Deck 5: Variables and Hypotheses

Question 1

"Students taught first aid by programmed instruction will achieve at a higher level than those taught first aid by the traditional method. The independent variable in this hypothesis is:

A) students
B) level of achievement
C) programmed instruction
D) method of instruction

Answer 1

method of instruction

Question 2

In the example in question 1, the dependent variable is:

A) students
B) level of achievement
C) programmed instruction
D) method of instruction

Answer 2

level of achievement

Question 3

Statements or predictions that are tested by collecting and analyzing objective evidence are called:

A) assumptions
B) indicators
C) hypotheses
D) premises

Answer 3

hypotheses

Question 4

"Learning disabled children who attend public school programs will show greater increases in social competence than will comparable children who attend institutional programs. This is an example of a(n):

A) directional research hypothesis
B) assumption
C) research question
D) nondirectional research hypothesis

Question 5

Empirically testing a hypothesis is the process of determining:

A) whether it fits with previous knowledge
B) its logical consistency
C) if systematic observation confirms it
D) whether it is related to the problem at hand

Question 6

A research report states that Group A was exposed to a new teaching method and Group B was exposed to a traditional method. At the end of a four-month period, each group was given the same achievement test. Group A had a mean score that was higher than the mean score for Group

A) achievement scores of the students
B) motivation of the students
C) The dependent variable in this study was the:
D) type of teaching
E) length of the period of instruction

Question 7

When a hypothesis is confirmed, one should conclude that:

A) it is consistent with existing theory
B) the study was conducted properly
C) the hypothesis is true
D) the data provide evidence favorable to the belief that the hypothesis is true

Question 8

If a researcher studies the effects of frustration on the frequency of aggressive behavior, degree of frustration should be regarded as a(n):

A) dependent variable
B) independent variable
C) extraneous variable
D) constant

Question 9

Which of the following is likely to be of greatest value in formulating hypotheses for a scientific investigation?

A) A high level of emotional involvement in the research problem
B) A rigorous statistical design
C) Clear indication of the variables involved
D) A problem statement that is broad in scope

Question 10

The dependent variable is so called because:

A) scores on this variable are hypothesized to depend on, and vary with, the value of the independent variable
B) the outcome of an experiment is hypothesized to depend on the effect that this variable has on the independent variable
C) scores on this variable can be expected not to vary in an experiment
D) scores on this variable depend on how they are manipulated by the researcher

Question 11

Which of the following questions indicates a relationship?

A) What are the effects of the new reading program?
B) Do parents and teachers differ in expectations of achievement?
C) To what extent is the new math curriculum being used by teachers?
D) What do students expect to do after high school graduation?

Question 12

Characteristics of persons or things that can assume different values are called:

A) distributions
B) observations
C) data
D) variables

Question 13

In a research investigation, constants are:

A) to be avoided
B) variables that complicate interpretation
C) the treatments or methods being compared
D) none of the above

Question 14

A categorical variable is one that varies in:

A) type but not amount
B) amount but not type
C) both type and amount
D) none of the above

Question 15

Treating a variable such as "reading achievement as a categorical variable:

A) is inconsistent with what is known about the variable
B) reduces the amount of information about the variable
C) both A and B
D) neither A nor B

Question 16

An outcome variable is most similar to a(n):

A) independent variable
B) dependent variable
C) manipulated variable
D) extraneous variable

Question 17

In a study comparing methods of improving critical thinking, what type of variable is "critical thinking"?

A) Dependent, outcome, quantitative
B) Dependent, manipulated, quantitative
C) Independent, manipulated, qualitative
D) Independent, outcome, quantitative

Question 18

Which of the following is a quantitative variable?

A) Method of teaching mathematics
B) Self-esteem
C) Occupation
D) Country of birth

Question 19

In the hypothesis, "Eleventh grade students will achieve more with teachers who are enthusiastic, which of the following is an extraneous variable?

A) Student achievement
B) Teacher enthusiasm
C) Eleventh-grade students
D) Academic ability of students

Question 20

A manipulated variable is one that:

A) uses equipment
B) requires subjects to arrange materials
C) is arranged by the researcher
D) makes a study hard to interpret

Question 21

Advantages of stating research questions as hypotheses include:

A) clarity
B) persuasiveness
C) efficiency
D) all of the above

Question 22

Disadvantages of stating hypotheses include all of the following except:

A) enhancing unintentional researcher bias
B) overlooking other relationships
C) complicating the design of a study
D) enhancing the likelihood of researcher cheating

Question 23

Which of the following is a nondirectional hypothesis?

A) Students receiving peer tutoring will show greater mathematics gains than students not receiving peer tutoring.
B) Boys and girls will differ in their attitudes toward school.
C) "A" students have higher self-esteem than "C" students.
D) Science teachers ask more questions than social studies teachers.

Question 24

A moderator variable is one that

A) makes a relationship meaningless
B) qualifies the application of a relationship
C) weakens the strength of a relationship
D) provides an alternative explanation for a relationship

Question 25

Which of the following is a likely moderator variable in a study of the relationship between church attendance and political party preference?

A) age
B) income
C) gender
D) all the above

Question 26

A mediator variable is one which:

A) provides an alternative explanation for a relationship
B) modifies or influences the strength of a relationship between two other variables
C) helps to explain a relationship between two other variables
D) has a possible causal effect on another variable

Question 27

Matching

-Appetite

A) Categorical variable
B) Quantitative variable
C) Extraneous variable
D) Educated guess
E) Experimental variable

Question 28

Matching

-Directional hypothesis

A) Categorical variable
B) Quantitative variable
C) Extraneous variable
D) Educated guess
E) Experimental variable

Question 29

Matching

-Hair style

A) Categorical variable
B) Quantitative variable
C) Extraneous variable
D) Educated guess
E) Experimental variable

Question 30

Matching

-Treatment variable

A) Categorical variable
B) Quantitative variable
C) Extraneous variable
D) Educated guess
E) Experimental variable

Question 31

Matching

-Uncontrolled variable

A) Categorical variable
B) Quantitative variable
C) Extraneous variable
D) Educated guess
E) Experimental variable

Question 32

Exploring relationships in research questions helps us to understand our world better by making connections and detecting patterns among the parts that may be related.

Question 33

A "variable is the same thing as a "factor.

Question 34

If a variable can be treated as either quantitative or categorical, it is preferable to treat it as categorical.

Question 35

An extraneous variable that is not controlled can be likened to a rival hypothesis in terms of possibly explaining the results of a study.

Question 36

One way to control extraneous variables is to hold them constant.

Question 37

One disadvantage for stating hypotheses is that it potentially biases the researcher of the study from considering other possible explanations.

Question 38

In general, it is a good idea to state your hypothesis in an ethnographic study.