Deck 9: Analyzing and Interpreting Quantitative Data

Question 1

Descriptive statistics provide a numeric or visual description of

A) The sampling frame being studied
B) The collected sample being studied
C) The population being studied
D) All of the above

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following types of graphs would be used to represent a categorical variable (data measured with a nominal or an ordinal scale)?

A) Bar chart
B) Frequency polygon
C) Histogram
D) None of these

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following types of graphs would be used to represent a continuous variable (data measured with an interval or ratio scale)?

A) Bar chart
B) Pie chart
C) Histogram
D) All of the above

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A frequency distribution shows

A) The way scores are distributed along the y-axis
B) The way scores are distributed along the x-axis
C) The way scores are distributed in a pie chart
D) The way scores are distributed in a bar chart

Question 5

To calculate the mode of the data scores, you would:

A) Summarize the data sample scores and then average them
B) List the data sample scores scores and look for the midpoint of them
C) Look for the most frequently occurring score in the data sample
D) None of the above

Question 6

Which of the following abnormal distribution shapes is an indication of bias or constant error?

A) Positively skewed curve
B) Negatively skewed curve
C) Peaked or leptokurtic curve
D) All of the above

Question 7

This kind of distribution indicates that not much score variation is happening in the data distribution:

A) Positively skewed curve
B) Negatively skewed curve
C) Peaked or leptokurtic curve
D) Flat or platykurtic curve

Question 8

This measure of dispersion is the best indicator of the total amount of variation within a given sample:

A) Standard deviation
B) Range
C) Variance
D) Mode

Question 9

Given the following: "What is the relationship between grade-point-average and test anxiety?" -choose the correct descriptor.

A) Directional hypothesis
B) Nondirectional hypothesis
C) Directional research question
D) Nondirectional research question

Question 10

Given the following, choose the correct descriptor: "Are there fewer central angle shots in women's televised basketball games than in men's televised basketball games?"

A) Directional hypothesis
B) Nondirectional hypothesis
C) Directional research question
D) Nondirectional research question

Question 11

When the researchers measured communication apprehension they found that most people fall in the midsection of the bell shaped curve. This is called:

A) Population distribution
B) Normal Curve
C) Positively Skewed
D) Negatively Skewed

Question 12

The researchers decide to reject the null hypothesis, but should not have. This is called a:

A) Type I error
B) Type II error
C) Measurement error
D) Sampling error

Question 13

Which of the following statistics is NOT a test of group differences?

A) Chi-square
B) t-test
C) ANOVA
D) Regression

Question 14

Which of the following statistics is NOT a parametric test?

A) Chi-square
B) t-test
C) ANOVA
D) Regression

Question 15

High school students exposed to a life skills curriculum reported higher levels of interaction with their parents than students who were not exposed to the curriculum. The t_obt was 8.92 at p < .001. Which of the following statements are true about this test?

A) This is a parametric test
B) This is a causal test
C) This is a test of difference between two groups
D) All of these statements are true

Question 16

In determining a test of correlation, a researcher obtained an r_xy = +0.76 at p < .01 between a communication competence measure and frequency of contact among dating partners. Which of the following statements are true about this test?

A) This is a parametric test
B) This is a causal test
C) This is a test of difference between two groups
D) All of these statements are true

Question 17

A researcher predicts, "Average number of emails received per day is related to perceived information overload." Which type of hypothesis is it?

A) One-tailed hypothesis and non-directional
B) Two-tailed hypothesis and non-directional
C) One-tailed hypothesis and directional
D) Two-tailed hypothesis and directional

Question 18

Given the hypothesis: "Debate viewing increases the level of issue knowledge," choose the correct descriptor:

A) One-tailed hypothesis and non-directional
B) Two-tailed hypothesis and non-directional
C) One-tailed hypothesis and directional
D) Two-tailed hypothesis and directional
Essays:

Question 19

Compare and contrast descriptive and inferential statistics. What kinds of visual representations and statistical tests are associated with each type of statistic?

Question 20

What is a null hypothesis? How does it relate to Type I error and Type II error? How can researchers avoid these errors when making decisions about their results?

Question 21

A researcher wishes to test the following hypothesis: Prime time dramas will contain greater numbers of violent acts than non prime time dramas.
a. Identify the variables.
b. Explain whether they are independent or dependent, and why.
c. Explain whether they are categorical and/or continuous, and why.
d. Identify the appropriate test statistic for analyzing the data, and explain your choice.
e. Express the research hypothesis in terms of group means.
f. Explain whether this is a test of group differences or a test of relationship between the variables.
g. How would you decide if the results of statistical testing are significant?