Deck 9: Measurement and Scaling

Question 1

A(n) _____ is an abstraction or idea formed by the perception of phenomena.

A) concept
B) characteristic
C) scale
D) item
E) thought

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A concept is also referred to as a(n) _____.

A) scale
B) item
C) construct
D) proxy
E) higher-order variable

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Obtaining scores on each of the individual variables that collectively define a concept and combining them into an single score according to a predefined set of rules results in something called a(n) _____.

A) scale
B) index
C) summated rating
D) a and b
E) a, b, and c

Answer 3

E

Question 4

John uses several variables that he feels collectively define the concept of "employee trust." He obtains scores on each of the individual variables and combines them into a(n) _____.

A) Likert item
B) nonmetric scale
C) ordinal measurement
D) scale
E) semantic differential

Question 5

In business research we work with concepts that can range from being simple and concrete in nature to those that are extremely complex and abstract. The first thing a researcher has to do is _____.

A) measure the concept properly
B) identify a proxy variable for the concept
C) develop a precise definition of the concept
D) validate the concept
E) establish reliability of the concept's measurement

Question 6

The measurement process involves specifying the variables that serve as ____ for the concepts.

A) representatives
B) fill-ins
C) scores
D) indices
E) proxies

Question 7

A variable that represents a single component of a larger concept is referred to as a(n) _____.

A) node
B) proxy
C) construct
D) item
E) score

Question 8

Proxies are also referred to in business research as indicator or _____ variables because they indirectly measure constructs.

A) primary
B) dependent
C) nominal
D) manifest
E) independent

Question 9

_____ involves assigning numbers to a variable according to certain rules.

A) Measurement
B) Scaling
C) Manifesting
D) Rating
E) Validating

Question 10

How many levels of measurement are available to the researcher?

A) two
B) four
C) eight
D) ten
E) an infinite number

Question 11

A(n) _____ is a measurement tool that can be used to measure a question with a predetermined number of outcome and can be directional or categorical (labels).

A) scale
B) category
C) concept
D) construct
E) proxy

Question 12

When scales are continuous they measure not only direction or classification but _____ as well.

A) validity
B) reliability
C) ranking
D) intensity
E) completeness

Question 13

All of the following are levels of measurement EXCEPT _____.

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

Question 14

Which type of scale uses numbers as labels to identify and classify objects, individuals, or events?

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

Question 15

Karen included a question asking respondents if they were happy with their work environment. The answer choices were "yes" or "no." Respondents answering "yes" are coded with a "1," and those answering "no" were coded with a "0." What type of scale is Karen using?

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

Question 16

A requirement for a nominal scale is that its categories are mutually exclusive. This means _____.

A) that all possible categories must be included
B) that the categories cannot appear in any other question on the questionnaire
C) that the categories are synonymous
D) that each category must be different (no overlap)
E) that points on the scale indicate equal distance

Question 17

A requirement for a nominal scale is that its categories are exhaustive. This means _____.

A) that all possible categories must be included
B) that the categories cannot appear in any other question on the questionnaire
C) that the categories are synonymous
D) that each category must be different (no overlap)
E) that points on the scale indicate equal distance

Question 18

Which type of scale is the lowest level of measurement and provides data that is relatively low in precision?

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

Question 19

With which type of scale is data analysis restricted to counts of the number of responses in each category, calculation of the mode or percentage for a particular question, and use of the chi-square statistic?

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

Question 20

A researcher administered a questionnaire that only allowed respondents to answer "yes" or "no" to each question. Which type of data analysis is appropriate for the type of data this researcher collects with this questionnaire?

A) regression
B) chi-square statistic
C) cluster analysis
D) R² test
E) Pearson's product-moment correlation

Question 21

A(n) _____ scale is a ranking scale.

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

Question 22

A researcher wants respondents to place brands of automobiles into rank order with respect to styling. Which type of scale should he use?

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

Question 23

Which of the following is TRUE with regard to ordinal scales?

