Psyc 315 Exam 1 Gibson UL

Generally, what is the first step in the research process?

Develop a research hypothesis

dependent

Gpa

To overcome the effects of outliers on the range for a set of data, one could instead calculate the

IQR

If I tell you this is a Normal Distribution, what's wrong with it?

It touches the line

When analyzing a variable with four unranked categories, which measure of central tendency would be most appropriate to use?

Mode

1) On the first day of class, students are asked to describe their plans after college (grad school, work, etc.); a ______ would be used to illustrate their responses to this question.

bar chart

and therefore the instructor would use a

bar chart

the independent variable may be thought of as the ______

cause

For which of these variables would you create a grouped frequency distribution table to summarize data you've collected?

distance from campus (miles)

the dependent variable may be thought of as the ______.

effect

George calculates a standard deviation and obtains a value of s = -5.37. This necessarily implies

he should check his calculations

A researcher gives several high school students the SAT to compare the scores of males and females. This variable may best be described as being measured at the

interval

You would calculate parameters rather than statistics for a set of data you have collected when

it's from a population

The three aspects of distributions include

modality, symmetry, variability

After grading an examination, an instructor realizes the exam was much easier than she planned. She reaches this conclusion because the shape of the distribution of exam scores is

negatively skewed

A researcher asks people to indicate their area code (408, 510, 415, etc.) This variable may best be described as being measured at the

nominal

An instructor conducts a survey on the students to determine their religious preference. The data is measured at the

nominal

A researcher studying college students asks them to tell him how many dates they have gone on in the last month. This variable may best be described as being measured at the

ratio

The range is defined as

the difference between the highest and lowest scores

Which of the following can be a negative number?

the standard deviation (s)

After grading an examination, an instructor realizes there is a wide range of ability in her class. He realizes this because ______ than she expected.

the standard deviation was higher

Normal distributions are an important concept to researchers because ______.

they are the basis of statistical techniques used by researchers

1) Which of the following is a reason why researchers examine the data they have collected?

to detect coding or data entry errors

1) Which of these is a reason why researchers examine the data they have collected?

to detect outliers

Women are much better than men." What is the main problem with how this research hypothesis is stated?

It has no dependent variable

"Americans are more likely to be obese." What is the main problem with how this research hypothesis has been stated?

It has no independent variable

Which of the following is NOT a guideline for creating grouped frequency distribution tables?

The data are grouped into arbitrary intervals.

1) A research hypothesis is best thought of as ______.

an expected relationship between samples and populations

Which of the following steps in the research process involves calculating statistics?

analyzing data

A research team hypothesizes that "children will rate a disciplining strategy emphasizing logic and reason as more effective than one based on rewards and punishment" (Barnett et al, 1996, p. 414). In this study, the dependent variable is

children's rating

At the beginning of a football game, a coin is flipped to decide which of the two teams will have possession of the ball first. A coach believes that winning the coin flip increases the likelihood of winning the game. In this situation, the independent variable is

coin flip

Drawing a sample from a population, determining how the variables will be measured, and selecting a method by which to collect the data are all part of which step in the research process?

collecting data

When a researcher has determined that the data will come from responses to a survey, which step in the research process would this fall under?

collecting data

A variable that provides an alternative explanation for the relationship between the independent and dependent variables is a(n)

confounding variable

Moving from learning about frequency distributions to learning about normal distributions coincides with moving from learning about ______ to learning about ______.

descriptive statistics; inferential statistics

An instructor transforms her students' scores on a midterm into standardized (z) scores. The distribution of standardized scores ______.

is not necessarily symmetrical

A researcher hypothesizes that students who work part-time have higher college GPAs than students with full-time jobs. In this study, the independent variable is

job status

the dependent variable is

likelihood of winning the game

The independent variable is the variable that is

manipulated/chosen/controlled/administered

A researcher is analyzing how an individual's education level (in years) affects their political party affiliation. The appropriate measure of central tendency for education would be ______ while the appropriate measure of central tendency for political party affiliation would be ______.

mean; mode

the dependent variable is the variable

measured/predicted

A person conducting research asks customers at a grocery store, "Which is your favorite snack cracker?" This variable may best be described as being measured at the

nominal

One difference between normal distributions and frequency distributions is that ______.

normal distributions are hypothetical; frequency distributions are based on actual data

1) The relationship between samples and populations may be described as ______.

researchers test research hypotheses about populations by collecting data from samples

uses objective and systematic collection and analysis of empirical data to test theories and hypotheses

scientific method

A research hypothesis is a ______ regarding the relationship between variables

statement

What is the SX?

sum of scores

Variance (s2) may be defined as ______.

the average squared deviation of a score from the mean

Which of these is a reason why researchers examine data by creating tables and figures?

to identify the modality of a distribution

Inferential statistics (statistics used to test research hypotheses) assume that ______.

variables are normally distributed in the population

Standard normal distribution scores are also known as

z-scores

Characteristics of a normal distribution. List them.

Calculated by a mathematical formula, bell-shaped, unimodal, symmetrical, never touches the line

What are the numeric characteristics of a population and sample respectively?

Population- mew Sample- x bar and s

What type of research compares naturally formed or preexisting groups rather than employing random assignment to conditions?

Quasi-experimental

Imagine after grading this exam I look at the distribution of test scores in this class and conclude the distribution is symmetrical and peaked. Which of the following would MOST likely lead to this conclusion?

The mean and median are the same AND the standard deviation is very small.

An instructor transforms her students' scores on a midterm into standardized (z) scores. Which of the following is by definition true about the distribution of standardized scores?

The shape of the distribution of standardized scores is identical to the distribution of midterm scores.

which one is non-directional?

Younger and older individuals will differ on their perception of safety at night.

Your score is about three-fourths of a standard deviation above the mean." Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Your z-score is .71

1) A research hypothesis may best be thought of as ______.

a prediction

1) Random assignment assigns participants to each category of an independent variable in such a way that each participant has a(n) ______ chance of being assigned to each category.

equal

You ask people to indicate the number of television sets in their residence (home, apartment, etc.). You would use a

histogram

A researcher asks people how often they give blood: "Very often," "Often," "Sometimes," "Rarely," and "Almost never." This variable may best be described as being measured at the

ordinal