Deck 9: The Fundamentals of Research Methodology

Question 1

If a researcher wished to assess whether or not a certain drug will increase IQ scores, the independent variable would be the

A) drug levels
B) IQ scores
C) IQ test
D) subjects whose IQ's were changed

Answer 1

A

Question 2

An example of a subject-assigned independent variable would be

A) IQ
B) race
C) gender
D) all of these

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In correlational research, whichever variable one predicts from is called

A) the criterion variable
B) the independent variable
C) the dependent variable
D) the control variable

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The two basic types of research are

A) post-facto and correlational
B) post-facto and cross-sectional
C) post-facto and experimental
D) post-facto and longitudinal

Question 5

In experimental research on humans, the independent variable is

A) some form of stimulus presented to the subjects
B) under the full, active control of the experimenter
C) the potential causal half of the cause-and-effect relationship
D) all of these

Question 6

The most common error in reading and interpreting research studies is in

A) assuming that the data have been incorrectly reported
B) assuming that the correct statistical tests have been used
C) assuming that the causal factor has been isolated
D) all of these

Question 7

In correlational research, the independent variable is usually placed

A) on the abscissa
B) on the ordinate
C) on each data point
D) none of these, since correlational research can never be graphed

Question 8

When it is assumed that information about the X variable may be used to predict the Y variable, then the X variable is

A) the independent variable
B) the dependent variable
C) the control variable
D) the criterion variable

Question 9

The statement that "one can prove anything with statistics" is only true when

A) correlational research has been used
B) post-facto research has been used
C) the data have been cross-referenced
D) the reader is totally naive regarding statistical procedures

Question 10

An example of a manipulated independent variable would be

A) IQ
B) income level
C) amount of education
D) none of these

Question 11

In a study on the effects of TV violence on viewer aggressiveness, the dependent variable would be the

A) control group
B) TV violence
C) viewer aggressiveness
D) experimental group

Question 12

When subjects are measured, then followed through the years and measured again, the research technique is called

A) longitudinal
B) cross-sectional
C) matched group
D) controlled manipulation

Question 13

One should not infer a direct cause-and-effect relationship when the research method is

A) experimental
B) post-facto
C) double-blind
D) repeated-measures

Question 14

In any antecedent-consequent relationship, the independent variable

A) precedes the dependent variable
B) follows the dependent variable
C) occurs simultaneously with the dependent variable
D) none of these

Question 15

In any antecedent-consequent relationship, the dependent variable

A) precedes the independent variable
B) follows the independent variable
C) occurs simultaneously with the independent variable
D) none of these

Question 16

In any input-output relationship, the dependent variable is considered to be

A) the input
B) the output
C) the relationship itself between the two measured variables
D) all of these, depending on the type of research

Question 17

In experimental research, the independent variable is

A) the response made by the subject
B) the group receiving the placebo
C) actively manipulated by the experimenter
D) the control group

Question 18

In a study on whether increasing illumination increases worker productivity, the independent variable would be the

A) illumination levels
B) worker productivity rates
C) causal relationship
D) experimental group

Question 19

When the researcher has actively altered the environmental conditions, then the independent variable has been

A) assigned
B) manipulated
C) confounded
D) strengthened

Question 20

When doing human-research studies on the long-term effects of growth and development, it is best to use

A) longitudinal research
B) cross-sectional research
C) after-only research
D) anecdotal research

Question 21

The assigning of numbers to measurements according to certain rules is called

A) prediction
B) point estimation
C) matrix information
D) measurement

Question 22

In the following questions (26 through 30), you are to identify the alternative which is NOT appropriately grouped with the others

A) after-only
B) repeated-measures
C) post-facto
D) matched-subjects

Question 23

In the following questions (26 through 30), you are to identify the alternative which is NOT appropriately grouped with the others

A) correlation
B) association
C) prediction
D) experimental method

Question 24

Whenever we are given information regarding equality versus non-equality, greater than or less than, but not how much greater or less, the data form is

A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) the concept of "greater than" can never be scaled

Question 25

In the following questions (26 through 30), you are to identify the alternative which is NOT appropriately grouped with the others

A) independent variable
B) assigned variable
C) manipulated variable
D) dependent variable