A) This scale uses numbers as labels to identify and classify objects, individuals, or events.
B) This scale uses numbers to rate objects or events so that the distance between the numbers is equal.
C) This scale provides the highest level of measurement
D) The points on this scale do not indicate equal distance between the rankings.
E) This scale possesses all of the properties of the other scales plus an absolute zero point.

Question 24

Which type of scale uses numbers to rate objects or events so that the distances between the numbers are equal but the zero point is not fixed?

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

Question 25

Zeke wants a scale in which the differences between the scale points are considered to be equal so that he can compare differences between scale points, but he doesn't need a scale in which the location of the zero point is fixed. Zeke should use a(n) _____.

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

Question 26

Which of the following is TRUE regarding interval scales?

A) This scale is the lowest level of measurement.
B) This scale is a ranking scale only.
C) The differences between points on this scale can be interpreted and compared meaningfully.
D) The location of the zero point is fixed.
E) This scale provides the highest level of measurement.

Question 27

Which of the following typically involve the use of statements on a questionnaire accompanied by precoded categories, one of which is selected by the respondent to indicate the extent of agreement or disagreement with a given statement?

A) nominal scale
B) rating scale
C) preference scale
D) liking scale
E) latent scale

Question 28

What type of scale possesses a unique origin or zero point?

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

Question 29

The two broad types of measurement scales are _____.

A) metric and nonmetric
B) metric and interval
C) interval and nonmetric
D) nominal and ordinal
E) ratio and interval

Question 30

_____ scales often are referred to as quantitative.

A) Nonmetric
B) Metric
C) Nominal
D) Ordinal
E) Proxy

Question 31

_____ scales often are referred to as qualitative.

A) Nonmetric
B) Metric
C) Nominal
D) Ordinal
E) Proxy

Question 32

Which of the following is an example of a metric scale?

A) Likert scale
B) rank order scale
C) constant sum scale
D) sorting scale
E) all of these choices

Question 33

All of the following are examples of metric scales EXCEPT _____.

A) summated ratings scale
B) numerical scale
C) semantic differential scale
D) graphic ratings scale
E) categorical scale

Question 34

Which of the following are examples of nonmetric scales?

A) Likert scale
B) semantic differential
C) sorting scale
D) graphic ratings scale
E) all of these choices

Question 35

All of the following are nonmetric scales EXCEPT _____

A) categorical scale
B) rank order scale
C) sorting scale
D) paired comparison scale
E) semantic differential scale

Question 36

Business researchers are often interested in attitudes, such as consumers' attitudes towards brands or advertising or employees' attitudes toward benefit options or workloads. Which of the following is useful in measuring attitudes and opinions?

A) ranking scale
B) Likert scale
C) nominal scale
D) manifest scale
E) Pearson scale

Question 37

If a researcher has several statements that all relate to a single concept and then combines the individual statement ratings, the result is a _____.

A) construct
B) Likert scale
C) higher-order scale
D) categorical scale
E) summated ratings scale

Question 38

Numerical scales differ from summated ratings scales in that _____.

A) for each point on the numerical scale, you develop a label to express the intensity of the respondent's feelings
B) numerical scales use bipolar end points and summated ratings scales do not
C) numerical scales have numbers as response options rather than verbal descriptions
D) a numerical scale uses a continuum in the form of a line with anchors that are numbered and named whereas a summated ratings scale does not
E) none of the above because numerical scales is just another name for a summated ratings scale

Question 39

Clara wants to measure consumers' intentions to buy a new automobile within the next six months. What type of scale is frequently used to measure behavioral intentions?

A) summated ratings scale
B) numerical scale
C) semantic differential scale
D) sorting
E) rank order scale

Question 40

The distinguishing feature of _____ scales is the use of bipolar end points (or anchors). The end points are chosen to describe individuals, objects or events with opposite adjectives or adverbs.

