Question 1

We are interested in the relationship between "number of hours watching TV" and "criminal behavior." Indicate which variable is independent and which variable is dependent. Explain.

Accepted Answer

The IV is "number of hours watching TV" and the DV is "criminal behavior." We assume that the hours an individual is watching TV is somehow impacting one's decision to engage in criminal behavior. We do not expect that criminal behavior has a direct influence on the amount of TV watched by an individual in this example.

Question 2

We want to examine whether one's "gender" (male/female/transgender) is somehow related to "attitudes toward the criminal justice system." Indicate which variable is independent and which variable is dependent. Explain.

Accepted Answer

The IV is "gender" and the DV is "attitudes toward the criminal justice system." In this case the distinction is rather easy because we can be rather certain that "attitudes toward the criminal justice system" has no influence on one's gender. Thus, we want to find whether gender has an impact on the DV.

Question 3

What is the difference between nominal- and ordinal-level variables? Provide an example for both.

Accepted Answer

Both levels of measurement are categorical. However, unlike nominal level variables (e.g. gender-there is no such thing as more or less gender), ordinal level variables can be rank ordered (e.g., low-risk offender, medium-risk offender, high-risk offender).

Question 4

Finally, you want to examine whether there is a relationship between "traffic stops" and "race/ethnicity." Indicate which variable is independent and which variable is dependent. Explain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Finally, you want to examine whether there...

Question 5

Indicate the level of measurement for the following:
a. Gender.
b. IQ score.
c. Level of education (some high school, high school graduate, some college/university, Bachelor's degree, Master's Degree, PhD).
d. Temperature.
e. Country of origin.
f. Age (1, 2, 3, . . . , 99, . . .).
g. Age (0-18; 19-28; 29-38; 39-48).
h. Eye color.
i. Number of times arrested.
j. Income.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Indicate the level of measurement for the...

Question 6

What do we call a variable that has an impact on the outcome of another variable?

Accepted Answer

A)   Independent variable.
B)   Dependent variable.

Question 7

What is the difference between interval- and ratio-level variables? Provide an example for both.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between interval- and...

Question 8

What are we referring to if we ask, "Are we measuring what we intend to measure?"

Accepted Answer

A)   Validity.
B)   Reliability.

Question 9

You conducted a survey on citizen's satisfaction with the local police utilizing a random sample of residents. To measure citizen's satisfaction you utilized a scale between 1 and 15 (15 indicating the highest level of satisfaction). Indicate the level of measurement and explain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You conducted a survey on citizen's satisfaction...

Question 10

What two factors influence the degree of error?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What two factors influence the degree of...

Question 11

We are also eager to find whether there is a relationship between a "problematic drug habit" and "incarceration." Indicate which variable is independent and which variable is dependent. Explain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of We are also eager to find whether...

Question 12

Why is it important, even crucial, to know what the levels of measurement for each of the variables in any study are?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is it important, even crucial, to...

Question 13

If we utilize even the most sophisticated statistical tests, can we ever be 100% certain that our results reflect reality?
Yes or no? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If we utilize even the most sophisticated...

Exam 1: Introduction to Statistical Analysis