Question 26

When neither the subjects nor the experimenter are aware of which group is experimental and which is control, then the study is said to be

A) contaminated
B) confounded
C) concealed
D) double-blind

Question 27

Whenever we are presented with "nose-counting" data, such as how many persons are registered as republicans versus those registered as democrats, the data form is

A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) ratio

Question 28

In the following questions (26 through 30), you are to identify the alternative which is NOT appropriately grouped with the others

A) correlation
B) cause-and-effect relationship
C) experimental method
D) manipulated independent variable

Question 29

In experimental research on humans, the dependent variable is

A) manipulated by the experimenter
B) the causal half of the cause-and-effect relationship
C) some form of stimulus
D) a measure of the subject's response

Question 30

When numbers are assigned on the basis of discrete, mutually exclusive categories, the resulting scale is called

A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) ratio

Question 31

Whenever measured observations are rank ordered, the data form is

A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) rank-ordered observations cannot be measured

Question 32

In the following questions (26 through 30), you are to identify the alternative which is NOT appropriately grouped with the others

A) response measure
B) independent variable
C) dependent variable
D) out-put measure

Question 33

When the measurement scale provides information regarding greater than or less than, but not how much greater or less, it is in the form of

A) nominal data
B) ordinal data
C) interval data
D) ratio data

Question 34

When the only mathematical rule involved is that of equality versus non- equality, the measurement scale must be

A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) ratio

Question 35

In the study, cited in the text, of the relationship between the amount of time a teacher spends smiling and the achievement level of the students, it was shown that

A) the less time a teacher smiles, the better the students do on an achievement test
B) the more time a teacher smiles, the better the students do on an achievement test
C) the time a teacher spends smiling is independent of student achievement
D) a smiling teacher causes a student to get better grades

Question 36

In a study on whether college graduates earn more money then non-college graduates, the research method is almost certainly

A) post-facto
B) experimental
C) matched-subjects
D) before-after

Question 37

The best way to distinguish between experimental and post-facto research is to discover whether

A) the independent variable has been confounded
B) the independent variable has been manipulated or assigned
C) the dependent variable has been manipulated or assigned
D) the appropriate statistical test has been used

Question 38

An example of a nominal scale would be

A) the number of pieces of mail going to Post Office A versus Post Office B
B) the recorded heights of a group of first-grade children
C) the order of finish for the horses at the Kentucky Derby
D) all of these

Question 39

When data are in nominal form, the only information provided is

A) the frequency of occurrence within categories
B) greater than or less than, but not how much greater or less
C) the value of absolute zero
D) nominal data provide no information to the researcher

Question 40

Whenever we discover how many persons, things, or events have X or Y in common, we are dealing with the

A) nominal scale
B) ordinal scale
C) interval scale
D) the mere number of persons, things, or events having X or Y in common

Question 41

The difference between interval and ratio scales is that ratio scales

A) form independent categories
B) form ordered sequences
C) have absolute zeroes
D) there is no difference

Question 42

The reason that it is incorrect to say that person A's IQ is twice person B's is that IQ is not scaled as

A) nominal data
B) ordinal data
C) interval data
D) ratio data

Question 43

Whenever the distance between successive scale points are assumed to be equal, the scale of measurement is at least

A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) ratio

Question 44

If it is known that X is greater than Y, and that is all that is known, then the measurement scale must be

A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) a descriptive measure of this type can never be scaled

Question 45

If the number of jail inmates are categorized on the basis of whether or not they exhibit overt aggression during a free-time period, the data form is

A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) data that are merely categorized fit no specific scale type

Question 46

When frequency data are categorized into a nominal scale, the categories must

A) overlap slightly
B) overlap completely
C) be completely independent
D) frequency data cannot form a nominal scale

Question 47

If we were to know not only the order of finish of the cars at the Indianapolis "500", but also the actual elapsed times for each car, the data form would be

A) at least nominal
B) at least ordinal
C) at least interval
D) none of these

Question 48

The concept of generalizing from a few observations to an entire group is central to the area of

A) descriptive statistics
B) nominal scaling
C) ratio scaling
D) inferential statistics

