Deck 7: Instrumentation

Question 1

Which of the following is most essential to skilled observation as a research technique applied in studying a student's behavior?

A) Recording primarily dramatic behavior
B) Recording primarily the "whys" of the behavior observed
C) Recording primarily the "whats" of the behavior observed
D) Using data obtained as bases for generalizations concerning the behaviors of other students

Answer 1

Recording primarily the "whats" of the behavior observed

Question 2

In which of the following would one be most likely to find a professional evaluation of a particular commercial standardized test?

A) "Journal of Educational Measurement"
B) "Encyclopedia of Educational Research"
C) "The Buros Mental Measurement Yearbook"
D) "Yearbook of Education"

Answer 2

"The Buros Mental Measurement Yearbook"

Question 3

The most serious limitation in the use of mailed questionnaires in research is in connection with:

A) deciding on the initial definition of the population
B) selecting the sample
C) obtaining responses
D) analyzing the data

Answer 3

obtaining responses

Question 4

Most widely used standardized achievement tests are useful because:

A) they indicate the full scope of what ought to be taught in schools
B) they are free of bias
C) they have been carefully prepared, tried out, and refined through research
D) their scores are not influenced by curriculum variables, teacher effectiveness variables, or the child's home environment

Question 5

One advantage that the interview has over the questionnaire is that it:

A) is more useful in probing for underlying feelings and attitudes
B) provides results with higher reliability
C) is less subject to errors in recording
D) costs less to use

Question 6

Which of the following is most characteristic of skilled as opposed to unskilled observers in research?

A) Making generalized descriptions or evaluations rather than noting specific incidents
B) Interpreting behavior immediately on the basis of initial data so as to make confirmation by subsequent incidents unnecessary
C) Describing the subject's behavior rather than the personal reaction of the observer
D) Recording primarily dramatic or negative incidents

Question 7

Rapport is most essential when which data-gathering tool is used?

A) Checklist
B) Interview
C) Observation
D) Rating scale

Question 8

Interviews and questionnaires as a data collection method:

A) are more effective than observational techniques
B) reveal only information the subject is willing to report
C) cannot be considered to have validity
D) provide no information about past behavior

Question 9

Which of the following are data?

A) Religious preferences
B) Political opinions
C) Test scores
D) All of the above

Question 10

Which is an example of a researcher-completed instrument?

A) Questionnaire
B) Sociogram
C) Flow chart
D) Aptitude test

Question 11

Which is an example of a subject-completed instrument?

A) Attitude scale
B) Performance checklist
C) Anecdotal record
D) Rating scale

Question 12

How is "instrumentation different from "instrument"?

A) Instrumentation includes the way in which the instrument was developed.
B) Instrumentation pertains only to certain types of instruments.
C) Instrumentation includes the way in which the instrument is used.
D) Instrumentation is not concerned with reliability and validity.

Question 13

Which of the following is the best synonym for validity?

A) Consistency
B) Feasibility
C) Truthfulness
D) Economy

Question 14

Which of the following is the best synonym for reliability?

A) Consistency
B) Usefulness
C) Truthfulness
D) Economy

Question 15

Objectivity in research means:

A) the absence of judgment in instrumentation
B) minimizing personal bias
C) eliminating personal opinions as variables to be studied
D) eliminating emotions as variables to be studied

Question 16

The use of previously developed instruments in a study is desirable because:

A) existing instruments will be more valid
B) existing instruments will be more reliable
C) instrument development leads to biased results
D) instrument development is a complex undertaking

Question 17

A previously existing instrument:

A) should always be used rather than one the researcher develops
B) will have adequate reliability
C) may be inadequate for purposes of the researcher
D) will lead to valid interpretations

Question 18

A performance checklist:

A) minimizes observer judgment
B) requires the observer to rate behavior along a continuum
C) requires no prior knowledge on the observer's part
D) cannot be used to assess products

Question 19

A good anecdotal record includes:

A) explanations for observed behavior
B) generalizations to typical behavior
C) concrete descriptive statements
D) evaluative statements

Question 20

The primary difficulty with rating scales is:

A) the complexity of the format
B) the ambiguity of the points along the scale
C) the limits of what can be rated
D) that researchers tend not to like to use them

Question 21

The distinguishing feature of projective techniques is that:

A) their interpretation is extremely complex
B) they are intentionally ambiguous
C) they are only used to assess attitudes
D) they use pictures

Question 22

Aptitude tests differ from ability tests primarily in their:

A) purpose
B) format
C) content
D) difficulty

Question 23

Which of the following consists of supply-type items?

A) A multiple-choice test
B) A matching test
C) An essay test
D) A true/false test

Question 24

Which of these could be used as an aptitude test?

A) The semantic differential
B) A Likert scale
C) The Stanford Achievement Test
D) An observational checklist

Question 25

Which of the following would be the least appropriate variable to assess with an observational tally sheet?

A) Off-task behavior
B) Question-asking
C) Interest in class activity
D) Critical thinking

Question 26

A score reported as 17-6 is most likely

A) a grade equivalent score
B) an age equivalent score
C) a percentile rank
D) a raw score

Question 27

Matching

-Norm-referenced instrument

A) Group-referenced scores
B) Target-referenced scores
C) Assigning numbers to categorical
D) Ordered data
E) Interval scale with true zero

Question 28

Matching

-Nominal scale

A) Group-referenced scores
B) Target-referenced scores
C) Assigning numbers to categorical
D) Ordered data
E) Interval scale with true zero

Question 29

Matching

-Criterion-referenced instrument data

A) Group-referenced scores
B) Target-referenced scores
C) Assigning numbers to categorical
D) Ordered data
E) Interval scale with true zero

Question 30

Matching

-Ordinal scale

A) Group-referenced scores
B) Target-referenced scores
C) Assigning numbers to categorical
D) Ordered data
E) Interval scale with true zero

Question 31

Matching

-Ratio scale

A) Group-referenced scores
B) Target-referenced scores
C) Assigning numbers to categorical
D) Ordered data
E) Interval scale with true zero

Question 32

Instrumentation deals with the whole process of collecting data.

Question 33

A reliable instrument is one that yields objective results.

Question 34

Designing one's own instrument is preferable to selecting one that has already been developed and tested.

Question 35

The Likert scale was named after the man who designed it.

Question 36

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) can be used as an aptitude test.