Chapter 1

In a correlational study,

a) 1 variable is measured and 2 groups are compared b) 2 variables are measured and 2 groups are compared c) 1 variable is measured and there is only 1 group of participants d) 2 variables are measured and there is only 1 group of participants*

In an experimental study,

a) 1 variable is measured and 2 groups are compared* b) 2 variables are measured and 2 groups are compared c) 1 variable is measured and there is only 1 group of participants d) 2 variables are measured and there is only 1 group of participants

The average verbal SAT score for the entire class of entering freshmen is 530. However, if you select a sample of 20 freshmen and compute their average verbal SAT score you probably will not get exactly 530. What statistical concept is used to explain the natural difference that exists between a sample mean and the corresponding population mean?

a) Statistical error b) Inferential error c) Sampling error* d) Parametric error

A researcher conducts an experiment to determine whether moderate doses of St. Johns Wort have any effect of memory for college students. For this study, what is the independent variable?

a) The amount of St. Johns Wort given to each participant* b) The memory score for each participant c) The group of college students d) Cannon answer without more information

The relationship between a statistic and a parameter is the same as the relationship between __________.

a) a sample and a population* b) a statistic and a parameter c) a parameter and a population d) descriptive statistics and inferential statistics

What kind of variable requires the use of real limits?

a) independent b) dependent c) discrete d) continuous*

If it is impossible to divide the existing categories of a variable, then it is an example of a ______ variable.

a) independent b) dependent c) discrete* d) continuous

What scale of measurement is being used when a teacher measures the number of correct answers on a quiz for each student?

a) nominal b) ordinal c) interval d) ratio*

Determining the class standing (1st, 2nd, and so on) for the graduating seniors at a high school would involve measurement on a(n) _________ scale of measurement.

a) nominal b) ordinal* c) interval d) ratio

Using letter grades (A,B,C,D, and E) to classify student performance on an exam is an example of measurement on a(n) ________ scale of measurement.

a) nominal b) ordinal* c) interval d) ratio

After measuring two individuals, a researcher can say that Tom's score is 4 points higher than Bill's. The measurements must come from a(n) _______ scale.

a) nominal b) ordinal c) interval d) interval or ratio*

The participants in a research study are classified as high, medium, or low in self-esteem. What measurement scale is being used to classify self-esteem?

a) nominal b) ordinal* c) interval d) ratio

For statistical purposes, it usually is not important to differentiate between which two scales of measurement?

a) nominal and ordinal b) ordinal and interval c) interval and ratio* d) nominal and interval

Students in an introductory art class are classified as art majors and non-art majors. What scale of measurement is being used to classify the students?

a) nominal* b) ordinal c) interval d) ratio

What kind of measurement scale is necessary to conclude that one score is twice as big as another?

a) ordinal b) interval c) ratio* d) interval or ratio

A researcher uses an anonymous survey to investigate the television-viewing habits of American adolescents. Based on the set of 356 surveys that were completed and returned, the researcher finds that these students spend an average of 3.1 hours each day watching television. For this study, the set of 356 students who returned surveys is an example of a __________.

a) parameter* b) statistic c) population d) sample

Organizing a set of scores in a table is an example of using __________.

a) parameters b) statistics c) descriptive statistics* d) inferential statistics

A researcher uses an anonymous survey to investigate the television-viewing habits of American adolescents. The entire group of American adolescents is an example of a ___________.

a) sample b) statistic c) population* d) parameter

Although a research study is typically conducted with relatively small group of participants known as a __________, most researchers hope to generalize their results to a much larger group known as a __________.

a) sample; population* b) statistic; sample c) population; sample d) parameter; population

For an experiment comparing two methods of teaching social skills training to autistic children, the independent variable is _________ and the dependent variable is __________.

a) teaching methods; the autistic children b) the autistic children; the social skills that are learned c) the social skills that are learned; the autistic children d) teaching methods; the social skills that are learned*

Which of the following is an example of a discrete variable?

a) the age of each student in a psychology class b) the gender of each student in a psychology class* c) the amount of time to solve a problem d) the amount of weight gained for each freshman at a local college

Which of the following is an example of a continuous variable?

a) the gender of each student in a psychology class b) the number of males in each class offered by the college c) the amount of time to solve a problem* d) the number of children in a family

What additional information is obtained by measuring two individuals on an interval scale compared to a ordinal scale?

a) whether the measurements are the same or different b) the direction of the difference c) the size of the difference* d) none of the other options is correct

What additional information is obtained by measuring two individuals on an ordinal scale compared to a nominal scale?

a) whether the measurements are the same or different b) the direction of the difference* c) the size of the difference d) none of the other options is correct