Deck 9: Measurement

Question 1

The use of several different research methods to test the same finding is called triangulation.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Most social scientists would not accept the conceptualization of IQ as foot size because such a measurement would lack

A) precision.
B) reliability.
C) accuracy.
D) validity.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Concurrent validity is one form of criterion-related validity.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Asking a group of experts whether the items on a scale appear to measure what they intend to measure is a good way to assess the scale's

A) predictive validity.
B) concurrent validity.
C) construct validity.
D) content validity.

Question 5

An interview with someone with a limited vocabulary who therefore does not understand the questions being asked is likely to produce

A) systematic error.
B) random error.
C) validity.
D) reliability

Question 6

The tendency to give a favorable impression of oneself is an example of random error.

Question 7

Face validity is a form of empirical validity.

Question 8

Reliability involves

A) whether a particular technique applied repeatedly to the same object would yield the same results each time.
B) ensuring accuracy.
C) ensuring that your measure measures what you think it should measure.
D) ensuring precision,

Question 9

The tendency of people to answer questions through a filter that will convey a favorable impression is called

A) the acquiescent response set.
B) social desirability bias.
C) cultural bias.
D) random error.

Question 10

Professor Lum asked respondents,"How old are you?" Later in the interview Lum asked,"What is your date of birth?" This illustrates that Lum was interested in the ________ of the measurement.

A) face validity
B) validity
C) precision
D) reliability

Question 11

If a measure is valid,it must also be reliable.

Question 12

When someone who has sexually abused a child consistently denies having done so,it is an example of

A) systematic measurement error.
B) random measurement error.
C) unreliable data.
D) face error

Question 13

Professor Myth asked respondents whether or not they had ever been divorced.One year later Professor Myth asked respondents the same question.Myth found that with repeated applications of the measure different responses were obtained for the same subject.This means that the measuring instrument was

A) unreliable.
B) invalid.
C) unreliable or the value on the variable had changed.
D) lacking in face validity.

Question 14

Validity refers to the link between the operational and conceptual definitions.

Question 15

Reliability and validity are handled precisely in the same ways in qualitative inquiry as they are in quantitative inquiry.

Question 16

Unobtrusive observation can be used for the purpose of minimizing social desirability bias.

Question 17

An instrument is developed with the intent to measure whether the parenting skills of parents referred for child abuse or neglect improve after participation in a parenting education treatment program.The instrument is found to be valid when untreated parents referred for child abuse or neglect score much worse on it than model parents who are child therapists.Which of the following statements is/are true about the instrument?

A) It appears to have known-groups validity.
B) Because it is valid, it can be relied upon to detect whether small, subtle improvements occur in the parenting skills of the parents who participate in the program.
C) It appears to have predictive validity.
D) It is sensitive to small differences.
E) None of the above is true.

Question 18

Each source of data -- including written self-reports,interviews,direct behavioral observation and examining available records -- is vulnerable to measurement error.

Question 19

Professor Smith gave an exam on Monday.On Wednesday Smith gave the same class the same exam.Professor Smith was clearly interested in assessing the exam's

A) reliability.
B) validity.
C) face validity.
D) conceptualization.
E) precision.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is NOT true about reliability and validity in qualitative research?

A) Standardized scales whose reliability and validity are known to be high would be relied upon as the prime measures.
B) Akin to interobserver reliability in quantitative studies, one might assess whether two independent raters arrive at the same interpretation from the same mass of written qualitative field notes.
C) Reliability might be assessed by asking subjects whether the researcher's interpretations ring true and are meaningful to them.
D) Reliability has a role in qualitative research.

Question 21

Factorial validity refers to how many different constructs a scale measures and whether the number of constructs and the items comprising those constructs are what the researcher intends.

Question 22

Mr.Isle has noticed that several women he considers to be very feminine wear dresses or skirts often.Therefore,he decides he will determine a woman's degree of femininity by finding out how many times she wears a skirt or a dress over a period of a month.The women who wear dresses or skirts mosrequently will be considered the moseminine; those who rarely wear either will be considered the leaseminine.Is Mr.Isle's method of measuring femininity reliable? Why or why not? Is his method of measuring femininity valid? Why or why not? What is the tension that often exists between the criteria of reliability and validity?

Question 23

Given a scale to measure family risk of child abuse or neglect,contrast a way to measure the criterion-related validity of the scale with a way to measure that scale's construct validity.

Question 24

Some child-welfare workers observe children playing with anatomically correct dolls to help them assess whether those children have been sexually abused.If a child simulates sexual acts with the dolls,it is viewed as evidence that the child may be a victim of sexual abuse.What are some sources of systematic and random measurement error in this approach to assessment? How could the reliability and validity of this assessment procedure be gauged?

Question 25

Describe how qualitative studies attempt to deal with reliability and validity.