Deck 5: Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement

Question 1

Conceptions are:

A)empirical measurements
B)variables
C)mental images
D)hypotheses
E)definitions

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A nominal definition:

A)is a statement of the essential nature of some entity
B)is a statement detailing what will be involved in measuring some entity
C)is a statement that allows us to observe some entity
D)is a statement that assigns a definition to a concept
E)none of these choices

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Reliability involves:

A)whether a particular technique applied repeatedly to the same object would yield the same results each time
B)ensuring accuracy
C)ensuring that your measure measures what you think it should measure
D)ensuring precision
E)ensuring both accuracy and precision

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is a nominal variable?

A)education
B)age
C)employment status
D)occupational prestige need to know the attributes to determine the level of measurement

Question 5

Hudson et al.developed a series of questions to examine sexual attitudes (SAS).The SAS scores of religious fundamentalists,a group believed to be conservative regarding sexual expression,were compared with the scores of social work graduate students,a group believed to be liberal regarding sexual expression.The researchers were examining the instrument's:

A)split-half reliability
B)split-half validity
C)criterion validity
D)criterion reliability
E)construct validity

Question 6

A survey question asking voters which political party they are affiliated with (Democrat,Republican,Independent)would be considered:

A)mutually exclusive
B)exhaustive
C)interchangeable
D)ratio scale
E)ordinal scale

Question 7

The specification of concepts in scientific inquiry depends on:

A)nominal,operational,and real definitions
B)real definitions
C)nominal and operational definitions
D)nominal and real definitions
E)operational and real definitions

Question 8

A complete conceptualization involves:

A)specifying dimensions only
B)specifying indicators only
C)specifying dimensions and identifying the various indicators of each dimension
D)specifying indicators and identifying the various dimensions of each indicator
E)specifying variables and their attributes

Question 9

Professor Spence decided to define socioeconomic status as a combination of income and education.Spence then determined the questions to be asked in a survey and the categories of responses.Spence was assigning socioeconomic status:

A)a nominal definition only
B)an operational and a real definition
C)a real definition only
D)a nominal and a real definition
E)a nominal and an operational definition

Question 10

Professor Miller argues that there are three dimensions to the quality of a relationship (belonging/affirmation,interdependence,and intimacy).Miller designed an instrument to measure quality of a relationship.She notices that no items in the instrument tap the intimacy dimension.Her measure lacks:

A)reliability
B)content validity
C)predictive validity
D)construct validity
E)internal consistency

Question 11

Professor Myth asked respondents whether or not they had ever been divorced.One year later Professor Myth asked the same respondents the same question.Myth found that with repeated applications of the measure different responses were obtained for the same respondent.This means that the measuring instrument was:

A)unreliable
B)invalid
C)unreliable or the value on the variable had changed
D)lacking face validity
E)inaccurate

Question 12

Which of the following sequences illustrates the progression of measurement steps in a fully structured scientific study?

A)Conceptualization,nominal definition,operational definition,and measurements in the real world
B)Nominal definition,conceptualization,operational definition,and measurements in the real world
C)Operational definition,conceptualization,nominal definition,and measurements in the real world
D)Nominal definition,operationalization,conceptualization,and real-world measurements
E)Conceptualization,operationalization,nominal definition,and real-world measurements

Question 13

Measuring how people feel about proposed income tax hikes when you really want to know how well informed they are on the proposal is a problem of operationalization concerning:

A)the use of single or multiple indicators
B)how observations are going to be made
C)the specific dimensions of the variable to be studied
D)the relevant range of variations
E)the degree of precision needed between extremes

Question 14

The observation that acts as a bridge between what we can measure and what we cannot(constructs)is known as a(n)?

A)indicator
B)concept
C)direct observable
D)indirect observable
E)dependent variable

Question 15

Techniques used to create reliable measures include:

A)asking only about things respondents are likely to know the answer to
B)using measures that have proved their reliability in previous research
C)being clear about what you're asking
D)asking about things relevant to respondents
E)all of these choices are used to create reliable measures

Question 16

Professor Smith gave an exam on Monday.On Wednesday Smith gave the same class the same exam.Professor Smith was clearly interested in assessing the exam's:

A)reliability
B)validity
C)face validity
D)conceptualization
E)precision

Question 17

A measure of religiosity that is extremely consistent,but is actually targeting the respondent's political affiliation could be considered:

A)partially reliable,completely valid
B)valid and reliable
C)not valid,but reliable
D)neither valid nor reliable
E)valid,but not reliable