A) summated ratings
B) numerical
C) semantic differential
D) sorting
E) rank order

Question 41

_____ scales require respondents to place a mark on the line.

A) Numerical
B) Sorting
C) Rank order
D) Summated ratings
E) Graphic Ratings

Question 42

Which type of scale provides data that describe differences in the type or kind of response by indicating the absence or presence of a particular characteristic or property?

A) nonmetric scales
B) verification scales
C) comparative scales
D) numerical scales
E) primary scales

Question 43

"What is your age? _____ male _____ female (check one)," is an example of which type of scale?

A) demographic scale
B) Likert scale
C) metric scale
D) categorical scale
E) sorting scale

Question 44

Which of the following is a type of categorical scale that includes a set of traits, product characteristics, or features that are paired against one another?

A) comparative scale
B) balanced scale
C) paired-comparison scale
D) dual-coding scale
E) dyadic scale

Question 45

Which of the following is an ordinal scale that asks respondents to rank a set of objects or characteristics in terms of preference, similarity, importance, or similar adjective?

A) rank order scale
B) categorical scale
C) metric scale
D) summative scale
E) priority scale

Question 46

This type of scale asks respondents to indicate their beliefs or opinions by arranging objects (items) on the basis of perceived similarity or some other attribute. This type of scale also can be used to rank order objects, and it is particularly useful when there are a large number of objects. Each object is written a separate card. What type of scale is this?

A) categorical scale
B) rank order scale
C) sorting scale
D) constant sum scale
E) paired comparison scale

Question 47

A researcher needs a scale that provides both a ranking and the magnitude of relative importance of each attribute. What type of scale would be best?

A) categorical scale
B) rank order scale
C) sorting scale
D) constant sum scale
E) paired comparison scale

Question 48

All of the following are practical decisions when developing scales EXCEPT _____.

A) determining the number of scale categories
B) determining the number of items to measure a concept
C) determining whether to use an odd or even number of categories
D) determining whether to use balanced or unbalanced scales
E) determining the maximum number of pages for the questionnaire before respondents get fatigued

Question 49

In practical terms, what will allow greater precision of the measurement scale?

A) a larger number of categories
B) at least two items to measure each construct
C) an even number of response categories
D) balanced scales
E) numerical labels for categories

Question 50

In a(n) _____ scale the number of favorable and unfavorable categories is equal.

A) balanced
B) equivalent
C) even
D) valid
E) reliable

Question 51

In which type of scale might error occur if respondents really don't have an opinion regarding the topic in the question?

A) balanced scale
B) forced choice scale
C) odd category
D) unbalanced sale
E) numerical scale

Question 52

Accuracy is associated with the term _____, while consistency is associated with the term _____.

A) prominence; redundancy
B) forced; validity
C) validity; balanced
D) reliability; validity
E) validity; reliability

Question 53

_____ error occurs when the values obtained in a survey (observed values) are not the same as the true value.

A) Construct
B) Reliability
C) Measurement
D) Accuracy
E) Consistency

Question 54

A survey instrument (questionnaire) is considered ____ if its repeated application results in consistent scores.

A) valid
B) reliable
C) acceptable
D) accurate
E) consistent

Question 55

All of the following are tests for reliability EXCEPT _____.

A) test-retest
B) alternative-forms
C) internal consistency
D) convergent
E) all of the above are reliability tests

Question 56

Oscar administers the same questionnaire to the same sample at two points in time. He compares the results to determine how similar they are. Oscar is conducting which test for reliability?

A) alternative-forms
B) internal consistency
C) convergent
D) discriminant
E) test-retest

Question 57

What are the two types of internal consistency reliability?

A) convergent and discriminant
B) content and construct
C) criterion and concurrent
D) split-half and coefficient alpha
E) predictive and nomological

Question 58

_____ is the average of the coefficients from all possible combinations of split halves and ranges from 0 to 1.

A) Cronbach's alpha
B) Split-half reliability
C) Test-Retest
D) Convergence
E) Alternative-Forms

Question 59

Coefficient alpha is also known as _____ alpha.