Question 49

Of all the measurement scales covered in this chapter, the one containing the least information is the

A) nominal scale
B) ordinal scale
C) interval scale
D) ratio scale

Question 50

If the population of registered voters in a given district were to be rank-ordered on the basis of socio-economic status. the data form would be

A) at least nominal
B) at least ordinal
C) at least interval
D) socio-economic status cannot be measured

Question 51

Statistical tests designed to handle interval data, may also be used on

A) nominal data
B) ordinal data
C) ratio data
D) a test designed for interval data cannot handle data of any other type

Question 52

The measured heights of a group of basketball players form a(n)

A) nominal scale
B) ordinal scale
C) interval scale
D) ratio scale

Question 53

The concept of "mutually exclusive" categories is central to

A) nominal scaling
B) ordinal scaling
C) interval scaling
D) both a and c, but not b

Question 54

When measures provide information of not just greater than or less than, but also how much greater or less, the data form is

A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) a and b, but not c

Question 55

Of all the measurement scales covered in this chapter, the one containing the most information is the

A) nominal scale
B) ordinal scale
C) interval scale
D) ratio scale

Question 56

The issue of which scale of measurement has been used largely determines

A) which statistical tests can be used
B) whether the statistics are descriptive or inferential
C) whether the statistics are inferential or predictive
D) whether the data have been "rigged" or "faked"

Question 57

Nominal data can always be converted into

A) ordinal data
B) interval data
C) ration data
D) nominal data cannot be converted into any other scale since it depends

Question 58

With interval data, we can say everything except

A) X differs from Y
B) X is greater than Y
C) X is two units greater than Y
D) X is twice Y

Question 59

Most social scientists treat IQ data as though they are

A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) ratio

Question 60

Of the following, the measures which comes closest to ratio scaling are

A) the numbers of people using fluoride versus non-fluoride toothpaste
B) the final standings of the American League East's baseball teams
C) the area codes used for direct telephone dialing
D) the salaries of a group of factory workers

Question 61

In experimental research, when the same group is used as both an experimental and control group, the research design is

A) matched-subjects
B) before-after
C) between-subjects
D) none of these

Question 62

When using the experimental method, the final goal is to test the hypothesis of

A) difference
B) association
C) both of these
D) neither of these

Question 63

Questions 9-79 through 9-84 will be based on the following: A researcher wishes to test the hypothesis that intelligence is a sex-linked characteristic. A random sample of 1000 women is selected and given IQ tests. Similarly, a random sample of 1000 men is selected and also given IQ tests. The mean IQ's of the two groups are compared and the difference is found to be significantly in favor of the females.
The research technique used in this study is an example of

A) experimental research
B) post-facto research
C) longitudinal research
D) b and c, but not a

Question 64

With the matched-subjects design, the subjects are equated on some variable which is assumed to have a possible influence on the

A) independent variable
B) dependent variable
C) both of these
D) neither of these

Question 65

Questions 67 through 72 will be bases on the following study: A researcher wishes to test whether the drug, magnesium pemoline, has any influence on intelligence. Two groups of subjects are randomly selected from the population of Omega University students. Group A is given the magnesium pemoline and then tested on the Stanford-Binet IQ test. Group B is given a placebo and, then, also tested on the Stanford-Binet. Both groups are tested under identical environmental conditions.
The independent variable in this study is (are) the

A) Stanford-Binet test
B) magnesium pemoline versus the placebo
C) control group
D) IQ scores

Question 66

The basic goal of good post-facto research should always be

A) to establish a causal factor
B) to test the hypothesis of difference
C) to test the hypothesis of association
D) to make better-than-chance predictions

Question 67

Questions 67 through 72 will be bases on the following study: A researcher wishes to test whether the drug, magnesium pemoline, has any influence on intelligence. Two groups of subjects are randomly selected from the population of Omega University students. Group A is given the magnesium pemoline and then tested on the Stanford-Binet IQ test. Group B is given a placebo and, then, also tested on the Stanford-Binet. Both groups are tested under identical environmental conditions.
If the IQ scores in Group A had been significantly higher than those in Group B, we may conclude that

