Question 1

A survey of foreign students in English language classes asks their country of birth and their age. How many variables are being studied?

Accepted Answer

A)  none 
B)  one 
C)  two 
D)  three C

Question 2

When do researchers use a null hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  in statistical analysis of multiple variables 
B)  in statistical analysis of a single variable 
C)  when the original hypothesis is disproven 
D)  when one variable has no data A

Question 3

What does it mean to operationalize a concept?

Accepted Answer

A)  define a directly observable construct of the concept 
B)  summarize sources that have used the concept 
C)  show how the concept relates to the research question 
D)  measure the effect of study variables A

Question 4

A teacher showed an educational film on nutrition to one group of students, gave a handout on the same material to another group, and then tested each group on their knowledge of the material. The purpose was to determine which method of instruction was more effective. In this experiment, what is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

A)  the test results 
B)  the film and the handout 
C)  the film 
D)  the handout

Question 5

How many and of what types of variables will an experimental study have?

Accepted Answer

A)  at least one dependent variable 
B)  at least one independent variable 
C)  at least two variables of either type 
D)  at least one dependent variable and one independent variable

Question 6

In practice, how often are operational definitions fully operationalized?

Accepted Answer

A)  always, because otherwise it is a conceptual definition 
B)  just in published research 
C)  about half the time 
D)  never, because not all physical factors can be accounted for

Question 7

Which of the following definitions of administering nonverbal praise (in an experiment) is more operational?

Accepted Answer

A)  communicating approval without speaking 
B)  using gestures such as a smile or thumbs up but not speaking 
C)  smiling with lips closed while nodding the head three times 
D)  using facial expression to indicate approval without speaking

Question 8

Quantitative research data is represented how?

Accepted Answer

A)  descriptively 
B)  numerically 
C)  organically 
D)  chronologically

Question 9

What does physically manipulate mean in an experimental context?

Accepted Answer

A)  an intervention or treatment in which subjects are touched 
B)  any tangible, real-world intervention or treatment 
C)  when subjects complete a task as part of an experiment 
D)  when subjects are not told the purpose of an experiment

Question 10

Quantitative research design comes in what types?

Accepted Answer

A)  statistical and observational 
B)  interview, survey, and observational 
C)  experimental and nonexperimental 
D)  representative sample and census

Question 11

In a causal-comparative study, what is the difference between independent variables and dependent variables?

Accepted Answer

A)  independent variables cause the effect measured in the dependent variables 
B)  dependent variables cause the effect measured in the independent variables 
C)  dependent variables are those that affect each other; independent variables do not 
D)  independent variables exist before the study; dependent variables do not

Question 12

Continuous variables come in two types: ratio variables and interval variables. Which of the following is a ratio variable?

Accepted Answer

A)  temperature 
B)  gender 
C)  GPA 
D)  age of the universe

Question 13

What are continuous variables?

Accepted Answer

A)  traits being studied that persist over time 
B)  traits being studied that are identified by name 
C)  variables not introduced experimentally 
D)  traits that can be described by numbers

Question 14

Which of the following is preferred by the scientific community for organizing research?

Accepted Answer

A)  research hypotheses 
B)  research purpose 
C)  research question 
D)  all of the above are acceptable

Question 15

What is the goal in operationalizing a definition?

Accepted Answer

A)  to enable another researcher to replicate the study 
B)  to fully describe all physical factors affecting a variable 
C)  to make concrete a conceptual dictionary definition 
D)  to remind study participants what to focus on

Question 16

What is the difference between a directional hypothesis and a nondirectional hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  directional hypotheses predict a difference will be found, nondirectional ones do not 
B)  directional hypotheses predict the type of difference to be found, nondirectional do not 
C)  directional hypotheses apply to experiments where directions are given 
D)  directional hypotheses are those borne out by the data, nondirectional are those disproven

Question 17

Quantitative research data is represented how?

Accepted Answer

A)  descriptively 
B)  numerically 
C)  graphically 
D)  chronologically

Question 18

What is an operational definition?

Accepted Answer

A)  description of a concept under study 
B)  precise steps for identifying a variable 
C)  a definition found in published studies 
D)  the steps for conducting the experiment

Question 19

What are nominal variables?

Accepted Answer

A)  the traits being studied 
B)  traits being studied that are identified by name 
C)  traits identified by numbers 
D)  traits that can be put in an order

Exam 3: Basic Concepts in Quantitative Research

A survey of foreign students in English language classes asks their country of birth and their age. How many variables are being studied?

When do researchers use a null hypothesis?

What does it mean to operationalize a concept?

How many and of what types of variables will an experimental study have?

In practice, how often are operational definitions fully operationalized?

Which of the following definitions of administering nonverbal praise (in an experiment) is more operational?

Quantitative research data is represented how?

What does physically manipulate mean in an experimental context?

Quantitative research design comes in what types?

In a causal-comparative study, what is the difference between independent variables and dependent variables?

Continuous variables come in two types: ratio variables and interval variables. Which of the following is a ratio variable?

What are continuous variables?

Which of the following is preferred by the scientific community for organizing research?

What is the goal in operationalizing a definition?

What is the difference between a directional hypothesis and a nondirectional hypothesis?

Quantitative research data is represented how?

What is an operational definition?

What are nominal variables?