A) Pearson's
B) chi-squared
C) Cronbach's
D) correlation
E) Likert's

Question 60

Researchers generally consider an alpha of _____ as a minimum acceptable level.

A) 0.95
B) -0.80
C) 0.70
D) 3
E) 10

Question 61

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding reliability?

A) The minimum number of items in a scale to measure a particular concept should be at least five.
B) The items included in the scale can be either positively or negatively correlated.
C) Items in a scale that are correlated with other items in the scale at a level lower than 0.30 should be evaluated for removal from the scale.
D) Reliability is the extent to which a construct measures what it is supposed to measure.
E) Reliability assesses whether a construct performs as expected relative to other variables indentified as meaningful criteria.

Question 62

_____is the extent to which a construct measures what it is supposed to measure.

A) Reliability
B) Validity
C) Cronbach's alpha
D) Coefficient alpha
E) Coefficient beta

Question 63

_____ validity is the extent to which the construct is positively correlated with other measures of the same construct.

A) Convergent
B) Discriminant
C) Criterion
D) Concurrent
E) Predictive

Question 64

_____ validity is the extent to which the construct does not correlate with other measures that are different from it.

A) Convergent
B) Discriminant
C) Criterion
D) Concurrent
E) Predictive

Question 65

John is assessing the correlation between measures of employee commitment and organizational financial performance in an attempt to validate the employee commitment scale. It is hypothesized that the correlation between these two constructs should be positive and significant, which it is. John is assessing which type of validity of the employee commitment scale?

A) convergent
B) discriminant
C) criterion
D) test-retest
E) predictive

Question 66

How does a researcher demonstrate concurrent validity?

A) Some prespecified association must be established between the scores on the construct being validated and the scores on a dependent variable as determined by theory. The scores of both variables are obtained at approximately the same time and should be highly correlated.
B) The researcher assesses whether a construct performs as expected relative to other variables indentified as meaningful criteria.
C) Based on theory and experience, the researcher identifies another established construct that is claimed to measure the same concept as the one being validated and obtains scores on both constructs and computes the correlation between the scores.
D) Based on theory and experience, the researcher identifies a construct that is claimed to be different from the concept being validated and obtains scores on both scales and computes the correlation between the scores.
E) The researcher randomly divides the group of scale items in half and correlates the two sets of items.

Question 67

_____ validity assesses the ability of a construct measured at one point in time to predict another criterion at a future point in time.

A) Convergent
B) Discriminant
C) Criterion
D) Concurrent
E) Predictive

Question 68

What is the first step in the scale development process?

A) selection of the appropriate scales to measure the concept
B) administer the instrument to a sample and assess respondent understanding as well as reliability and validity
C) specification of a sample of observable and measurable items that represent the components of the concept
D) definition of the concept to be measured
E) identification of the components of the concept

Question 69

A rule-of-thumb is each component should have a minimum of _____ items to be adequately measured.

A) two
B) three
C) four
D) five
E) six

Question 70

A concept is an abstraction or idea formed by the perception of phenomena.

Question 71

Measurement involves assigning letters or numbers to a variable according to certain rules.

Question 72

A scale is a measurement tool that can be used to measure a question with a predetermined number of outcomes.

Question 73

An ordinal scale uses numbers as labels to identify and classify objects, individuals or events.

Question 74

An interval scale is a ranking scale.

Question 75

A Likert scale attempts to measure attitudes or opinions.

Question 76

Numerical scales have numbers as response options rather than verbal descriptions.

Question 77

A semantic differential scale is not used to measure attitudes.

Question 78

A graphical ratings scale provides measurement on a continuum in the form of a line with anchors that are numbered and named.

Question 79

A multi-item scale consists of a number of closely related individual statements (items or indicators).

Question 80

The polar extremes approach means the same as using a forced choice scale.