A) the magnesium pemoline probably caused an increase in IQ scores
B) the magnesium pemoline probably caused a decrease in IQ scores
C) cause and effect statements cannot be inferred from this study
D) none of these

Question 68

Questions 67 through 72 will be bases on the following study: A researcher wishes to test whether the drug, magnesium pemoline, has any influence on intelligence. Two groups of subjects are randomly selected from the population of Omega University students. Group A is given the magnesium pemoline and then tested on the Stanford-Binet IQ test. Group B is given a placebo and, then, also tested on the Stanford-Binet. Both groups are tested under identical environmental conditions.
The design of this study is an example of

A) the between-subjects method
B) the before-after method
C) the matched-subjects method
D) the repeated measures method

Question 69

Whenever a researcher randomly selects equivalent groups, and then exposes them to different stimulus conditions, and then measures them to see if significant difference can be observed, the total procedure is an example of

A) experimental research
B) post-facto research
C) cross-sectional research
D) none of these

Question 70

When a t test is applied to experimental research data, the groups are being compared with regard to their performances on the

A) independent variable
B) dependent variable
C) confounding variable
D) controlled variable

Question 71

When subjects are measured on some trait they already possess, and are then categorized on the basis of that trait, the independent variable has been

A) assigned
B) manipulated
C) confounded
D) actively altered by the experimenter

Question 72

Questions 67 through 72 will be bases on the following study: A researcher wishes to test whether the drug, magnesium pemoline, has any influence on intelligence. Two groups of subjects are randomly selected from the population of Omega University students. Group A is given the magnesium pemoline and then tested on the Stanford-Binet IQ test. Group B is given a placebo and, then, also tested on the Stanford-Binet. Both groups are tested under identical environmental conditions.
The dependent variable in this study is (are) the

A) magnesium pemoline
B) testing conditions
C) IQ scores
D) there was no dependent variable in this study

Question 73

Questions 9-79 through 9-84 will be based on the following: A researcher wishes to test the hypothesis that intelligence is a sex-linked characteristic. A random sample of 1000 women is selected and given IQ tests. Similarly, a random sample of 1000 men is selected and also given IQ tests. The mean IQ's of the two groups are compared and the difference is found to be significantly in favor of the females.
This study proves that

A) a non-chance difference exists between male and female IQ's
B) being female causes one to have a higher IQ
C) being male causes one to have a lower IQ
D) none of these, since the research is strictly post-facto

Question 74

Questions 67 through 72 will be bases on the following study: A researcher wishes to test whether the drug, magnesium pemoline, has any influence on intelligence. Two groups of subjects are randomly selected from the population of Omega University students. Group A is given the magnesium pemoline and then tested on the Stanford-Binet IQ test. Group B is given a placebo and, then, also tested on the Stanford-Binet. Both groups are tested under identical environmental conditions.
The group which received the placebo is called

A) the experimental group
B) the control group
C) the matched group
D) the model group

Question 75

When a post-facto relationship is found between two variables A and B, it is always possible, though not certain, that

A) A caused B
B) B caused A
C) a third variable, X, has caused A plus B
D) all of these

Question 76

Questions 67 through 72 will be bases on the following study: A researcher wishes to test whether the drug, magnesium pemoline, has any influence on intelligence. Two groups of subjects are randomly selected from the population of Omega University students. Group A is given the magnesium pemoline and then tested on the Stanford-Binet IQ test. Group B is given a placebo and, then, also tested on the Stanford-Binet. Both groups are tested under identical environmental conditions.
The study described above is an example of

A) experimental research
B) post-facto research
C) correlational research
D) longitudinal research

Question 77

A study which compares the growth in the number of PTA mothers to the number of small business failures would be an example of

A) experimental research
B) post-facto research
C) quasi-experimental
D) repeated-measures

Question 78

When using the post-facto method, one may test the hypothesis of

A) difference
B) association
C) both of these
D) neither of these

Question 79

The whole point of using one of the various experimental designs is to

A) create equivalent groups of subjects
B) randomize the alpha error
C) prevent any sampling error
D) prevent any possibility of alpha error

Question 80

When it is established that a change in the independent variable actually produces a change in the dependent variable, then the research must be

A) post-facto
B) cross-sectional
C) experimental
D) none of these