Question 1

A researcher would employ structural equation modeling because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it is the only appropriate statistical technique that provides a way of statistically controlling third variables. 
B)  it allows a researcher to test how well data fits a theoretical model that describes the relationship among variables. 
C)  it allows the researcher to describe how strongly different variables are related to one another. 
D)  it is the method that helps predict future behavior based on a person's score on some other variable.

Question 2

Which of the following is a common manipulation used by scientists and advertisers when representing data on a bar graph?

Accepted Answer

A)  The independent variable is represented on the vertical axis instead of the horizontal axis. 
B)  The dependent variable is represented on the horizontal axis instead of the vertical axis. 
C)  The distance between points on the measurement scale is exaggerated to make the results appear more dramatic than they are. 
D)  The data is presented using only bar graphs and histograms to exaggerate the difference between the variables.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true of the correlation coefficient?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a statistic that indicates the amount of spread in a distribution of scores. 
B)  It is a measure of central tendency. 
C)  It is a measure of variability. 
D)  It is a statistic that describes how strongly variables are related to one another.

Question 4

Which of the following is a technique that provides a way of statistically controlling third variables?

Accepted Answer

A)  Criterion assessment 
B)  Frequency distribution 
C)  Multiple correlation 
D)  Partial correlation

Question 5

_____ refers to the strength of association between variables.

Accepted Answer

A)  Statistical index 
B)  Effect size 
C)  Standard deviation 
D)  Linear degree

Question 6

The general form of a regression equation is _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  X = Y + ab 
B)  XY = a + b 
C)  Y = a + bX 
D)  ab = X + Y

Question 7

A researcher asks students to rate their feeling toward an increase in tuition on a seven-point scale ranging from "opposed" to "in favor of." Which type of measurement scale has the researcher used?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nominal 
B)  Ordinal 
C)  Interval 
D)  Ratio

Question 8

The standard deviation would be an appropriate measure of variability only if the variable is measured on:

Accepted Answer

A)  nominal and ratio scales. 
B)  ordinal and nominal scales. 
C)  interval and ratio scales. 
D)  optimal and interval scales.

Question 9

In a perfect positive relationship between two variables,the:

Accepted Answer

A)  score on one variable enables predicting an individual's score on the other variable. 
B)  correlation coefficient would range between -1.0 and +1.0. 
C)  scores on one variable will be the same as the scores on the other variable. 
D)  correlation coefficient would be nearer to -1.0.

Question 10

The _____ of a set of scores is obtained by adding all the scores and dividing by the number of scores.

Accepted Answer

A)  mean 
B)  mode 
C)  median 
D)  standard deviation

Question 11

Which of the following is a measure of central tendency?

Accepted Answer

A)  Frequency distribution 
B)  Median 
C)  Meridian 
D)  Standard deviation

Question 12

In the context of correlation coefficients,which of the following problems occurs when the individuals in a sample are very similar on the variable the researcher is studying?

Accepted Answer

A)  Restriction of range 
B)  Measurement error 
C)  Temporal precedence 
D)  Central tendency

Question 13

Which of the following is an accurate statement about structural equation models (SEM)?

Accepted Answer

A)  They allow researchers to compare two competing models. 
B)  They help in eradicating the third-variable problem in nonexperimental research. 
C)  They can only be represented in a histogram. 
D)  They allow researchers to easily calculate the variance of a set of scores.

Question 14

Which of the following is a measure of variability?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

A professional baseball scout uses the batting average,on-base percentage,throwing ability,and running speed of amateur baseball players to predict their success as professional baseball players.This strategy is an example of using _____ as a predictor of the likelihood of success.

Accepted Answer

A)  effect size 
B)  multiple correlation 
C)  practicality assessment 
D)  criterion variable assessment

Question 16

A measure of _____ is a number that characterizes the amount of spread in a distribution of scores.

Accepted Answer

A)  central tendency 
B)  effect size 
C)  correlation 
D)  variability

Question 17

Craig examines the effect of different genres of music,such as jazz,rock,rap,on task performance.Which type of measurement scale do the genres of music represent?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ratio 
B)  Interval 
C)  Ordinal 
D)  Nominal

Question 18

When graphically depicting frequency distributions,a _____ uses bars to display a frequency distribution for a quantitative variable.

Accepted Answer

A)  polygon 
B)  histogram 
C)  pie chart 
D)  bar graph

Question 19

Maria had to take an aptitude test before starting graduate school.In this scenario,the criterion variable will be Maria's _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  appearance and personality 
B)  expected ability to get along with her fellow students 
C)  score on the aptitude test 
D)  expected performance as a student in graduate school

Question 20

A correlation coefficient can be used when both variables use:

Accepted Answer

A)  different scales of measurement. 
B)  nominal scale properties. 
C)  interval or ratio scale properties. 
D)  ordinal and interval scale properties.

Exam 12: Understanding Research Results: Description and Correlation