbyists advocate for causes that their constituency supports the most. -Lobbyists lobby for causes that they dislike for the sake of their constituency. -Lobbyists advocate for causes that their constituents support, but benefit them personally.
Lobbyists advocate for causes that their constituents support, but benefit them personally.
Categories or scores that describe what is average or typical of thedistribution.
Measures of central tendency
When summarizing heavily skewed data, the best measure of central tendency is:
Median
When summarizing heavily skewed data, the best measure of central tendency is: median. mean. mode. standard deviation. correlation.
Median
A friend of yours assigned a code of 1 to "male" and a code of 2 to "female" on the variable sex. Your friend asked the computer to compute the average score on sex. The computer printout contained the following information: mean=1.38, standard deviation=.43, median=1.4, and mode=1.0. You advise your friend that the best measure(s) of central tendency is(are) _____.
Mode
The category or score with the highest frequency (or percentage) in the distribution.
Mode
The most frequently occurring attribute, in either grouped or ungrouped data, is the _____.
Mode
Which of the following measures of central tendency can be used for any level of measurement? - Mean - Mode - Median - Standard deviation
Mode
Which of the following would a sociologist be LEAST likely to study? -Crime rates increasing in rural areas -The incidence of child abuse in middle-income families -Mr. Smith quitting his job -The incidence of unemployment among white-collar workers -Difference in unemployment rates between black teens and white teens
Mr. Smith quitting his job
What are the two types of research hypotheses?
NonDirectional - which reflects a difference but the direction is not specified Directional - reflects a difference that is specified
A friend showed you the following table: Total Arrests in Orlando in 2005 by Type of Crime and Sex TYPE OF CRIME Male FemaleViolent: 20% 30% Property: 80% 70% Total: (800) (400) No answer: (20) (20) What guideline in table construction does this table violate? - Tables should have a succinct heading - The attributes of each variable should be clearly indicated - The base for percentages should be included in the table - None of these guidelines are violated in the table
None of these guidelines are violated in the table
What is the difference between the Null Hypothesis and the research hypothesis?
Null = no relationship between variables, refers to the population indirectly tested Research = relationship between variables, refers to the sample, directly tested
Which of the following is most likely to be a list of variables? Female, Jewish, educational level Plumber, professor, dentist Occupation, political party preference, birthrate 21, violent, social class Dishonest, conservative, farmer
Occupation, political party preference, birthrate
Sampling Error Equation
SEM = SD / Square root of N
A psychologist records the number of bar presses by a group of rats (N = 8) to receive food. This is only a portion of rats the researcher is interested in. The psychologist records the following number of bar presses: 5, 3, 8, 2, 9, 7, 4, and 5. What type of mean should the psychologist compute?
Sample mean
You are helping code one of your professors' data. You are coding occupation and notice that there is no code for a respondent's indicated occupation. Which of the following statements would be correct in relating the problem to the professor? - The coding scheme for occupation is not mutually exclusive - The lack of code for this particular occupation signals a mismatch between the data and the coding scheme - The coding scheme for occupation is exhaustive - The coding scheme is not a good scheme
The coding scheme for occupation is not mutually exclusive
The end of the product of the coding process in quantitative analysis refers to:
The conversion of data items into numerical codes
A measure of dispersion describes:
The distribution of values around some central value
In a perfect normal distribution:
The mean, median, and mode are all equal
A friend showed you the following table: Total Arrests in Orlando in 2005 by Type of Crime and Sex SEX TYPE OF CRIME MALE FEMALE Violent 20% 30% Property 80% 70% Total 100% 100% (800) (400) No answer = (20) (20) What guideline in table construction does this table violate? Tables should have a succinct heading. The attributes of each variable should be clearly indicated. The base for percentages should be included in the table. The number of missing cases should be indicated in the table. The table doesn't violate any guidelines.
The table doesn't violate any guidelines.
What does the null hypothesis state?
There is no relationship between variables
what is agreement reality?
Those things we "know" as part and parcel of the culture we share with those around us.
A bivariate table is read by comparing the independent variable subgroups with one another in terms of a given attribute of the dependent variable.
True
A codebook is a guide for locating variables and interpreting codes in one's data file. T/F
True
A nominal variable is a discrete variable.
True
Always include the number of cases omitted from a bivariate analysis because of missing data in the table.
True
Bivariate and multivariate analyses are aimed primarily at explanation.
True
Social regularities are probabilistic patterns. T/F
True
Standard error of the mean (SEM) is equal to the standard deviation of the distribution of sample means T/F
True
The variable age has the attribute of 18 to 24. T/F
True
Theory is directly relevant to "why" questions T/F
True
Whereas univariate analysis and subgroup comparisons focus on the descriptions of the people under study, the focus of most of the bivariate analysis is on the relationships among the variables themselves.
