PSY 212 Exam 2 review

It's a group of people whose performance on a particular test is analyzed for reference in evaluating the performance of future test takers. This group is called A) a normative sample. B) a test validation group. C) a stratified random sample. D) a "back to the future" group.

A) a normative sample.

"Number of items answered correctly on an achievement test" defines what type of score on that test? A) a raw score B) a standard score C) a percentile rank D) a cut-off score

A) a raw score

An investigator researching behavior of corporate presidents employs college students enrolled in Introductory Psychology as research subjects. These students are best referred to as A) an incidental sample. B) a stratified sample. C) a coincidental sample. D) a random sample.

A) an incidental sample

The type of sample that is convenient or available for use is referred to as A) an incidental sample.B) a stratified sample.C) a coincidental sample.D) a random sample.

A) an incidental sample

In general criterion-referenced testing A) is useful for communicating information regarding the mastery of basic skills such as reading and writing.B) has been found to be extremely valuable in conveying information about a student's level of creativity relative to other students.C) is not a well-accepted method of testing in areas such as mastery of word processing programs.D) is a contradiction in terms due to the lack of a valid criterion.

A) is useful for communicating information regarding the mastery of basic skills such as reading and writing

Norms come in many different forms. Which of the following is not correctly referred to by the term "norms"? A) trait normsB) age normsC) grade normsD) percentile norms

A) trait norms

A basic assumption about psychological testing and assessment is that A) traits and states can be quantified and measured.B) traits and states can be best understood by those who experience them.C) traits and states are only measurable in human beings.D) measures developed in one culture have no meaning in other cultures.

A) traits and states can be quantified and measured

Which of the following is the best example of a psychological trait? A) eye colorB) aggressivenessC) skin colorD) None of the answers is correct.

B) agressiveness

A test designed to provide information about whether or not an aviator has mastered the ability to fly solo is an example of a test that is A) norm-referenced.B) criterion-referenced.C) trait-referenced.D) All of the answers are correct

B) criterion -referenced

In order to conduct research using human subjects, a university requires researchers to complete an online ethics course, and then correctly respond to all the test items on that material. This test process could bebest characterized as A) norm-referenced testing. B) criterion-referenced testing. C) culturally informed assessment. D) authentic assessment.

B) criterion-referenced testing

Any influence on psychological test scores from factors other than what a test is intended to measure is referred to by measurement specialists as A) spurious artifact.B) error.C) bias.D) construct-irrelevant stimuli.

B) error

Test reliability refers to A) how accurately a test measures what it purports to measure.B) how consistently a test measures what it purports to measure.C) the "depth" of measurement of a particular construct.D) the "bandwidth" of measurement of a particular construct.

B) how consistently a test measures what it purports to measure.

The raw scores from a test are normally distributed. The test user wishes to summarize the data using percentiles. A potential problem here is that score differences in the middle area of the distribution A) may be minimized.B) may be exaggerated.C) may not be accurate if the test is "pass/fail."D) will only be accurate if scored in a timely fashion.

B) may be exaggerated

A sampling of all different subgroups within a population is an example of A) random sampling.B) stratified sampling.C) incidental sampling.D) purposive sampling.

B) stratified sampling

The term psychometric soundness is typically a reference to a test's reliability and A) utility.B) validity.C) norms.D) cost-effectiveness.

B) validity

Which description provides an example of a discrete variable?​ a. ​The time each student arrives 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

B. The gender of each student in psychology class.

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

B. ordinal

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

B. ordinal

How do states differ from traits? A) A trait is biologically determined, whereas a state is environmentally determined.B) A trait is measurable, whereas a state is not.C) A trait is relatively enduring, whereas a state is relatively short-lived.D) A trait is unchangeable, whereas a state is easily influenced.

C) A trait is relatively enduring, whereas a state is relatively short-lived

Raw scores may be converted to norms so that the scores are A) more easily interpreted.B) easily communicated to others.C) Both more easily interpreted and easily communicated to others are correct.D) None of the answers is correct

C) Both more easily interpreted and easily communicated to others are correct.

