Deck 15: Correlational Research

Question 1

When the correlation between two variables is high, we know that:

A) one variable has at least a small amount of causal influence on the other
B) both variables are the result of a common influence
C) the variables are independent
D) none of the above is necessarily true

Answer 1

none of the above is necessarily true

Question 2

A correlation coefficient of -0.79 between time spent in typing practice and the number of typing errors means that:

A) there is a positive correlation between the number of hours spent in typing practice and the number of typing errors
B) there is a cause-and-effect relationship between typing practice and typing errors
C) as time spent in practice increased, errors tended to decrease
D) the correlation coefficient has no meaning because it is negative

Answer 2

the correlation coefficient has no meaning because it is negative

Question 3

In which of the following would one be most likely to find a correlation coefficient of zero or close to zero?

A) Shoe sizes of adult males correlated with their salaries
B) Age correlated with the cost of life insurance
C) Age of car correlated with trade-in value
D) Intelligence correlated with grades in arithmetic

Answer 3

Shoe sizes of adult males correlated with their salaries

Question 4

Which of the following procedures would yield the most appropriate data for studying the relationship between intelligence and achievement?

A) Administering an achievement test and an intelligence test to one sample of subjects
B) Administering an achievement test to one sample of subjects and an intelligence test to another sample of subjects
C) Administering an achievement test to one sample of subjects, all of whom have an I.Q. of 100
D) Administering an achievement test to two samples of subjects and an intelligence test to two different samples of subjects

Question 5

A researcher studied the relationship between the use of alcohol and grades in college. She found that a larger proportion of drinkers received low grades than did teetotalers. She should conclude that:

A) bad grades drive students to drink
B) drinking causes bad grades
C) drinking habits and grades are related
D) drinking habits and grades are unrelated

Question 6

Correlational research differs from experimental research in that:

A) there is no manipulation of variables
B) random sampling is not used
C) there is no concern regarding internal validity
D) researcher bias is not a problem

Question 7

Correlational research is used to:

A) explore possible cause-and-effect sequences
B) predict future behavior
C) suggest experimental studies
D) all of the above

Question 8

A regression line is used to:

A) estimate the score on one variable from the score on another variable
B) correct data for the regression threat to internal validity
C) estimate the extent to which material has been forgotten
D) connect the points in a scatterplot

Question 9

Multiple regression is a technique for:

A) eliminating the effect of extraneous variables in a correlational study
B) adjusting scores for a data collector threat
C) predicting a criterion from two or more predictors in combination
D) reviving childhood memories

Question 10

Discriminant function analysis is used to:

A) reduce the number of variables to a more manageable level
B) simplify the calculation of a multiple correlation coefficient
C) predict group membership from two or more quantitative variables
D) describe the relationships among several categorical variables

Question 11

Path analysis is a technique for:

A) exploring theoretical cause-effect relationships
B) determining a regression line
C) estimating the amount of error associated with a predicted score
D) reducing the effects of an extraneous variable

Question 12

Factor analysis has as its primary goal:

A) generalization
B) prediction
C) simplification
D) replication

Question 13

What do multiple regression, path analysis, and factor analysis all have in common?

A) They all result in a prediction equation.
B) They all are techniques for controlling threats to internal validity.
C) They all use the same basic equation.
D) They all begin with the correlations among all pairs of variables.

Question 14

Partial correlation is a procedure for:

A) simplifying the determination of a regression line
B) reducing the number of variables to a more manageable level
C) controlling a subject characteristics threat
D) exploring theoretical cause-effect relationships

Question 15

Which is a probable threat to the internal validity of a correlational study?

A) History
B) Maturation
C) Instrument decay
D) Implementation

Question 16

The rationale on which partial correlation is based includes:

A) determining the correlation between each original variable and the extraneous variable
B) adjusting each original variable by using its correlation with the extraneous variable
C) determining the correlation between the adjusted scores of each subject
D) all of the above

Question 17

A correlation coefficient of .50 is considered satisfactory for:

A) test-retest reliability
B) observer agreement
C) validity
D) individual prediction

Question 18

Which is not a likely threat to the internal validity of a correlational study?

A) Regression
B) Subject characteristics
C) Data collector bias
D) Location

Question 19

In order to eliminate age as an explanation for a .55 correlation between oral vocabulary and reading proficiency, a researcher must determine:

A) the age of each subject
B) the correlation between age and oral vocabulary
C) the correlation between age and reading proficiency
D) all of the above

Question 20

Socioeconomic status would be considered an alternative explanation for a correlation of .60 between interest and achievement if:

A) the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .10 and .20
B) the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .90 and .10
C) the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .50 and .40
D) the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .10 and .80

Question 21

Matching

-Multiple regression

A) 2 or more predictor variables
B) Causal connection among 3+ variables
C) "Clusters of correlated variables
D) Criterion variable is categorical
E) A decimal from -1.00 to +1.00

Question 22

Matching

-Correlation coefficient

A) 2 or more predictor variables
B) Causal connection among 3+ variables
C) "Clusters of correlated variables
D) Criterion variable is categorical
E) A decimal from -1.00 to +1.01

Question 23

Matching

-Discriminant function analysis

A) 2 or more predictor variables
B) Causal connection among 3+ variables
C) "Clusters of correlated variables
D) Criterion variable is categorical
E) A decimal from -1.00 to +1.02

Question 24

Matching

-Factor analysis

A) 2 or more predictor variables
B) Causal connection among 3+ variables
C) "Clusters of correlated variables
D) Criterion variable is categorical
E) A decimal from -1.00 to +1.03

Question 25

Matching

-Path analysis

A) 2 or more predictor variables
B) Causal connection among 3+ variables
C) "Clusters of correlated variables
D) Criterion variable is categorical
E) A decimal from -1.00 to +1.04

Question 26

In correlational research, the predictor variable is the variable about which the prediction is made.

Question 27

In correlational research, the criterion variable is the variable about which the prediction is made.

Question 28

The standard error of estimate is an index that estimates the degree to which the predicted score in a prediction equation is likely to be incorrect.

Question 29

The coefficient of multiple correlations is symbolized by r.