Statistics Test #1

Ranking a group of cities in terms of "quality of life" would be an example of measurement on an __________ scale of measurement.

Ordinal

T or F: A correlational study is used to examine the relationship between two variables but cannot determine whether it is a cause-and-effect relationship.

True

T or F: A correlational study typically uses only one group of participants but measures two different variables (two scores) for each individual.

True

T or F: The goal of an experiment is to demonstrate the existence of a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables.

True

T or F: The participants in a research study are classified by marital status as single, married, or divorced/separated. This classification involves measurement on a nominal scale.

True

T or F: To determine how much difference there is between two individuals, you must use either an interval or a ratio scale of measurement.

True

T or F: A discrete variable must be measured on a nominal or an ordinal scale.

False

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

False

T or F: If a researcher measures two individuals on an ordianl scale, it is impossible to determine which individual has the larger score.

False

In a correlational study...

2 variables are measured and there is only 1 group of participants.

A researcher wants to examine the relationship between sleeping habits and grade point average for college students. A group of 100 students is selected and each student is asked to report the average number of hours he/she sleeps each night and his/her grade point average. What research method is being used?

Correlational method

A variable that consists of indivisible categories with no other scores existing between neighboring categories is called a __________ variable.

Discrete

T or F: In the experimental method, the researcher manipulates one variable by changing its value from one level to another, then measures a second variable to see if it changes. The variable that is measured is called the independent variable.

False

T or F: Men's shirt sizes are classified as small, medium, large, and extra large. This is an example of measurement on a nominal scale.

False

To determine the size of the difference between two measurements, a researcher must use an ___________ scale of measurement.

Interval or ratio

A typical experimental research study...

Measures 1 variable for each participant and compares 2 groups of scores.

After measuring two individuals, a researcher can say that the score for one individual is different than the score for the other, but it is impossible to determine which score is larger or how much larger. What scale of measurement is being used in this situation?

Nominal

After measuing two individuals, a researcher can say that Tom's score is greater than Bill's, but cannot specify how much greater. The measurements must come from an _________ scale.

Ordinal

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

Ordinal

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

Ordinal

Although research questions usually concern a __________, the actual research is typically conducted with a __________.

Population; sample

After measuring a set of individuals, a researcher finds that Bob's score is 3 times greater than Jane's score. These measurements must come from a ________ scale.

Ratio

Determining a person's age (in years) would involve measurement on a ___________ scale of measurement.

Ratio

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

The direction of the differences

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

The size of the differences

T or F: A researcher is using an experiment to determine whether sugar consumption has any effect on the activity level of preschool children. For this study, the dependent variable is the activity level of the children.

True

T or F: An experimental research study typically involves comparing two groups of scores.

True

T or F: Classifying individuals into two groups, males and females, is an example of measurement on a nominal scale.

True

T or F: Determining the number of students in each psychology course would be an example of measurement on a ratio scale.

True