Which of the following is true about error in psychological measurement? A) As with other fields, error is synonymous with "mistake." B) Error only refers todeliberate misrepresentation of results rather than carelessness C) Error is an expected component of measurement. D) Error can be eliminated only by care and vigilance

C) Error is an expected component of measurement.

The manifestation of a trait is not dependent on A) the strength of the trait.B) the situation.C) lunar cycles.D) genetics.

C) lunar cycles.

The term norms refers to the A) average scores of all test takers within a standardization sample.B) outliers of the normative sample.C) scores with which the results of subsequent measurement can be compared.D) transformed scores used to create and improve test items.

C) scores with which the results of subsequent measurement can be compared

When measuring a particular psychological trait, the term error variance refers to A) the degree to which impression management may influence the obtained score. B) the variations in score possible if another instrument was employed. C) the component of a test score attributable to sources other than the trait measured. D) All of the answers are correct.

C) the component of a test score attributable to sources other than the trait measured

A score at the 20th percentile on a high school history test is A) the score at or below which 80 percent of the scores in the distribution fall. B) that point in a distribution at which 80 percent of the test questions were answered correctly. C) the score at or below which 20 percent of the scores in the distribution fall. D) grounds for termination from a varsity team in most high schools.

C) the score at or below which 20 percent of the scores in the distribution fall

The students in a psychology class seemed to think that the midterm exam was very easy. If they are correct, what is the most likely shape for the distribution of exam scores?​ a. ​symmetrical b. ​positively skewed c. ​negatively skewed d. ​normal

C. negatively skewed

Which description provides 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

C. the amount of time to solve a problem

A test is considered standardized if the manual for the test includes A) clearly specified procedures for administration. B) clearly specified procedures for scoring. C) normative data. D) All of the answers are correct.

D) All of the answers are correct

When "putting a test to the test" and researching the suitability of a particular test for a particular objective, test users will typically research A) the reliability of the test.B) the validity of the test.C) the utility of the test.D) All of the answers are correct.

D) All of the answers are correct

"What's a good test?" In part, a good test is one that A) trained examiners can administer with a minimum of difficulty. B) is useful in the sense that it yields actionable results. C) will ultimately benefit individual test takers or society as a whole. D) All of the answers are correct.

D) All of the answers are correct.

Students may fantasize about a world without tests. But in reality, a world without tests would be more of a nightmare than a dream. This is so because A) nepotism in hiring and promotions would be rampant.B) professionals would not be properly credentialed.C) educational difficulties would be more difficult to diagnose.D) All of the answers are correct.

D) All of the answers are correct.

Test validity refers to how A) "true" the score is in terms of true score theory.B) rigorous the process of norming a test is.C) "deep" the depth of trait measurement is.D) well a test measures what it purports to measure.

D) how well a test measures what it purports to measure

Referring to a psychological trait as a construct means that it A) is an idea whose time has come, gone, and come back again. B) has few practical "real-world" applications and is used for academic purposes. C) was developed by naturalistic observation rather than any theory. D) is a scientific concept developed to describe or explain behavior.

D) is a scientific concept developed to describe or explain behavior.

A score equal to the 5th percentile is one of the highest scores in the distribution.​

FALSE

Classifying people into two groups on the basis of gender is an example of measurement on an ordinal scale.

FALSE

If it is appropriate to present a distribution of scores in a polygon, then it would also be appropriate to present the scores in a bar graph.​

FALSE

​A professor records the number of students who are absent each day for the semester. Because this is a numeric, discrete variable, a bar graph should be used to show the frequency distribution.​

FALSE

For questions refer to the following data Scores: 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4 5, 5, 5, 5, 6 What is the mode? What is the meadian? What is the mean? What is the range? What is the variance? What is the standard deviation? What are the real limits?

Mode: 5 Median: 4 Mean: 3.9 Range: 6-1= 5 Variance: 2.08 sample STD: 1.44 sample real limits: Upper 6.5 Lower 0.5

A normative sample is the reference group to which the performance of test takers are compared.