Question 18

Because low marital satisfaction should lead to divorce,Professor Rogers checked his measure of marital satisfaction by examining whether couples with low marital satisfaction scores later obtained divorces and those with high levels of marital satisfaction remained married.This illustrates the use of:

A)criterion-related validity
B)face validity
C)content validity
D)construct validity
E)test-retest validity

Question 19

Most social scientists would not accept the conceptualization of prejudice as foot size because such a measurement lacks:

A)precision
B)reliability
C)accuracy
D)validity
E)all of these choices

Question 20

A measurement of personality that produces observable,correct results,but that are not consistent would be considered

A)valid and reliable
B)valid,but not reliable
C)not valid,but reliable
D)neither valid nor reliable
E)partially valid,fully reliable

Question 21

Professor Tilton measured the variable "feelings toward drafting women" with the categories strongly agree,agree,indifferent,disagree,and strongly disagree.Professor Tilton was using the level of measurement.

A)nominal
B)interval
C)ratio
D)ordinal
E)not enough information to decide

Question 22

Number of arrests would be an example of a interval measurement

Question 23

Changing definitions almost inevitably results in different descriptive conclusions.

Question 24

Predictive validity is often used as another term for criterion-related validity.

Question 25

If a measure is reliable,it must also be valid.

Question 26

Jeremy can't decide whether he should ask people whether they "very strongly agree," "agree," "disagree,"very strongly disagree" or whether they simply "agree" or "disagree" with statements about the war in Iraq.Jeremy is dealing with the problem of:

A)whether to use single or multiple indicators of a concept
B)the range of variation
C)whether to use a ratio or ordinal measurement
D)whether to use a ratio or interval measurement
E)whether to use single or multiple dimensions

Question 27

A split-half reliability test taps the idea of the general stability of the instrument over time.

Question 28

Precise measurement is more important than accurate measurement.

Question 29

Shipley developed a NEW test to measure IQ.Using his test,someone with an IQ of 180 would be considered twice as intelligent as someone with an IQ of 90 and someone with an IQ of 90 was three times as intelligent as someone with an IQ of 30.Shipley's test treats IQ as a(n):

A)nominal variable
B)interval variable
C)ratio variable
D)ordinal variable
E)none of these choices

Question 30

Dr.Jones is developing a research study in which he plans to use the length of a participant's ring finger to determine mathematical prowess.At the most basic level,his indicator fails which test for validity?

A)face validity
B)content validity
C)predictive validity
D)criterion-related validity
E)construct validity

Question 31

Precision and accuracy are synonyms.

Question 32

It is impossible to have several indicators of only one concept.

Question 33

Classifying someone as employed or not employed treats employment as:

A)a ratio variable
B)an interval variable
C)an ordinal variable
D)a nominal variable
E)a dependent variable

Question 34

Validity refers to the link between the operational and conceptual definitions.

Question 35

What is the lowest level of measurement in which there is an exact difference between attribute values?

A)Nominal
B)Interval
C)Ratio
D)Ordinal
E)All of these choices

Question 36

Even if a pre-existing measure of a construct of interest exists,it is a better idea to create your own so you understand it better.

Question 37

Professor Tyler wrote a proposal to study the impact of authoritarianism on child rearing practices.She began her research by reviewing the meaning of authoritarianism.Based on this review,she formulated her own definition of authoritarianism.This process illustrates:

A)operationalization
B)the interchangeability of indicators
C)conceptualization
D)validity assessment
E)reliability assessment

Question 38

The variable educational level was measured as last year in school completed (i.e. ,none,1st,2nd,3rd,grades,etc. ).It is,therefore,measured at the level.

A)nominal
B)interval
C)ratio
D)ordinal
E)not enough information to decide

Question 39

Conceptualization is the development of research procedures that will result in empirical observations representing those concepts in the real world.

Question 40

When we fall into the trap of believing that terms have real meanings we are guilty of:

A)reification
B)measurements that lack reliability
C)measurements that lack validity
D)confusing reliability with validity
E)confusing validity with reliability

Question 41

A nominal measure can have only two categories.

Question 42

If unsure as a researcher how specific a measurement needs to be,it is best to be more general to simplify data collection.

Question 43

Definitions are more problematic for descriptive research than for explanatory research.

Question 44

The split-half technique for assessing reliability is closely linked to concept of the interchangeability of indicators

Question 45

Numbers assigned to ranks on an ordinal scale can legitimately be added,multiplied,subtracted,and divided.

Question 46

One only need a nominal definition of a concept before beginning the process of data collection