Question 1

In a sequence of trials, an infant looks at a stimulus for 10 seconds, then 8, then 6, then 4. On the next trial, the infant looks for 12 seconds. What has occurred on this last trial?

Accepted Answer

A)  the infant has noticed a change in the stimulus 
B)  habituation has occurred 
C)  the infant has lost interest in the stimulus 
D)  the infant is afraid of the stimulus

Question 2

Descriptive statistic is to inferential statistic as _________ is to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  mean; standard deviation 
B)  central tendency; variability 
C)  sample; population 
D)  median; range

Question 3

The main difference between an interval and a ratio scale is that an interval scale

Accepted Answer

A)  is used only for placing participants into categories 
B)  does not have a true zero point 
C)  does not preserve a rank order in the assignment of numbers 
D)  has equal intervals between numbers

Question 4

Using Donders method, if the mental event called discrimination takes 0.07 seconds and discrimination reaction time takes 0.23 seconds, what is the person's basic reaction time?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.07 seconds 
B)  0.30 seconds 
C)  0.16 seconds 
D)  0.93 seconds

Question 5

All of the following are measures of central tendency except

Accepted Answer

A)  range 
B)  median 
C)  mean 
D)  mode

Question 6

Explain why accurate bicycle riding, as a measure of IQ, would be reliable but not valid. How would you demonstrate its lack of validity?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why accurate bicycle riding, as a...

Question 7

What is the relationship between a frequency distribution (FD) and a normal distribution (ND)?

Accepted Answer

A)  FD uses the median as the primary measure of central tendency; ND uses the mean 
B)  FD is a hypothetical distribution; ND is based on actual data 
C)  FD is a distribution of actual scores, while ND is a hypothetical distribution 
D)  FD is always bell shaped, while ND may or may not be bell shaped

Question 8

On a reaction time test, which of the following factors could contribute to measurement error?

Accepted Answer

A)  subject attentiveness 
B)  equipment irregularities 
C)  increased boredom if the task lasts too long 
D)  all of the above

Question 9

Suppose a child in Kim and Spelke's habituation experiment showed a gradual decrease in looking time when shown ten examples of balls rolling down a plane while accelerating. The child then sees (trial 11) a ball rolling up a plane while decelerating. If the child understands the concept of gravity, what will happen to the behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  they will no longer look at the display 
B)  they will look much longer on trial 11 than on trial 10 
C)  they will look for the same amount of time on both trials 10 and 11 
D)  not enough information to decide

Question 10

Compare and contrast effect size and confidence intervals as tools researchers may use to describe their results in more depth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast effect size and confidence...

Question 11

If simple reaction time takes an average of 0.17 seconds and discrimination reaction time takes an average of 0.26 seconds, then according to Donders' method, how long does the mental event of discrimination take?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.43 seconds 
B)  0.26 seconds 
C)  0.09 seconds 
D)  0.20 seconds

Question 12

When is the median a better measure of central tendency than the mean?

Accepted Answer

A)  when several of the scores are the same score 
B)  when there are a few scores that are much higher or lower than the others 
C)  when the scores are normally distributed 
D)  none of the above; the mean is always preferred

Question 13

In the mental rotation studies, Shepard and Metzler predicted that

Accepted Answer

A)  participants would make more errors with a 30o rotation than with a 60o rotation 
B)  participants would make more errors with a 60o rotation than with a 30o rotation 
C)  participants would take more time with a 30o rotation than with a 60o rotation 
D)  participants would take more time with a 60o rotation than with a 30o rotation

Question 14

Distinguish between a Type I error and a Type II error.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Distinguish between a Type I error and...

Question 15

In a "Gee whiz" graph,

Accepted Answer

A)  the differences are so obvious that an inferential analysis is not needed 
B)  the hoped-for differences fail to materialize 
C)  apparent differences are exaggerated by failing to label the Y-axis appropriately 
D)  there are too many lines, making it impossible to interpret

Question 16

In a __________, the effect sizes of several studies on the same topic are combined statistically.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a __________, the effect sizes of...

Question 17

A study examines scores on an employment test and job performance six months later. This study is most likely attempting to establish

Accepted Answer

A)  criterion validity 
B)  face validity 
C)  reliability 
D)  construct validity

Question 18

The results of an inkblot test might be quite different when given to the same person on two different occasions. If this is the case, then based on this fact alone, the inkblot test is

Accepted Answer

A)  not reliable but probably valid 
B)  not reliable 
C)  not valid 
D)  neither reliable nor valid

Question 19

In Sheldon's research, 7-point ______ scales were used to measure body type and temperament.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

Magazine surveys about your mental health

Accepted Answer

A)  have been shown to be highly reliable 
B)  have criterion validity but not construct validity 
C)  have construct validity but not criterion validity 
D)  have face validity but not construct validity

Exam 4: Measurement, Sampling, and Data Analysis