True
Whereas univariate analysis and subgroup comparisons focus on the descriptions of the people under study, the focus of most of the bivariate analysis is on the relationships among the variables themselves. T/F
True
The mean of the distribution of sample means is always equal to the mean of the population T/F
True!
Inferential statistics
Using sample statistics to infer population parameters
Professor Wilton decided to test whether blonds have more fun. Wilton surveyed 600 people and obtained the following results: HAIR COLORFUN Blondes Nonblondes Total Report fun: 250 50 300 Report no fun: 150 150 300 Total: 400 200 600 The BEST way(s) to percentage this table is(are):
Within columns, down
A codebook contains the following information: COLUMNS DESCRIPTION 1-4 Case Number (a random identification number between 0001 and 9999) 4 Sex 1=Male 2=Female 5 Metropolitan Area of Residence 1=New York 2=Boston 3=Baltimore/Washington DC 4=Atlanta 5=Orlando 6=Tampa 7=Miami 8=Unknown 9=Missing Following this codebook, an individual assigned the number 283921 is: the 2839th participant that is female residing in New York. the 2839th participant that is male residing in Boston. a female participant residing in Boston assigned the ID number 2839. a male participant residing in New York. a female participant residing in New York.
a female participant residing in New York.
What does a research hypothesis say?
a statement of inequality
An example of multivariate analysis would be: an analysis of the ages of all women who are corporate executives. an analysis of the relationship between age, sex, and type of nightspot frequented in a given city in the Midwest. an analysis of the relationship that exists between types of undergraduate major and positions held in business. an analysis of the relationship between type of offense and length of prison sentence for those who had a jury trial. an analysis of the occupations of all the members of a book group.
an analysis of the relationship between age, sex, and type of nightspot frequented in a given city in the Midwest.
As a note of caution, when data are ordinal, averaging the middle two scores is no longer appropriate. The median simply
falls between two middle values.
Numbers that describe what is average or typical of the distribution are called measures of
central tendency.
A description of the number of times that the various attributes of a variable are observed in a sample is called a _____. frequency distribution mean measure of dispersion contingency table multivariable table
frequency distribution
Pregnant at age 15, Tammy decided to have her baby. Her parents were upset with her decision and threatened to "cut her off" if she did not complete high school. A difficult pregnancy and embarrassment resulted in Tammy dropping out of school. After the baby was born, her parents said that they would raise the baby but that she would have to leave the house. At age 16, Tammy was on her own and without any money or job market skills. She began to work as a prostitute. This explanation of Tammy's prostitution is: idiographic. nomothetic. probabilistic. quantitative. based on agreements.
idiographic.
A researcher's monkeys are driving her bananas. She is trying to find the mean for how many bananas each monkey eats. At first, she calculates the mean to be 9; however, as soon as she does, a monkey eats another banana for a total of 11. While updating the mean, another monkey eats a banana for a total of 2. During this time, in what ways did the mean change?
increased, increased
A college professor is having a problem entering student's grades into an online gradebook. At first, he calculates the mean to be 78; however, he notices that he is missing a score of 89. Once he inputs this value, the mean is now 82. He then notices that he put two of the same score of 82, so he deletes one and then adds the proper score of 76. Finally, he believes his gradebook is in order. Throughout this process, in what ways did the mean change?
increased, no change, decreased
The range of scores between the upper and lower quartiles of a distribution is called themedian quartiles percentiles interquartile range
interquartile range
Epistemology is the science of _________
knowing - systems of knowledge
A grade school teacher measures the height (in inches) of her students for a class project. The scores of her 12 students are 45, 41, 47, 41, 43, 41, 40, 42, 48, 39, 47, and 48. Which measure of central tendency is most appropriate for describing these data? mean median mode none of these
median
The dean of a local college wants to identify students by their class year (freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior). Based on this scale of measurement, which measure of central tendency is most appropriate for describing the data?
mode
The mode is the only measure of central tendency that can be used with _______________
nominal-level variables
Quantification: -often makes our observations more explicit. -can make it more difficult to aggregate data. -can make it more difficult to summarize data. -limits the possibility of statistical analyses. -can increase bias.
often makes our observations more explicit.
A _______ is a score at or below which a specific percentage of the distribution falls.
percentile
Like the median, ___________ require that data be ordinal or higher inlevel of measurement.
percentiles
As sample size increase _________ decreases
sampling error
Studying the discrepancy in police response for burglary cases when compared to corporate embezzlement would likely be coming from a _____________ paradigm -conflict -symbolic interactionist -feminist -ethnomethodologist -structural functionalist
structural functionalist
The main advantage of using frequency distributions or graphs is to
summarize quantitative information in ways that can be easily understood even by a lay audience
Sampling Error Definition
the discrepancy between a sample statistic and a population parameters (researchers minimize sampling error with good sampling procedures)
Distribution of sample means definition
the population of all possible sample means for a study conducted with a given sample size