TRUE

A researcher surveys a sample of n = 200 college students and asks each person to identify his or her favorite movie from the past year. If the results are presented in a frequency distribution graph, the researcher should use a bar graph.​

TRUE

An example of a numeric nominal variable in assessment can be found in the DSM. For example, the number 303.00 identified alcohol intoxication and the number 307.00 identified stuttering.

TRUE

The percentage of people whose score on a test or measure falls below a particular raw score is referred to as a percentile.

TRUE

The range and the standard deviation are both measures of spread.​

TRUE

A psychological trait A) has a physical real existence.B) is a construct.C) has no relation to observed behavior.D) All of the answers are correct.

b ) is a construct

For a perfectly symmetrical distribution with a median of 30, what is the value of the mean?​ a. ​greater than 30 b. ​30 c. ​20 to 29.5 d. ​less than 20

b. 30

A distribution is positively skewed. Which is the most probable order, from smallest to largest, for the three measures of central tendency?​ a. ​mean, median, mode b. ​mode, median, mean c. ​mean, mode, median d. ​median, mean, mode

b. mode, median, ,mean

In a distribution with positive skew, scores with the highest frequencies are ____.​ a. ​on the right side of the distribution b. ​on the left side of the distribution c. ​in the middle of the distribution d. ​represented at two distinct peaks

b. on the left side

Which of the following symbols identifies the sample variance?​ a. s b. s2 c. Σ d. σ2

b. s^2

. A population of scores has a mean of µ = 26, a median of 23, and a mode of 22. What is the most likely shape for the population distribution?​ a. ​symmetrical b. ​positively skewed c. ​negatively skewed d. ​bimodal

b.positively skewed

What position in the distribution corresponds to a z-score of z = +2.00?​ a. Above the mean by 2 points​ b. ​Above the mean by a distance equal to 2 standard deviations c. ​Below the mean by 2 points d. ​Below the mean by a distance equal to 2 standard deviations

b.​Above the mean by a distance equal to 2 standard deviations

A researcher measures eye color for a sample of n = 50 people. Which measure of central tendency would be appropriate to summarize the measurements?​ a. ​mean b. ​median c. ​mode d. ​weighted mean

c. mode

Which set of scores has the smallest standard deviation?​ a. ​11, 17, 31, 53 b. ​5, 11, 42, 22 c. ​145, 143, 145, 147 d. ​27, 105, 10, 80

c. ​145, 143, 145, 147

Which of the following is true for most distributions?​ a. Around 30% of the scores will be located within one standard deviation of the mean.​ b. ​Around 50% of the scores will be located within one standard deviation of the mean. c. ​Around 70% of the scores will be located within one standard deviation of the mean. d. ​Around 90% of the scores will be located within one standard deviation of the mean.

c. ​Around 70% of the scores will be located within one standard deviation of the mean.

A distribution with two modes is said to be:​ a. ​two modal b. ​minor modal c. ​bimodal d. ​main modal

c.bimodal

For a negatively skewed distribution with a mode of X = 25 and a median of 20, what is the most likely value for the mean?​ a. ​greater than 25 b. ​equal to 25 c. ​between 20 and 25 d. ​less than 20

d. less than 20

For a sample of n = 16 scores, how many scores are used to calculate the sample variance?​ a. 2 b. 8 c. 15 d. 16

d.16

One type of reliability is construct reliability which involves the consistency of the measuring tool.

FALSE, criterion

A sample consists of n = 16 scores. How many of the scores are used to calculate the range?​ a. ​2 b. ​4 c. ​8 d. ​16

a. 2

. For a bell-shaped distribution with µ = 30, what is the most probable value for the mode?​ a. ​30 b. ​greater than 30 c. ​less than 30 d. ​0

a. 30

For a negatively skewed distribution with a mean of M = 20, what is the most probable value for the median?​ a. ​greater than 20 b. ​20 c. ​less than 20 d. ​0

a. greater than 20

You have a score of X = 65 on a math exam. The mean score for the class on the exam is μ = 70. Which of the following values for the standard deviation would give you the most favorable position within the class?​ a. ​σ = 0 b. ​σ = 1 c. ​σ = 5 d. ​σ = 10

a. σ = 0