Deck 5: Measuring and Designing Quantitative Social Science Research

Question 1

Emotional Intelligence is defined as the ability to perceive emotions and to reflectively regulate emotions as to promote emotional and intellectual growth (Mayer & Salovey, 1997). This is an example of:

A) Operational definition.
B) Conceptual definition.
C) True definition.
D) Associative definition.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Emotional Intelligence is measured by Mayer Salovey Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). This is an example of:

A) Operational definition.
B) Conceptual definition.
C) True definition.
D) Associative definition

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Researchers look for "reliance on others for information" and "assistance" to observe the presence of "trust." Researchers call these:

A) Constructs
B) Concepts
C) Key indicators
D) Operationalization

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A construct that has been defined in a measurable way is known as

A) Concept
B) Key indicator
C) Variable
D) Associative definition

Question 5

Nominal and ordinal levels of measurement usually yield these variables:

A) Categorical
B) Continuous
C) Interval
D) Ratio

Question 6

A researcher measures student satisfaction with advising given in three different channels of communication: Face-to-face, online, and written handouts. What level of measurement has s/he used for the channels variable?

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

Question 7

What level of measurement typically would be used to gauge the number of words per speaking turn?

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

Question 8

The statement, "I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow" most likely indicates measurement at the _______ level.

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

Question 9

Interval and ratio level measurements differ in their use of zero. Ratio level measurement includes:

A) an absolute zero point, in which a score of zero indicates an absence of the variable being measured.
B) a relative zero, such as 0-degrees Fahrenheit.
C) an absolute zero, in which a score of zero is assigned, based on a theoretic rationale.
D) none of the above

Question 10

Which type of scale uses sets of bipolar adjectives to measure respondents' attitudes and beliefs?

A) Likert scale
B) Semantic differential scale
C) All of the above
D) None of the above

Question 11

Which type of scale is illustrated below?
The male-female relationship portrayed in this music video was:
Egalitarian __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Domineering
Aggressive __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Supportive
Good __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Bad

A) Gender scale
B) Likert scale.
C) Semantic-differential scale.
D) Operational scale

Question 12

What kind of variable is political party membership (i.e., Republican, Democrat, Independent)?

A) Categorical variable measured with a nominal scale
B) Categorical variable measured with an ordinal scale
C) Continuous variable measured with an interval scale
D) Continuous variable measured with a ratio scale

Question 13

Which variable would typically appear as a demographic item on a survey questionnaire?

A) Age
B) Sex
C) Income
D) All of the above

Question 14

A researcher is equally capable of using a time-series design or a Solomon 4-groups design to test her hypothesis; which design would provide the most sophisticated causal evidence?

A) Time series
B) Solomon 4-groups
C) Both designs provide equally strong causal evidence
D) Neither design provides equally strong causal evidence

Question 15

Which type of experiment provides the best possible control over rival hypotheses?

A) Pre-experimental design
B) Quasi-experimental design
C) True experimental design
D) Proto-experimental design

Question 16

A researcher asks participants to categorize themselves as only Democrat or Republican. However, some participants consider themselves Independents. The researcher has failed to fulfill this criterion of nominal measurement:

A) Mutually exclusive
B) Exhaustive list
C) Rank ordering
D) Unidimensionality

Question 17

Many studies that use content analysis and survey research can

A) Make sufficient arguments for causality but not covariance
B) Make sufficient arguments for covariance but not causality
C) Make sufficient arguments for both causality and covariance
D) None of the above

Question 18

Longitudinal survey design may allow a researcher to provide some evidence of

A) Control over rival explanations
B) Covariance
C) Time order
D) Both b and c

Question 19

This kind of survey research design collects data at different points in time from different random samples of individuals presumed to be from the same population.

A) Cross-sectional
B) Panel
C) Trend
D) General

Question 20

A researcher may administer a pretest when doing an experiment in order to

A) Determine which participants should continue with a study
B) Determine the effectiveness of a research design
C) Assess the baseline of an independent variable before manipulating the dependent variable
D) Assess the baseline of the dependent variable before manipulating the independent variable
Essays:

Question 21

How do conceptual definitions differ from operational definitions? Why is it important to have clear conceptual and operational definitions in your research design?

Question 22

Describe the characteristics of the four levels of measurements. Which level is the most precise? Why?

Question 23

Explain the three basic criteria for making a causal argument in quantitative social science research.

Question 24

Identify the three-design elements researchers use for experimental control. Why are these three elements important to consider when building a research design?