Deck 9: Measurement

Question 1

Which of the following is a true statement regarding measurement?

A) It becomes problematic when concepts are defined and then communicated as if they were independent of the measures used.
B) There is no one right way to measure concepts in social work research.
C) It can be defined as the process of assigning numbers or other symbols to characteristics or attributes of a concept according to specified rules.
D) All of the above.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following best defines an attribute in social work research?

A) Something with no fixed numeric value.
B) The options within a variable.
C) A concept that means the same thing to one person as it does to another.
D) The characteristics of a given research design.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

An operational definition is one that:

A) Goes beyond a nominal definition of a concept to define it in a way that enables measurement.
B) Defines a concept in such a way that it means the same thing to one person as it does to another.
C) Is similar to a description one would find in a dictionary.
D) Both a and b.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The three ways to measure concepts are:

A) Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods.
B) Survey research, telephone interviewing, and participant observation.
C) Asking questions, making observations, and consulting existing records.
D) Self-administered questionnaires, computer-assisted telephone interviewing, and semi-structured surveys.

Question 5

A researcher is using data from the Census 2000 to ask new research questions that go beyond the purpose for which the Census data were collected. This type of data is:

A) Secondary data.
B) Primary data.
C) Biased data.
D) Qualitative data.

Question 6

Which of the following best describe the main sources of data for qualitative research?

A) Secondary data.
B) Unstructured observation and in-depth interviews.
C) Numbers and counting things.
D) Structured observation, experiments, and survey research.

Question 7

Which of the following best describe the main sources of data for quantitative research?

A) Unstructured observation and in-depth interviews.
B) Primary data.
C) Words and images.
D) Structured observation, experiments, and survey research.

Question 8

Which of the following represent a close-ended question used in survey research?

A) What have you been doing in the past four weeks to find employment?
B) What types of barriers have you experienced in the past four weeks as you try to find employment?
C) Have you checked with friends or relatives in the past four weeks to find employment?
D) What emotions have you experienced in the past four weeks as you try to find employment?

Question 9

A structured survey is one in which:

A) A computer asks the questions and records the responses.
B) The interviewer asks questions as they are written with the aim of standardizing the administration process as much as possible.
C) The majority of questions are close-ended questions.
D) Both b and c.

Question 10

A semi-structured survey is one in which:

A) The majority of questions are close-ended questions.
B) The interviewer is free to clarify the questions and follow up on the participant's responses.
C) A computer asks the questions and records the responses.
D) The interviewer asks questions as they are written with the aim of standardizing the administration process as much as possible.

Question 11

When survey respondents feel pressured to respond to questions in a certain way regardless of whether the response is true, this is known as:

A) Social desirability.
B) Social consciousness.
C) Observer interference.
D) Response bias.

Question 12

Which of the following represents a strength of reviewing existing records as a method of social work research?

A) It can reduce the data-collection burden on respondents.
B) It can help the researcher avoid the time and expenses of collecting primary data.
C) It effectively avoids both observer interference and social desirability bias.
D) Both a and b.

Question 13

Researchers can be confident in research findings generated by the use of standardized instruments when:

A) The standardized instrument is based on evidence-based practice.
B) The standardized instrument incorporates sufficient self-report measures.
C) The standardized instrument accurately measures the variables of concern.
D) The standardized instrument has been developed by the National Institutes of Health or other government sponsored institution.

Question 14

A score of 5 or more on the short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale indicates the respondent is likely experiencing depression. A score of 5 in this instance is known as what?

A) A cutting score.
B) A population norm for older adults.
C) A scale score.
D) The extent of measurement error.

Question 15

Random error refers to which of the following?

A) Errors that have a definite pattern.
B) Errors that reflect outdated population norms.
C) Errors that are neither consistent nor patterned.
D) Errors generated during the process of random assignment.

Question 16

A measure is considered valid when it:

A) Contains no observer interference or social desirability.
B) Is able to generate consistent results each time the measure is administered.
C) Is a standardized instrument with accurate population norms.
D) Accurately represents the concept of interest to a high degree.

Question 17

A measure is considered reliable when it is:

A) A standardized instrument with accurate population norms.
B) Able to generate consistent results each time the measure is administered.
C) Accurately able to represent the concept of interest to a high degree.
D) Able to generate the same results each time the measure is administered, even when respondents have changed.

Question 18

Each item on the licensing exam for social workers is designed to address issues that are seen in everyday social work practice. A committee of expert social workers read each item together. As a group, they decide if the item is a reflection of current social work practice. What type of validity is being addressed in this process?

A) Scorer validity.
B) Content validity.
C) Construct validity.
D) Criterion-related validity.

Question 19

Which form of reliability requires the researcher to design two instruments?

A) Test-retest reliability.
B) Interrater reliability.
C) Internal consistency.
D) Parallel forms reliability.

Question 20

Interrater reliability refers to which of the following?

A) The extent of agreement of rating by the same observer at different points in time.
B) How consistent a measure is when it is administered twice in a relatively short time frame.
C) The percentage of agreement between two observers.
D) The extent to which all the items included in an index or scale for a single concept hold together

Question 21

Below are items found on several different questionnaires. Which is a dynamic measure?

A) How many hours of television did you watch last week? ____
B) During the last fiscal tax year, estimate your gross family income? _______
C) Indicate your marital status. Never Married ___ Divorced ___
D) Separated ___ Widowed ___

Question 22

Below are items found on a survey given to clinical social workers regarding the condition of a client. Which of these items is a state measure?

A) Does your client employ religiosity in the daily process of decision-making? Yes ___ No ___.
B) What is your client's IQ score? _____
C) What your client's score on the Marital Satisfaction Scale?
D) None of the above.

Question 23

Which is an example of an ordinal measurement?

A) A physician asks the question, "On a scale of zero to 10, what is your current level of pain?"
B) "Are you currently employed?"
C) "What is your number of years of education?"
D) "What is your current income?"

Question 24

Which is an example of a ratio measurement?

A) Centigrade temperature.
B) Number of children.
C) Gender.
D) Level of depression.

Question 25

Which is a key feature to induce subjects to respond to a questionnaire?

A) High levels of validity.
B) A coefficient alpha of at least .8.
C) Control of alternative explanations.
D) First impressions of the questionnaire.

Question 26

Describe the strengths and limitations of survey research.

Question 27

Design a brief survey to assess your classmates' attitudes toward learning about social work research. Use a closed-ended question, a partially close-ended question, and an open-ended question.

Question 28

List three advantages and three limitations of using standardized instruments in social work research.

Question 29

Briefly describe three types of measurement validity and explain why they are important in social work research.

Question 30

Briefly describe three types of measurement reliability and explain why they are important in social work research.

Question 31

Describe the difference between interrater reliability and intrarater reliability.

Question 32

Give three examples of a population for which snowball sampling would be indicated.

Question 33

Describe the procedures for conducting a simple random sample.

Question 34

What is the difference between a confidence level and a margin of error?