Exam 4: Conceptualization and Measurement

Numbers indicating the values of a variable at the interval level of measurement have no absolute zero point.

If respondents to a questionnaire do not find at least one response category that fits their response they are likely to skip the question entirely.

When an inspection of the items used to measure a concept suggests they are appropriate, the researcher can feel confident in the validity

A variable's level of measurement has important implications for

Simply because a measure is reliable does not mean it has validity.

In the ordinal level of measurement, the numbers indicating the variable's value specify only the order of case permitting 'greater than' and 'less than' distinctions).

Define the concept "youth gang." As discussed in the text, what difficulties might one confront in trying to appropriately define the concept? Why is it so important to define a concept precisely?

When a researcher collects data about individuals or groups without their direct knowledge or participation, he/she is using which technique?

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the four approaches to testing the validity of measures.

When constructing closed-ended questions, it is acceptable for some ambiguity in the response choices.

What is an indicator? As part of your answer, give an example.

A continuous measure has numbers indicating the values of variables as points on a continuum.

The nominal level of measurement it also called the qualitative level.

Observations can be used to measure characteristics of 4-6)

When a series of similar questions is used instead of one question to measure the same concept, it is known as

This type of validity establishes that a measure covers the full range of the concept's meaning

What is the difference between measurement validity and reliability?

Systematic Social Observation SSO)is a strategy that increases the reliability of observational data by using explicit rules that standardize coding practices across observers.

An indicator of the variable "binge drinking" is an answer to a question such as

For most statistical analyses in social science research, the interval and ratio level of measurement can be treated as equivalent.