Deck 9: Causal-Comparative Research

Question 1

Of the following, which describes a likely causal-comparative study?

A) Typical management procedures used by experienced teachers in a child-care setting
B) Relationship between teacher job satisfaction and years of teaching
C) Differences in problem solving performance between children provided exposure to a computer training program and those who were not given the same exposure
D) Differences in acclimation to high-school between children from small and large middle schools

Answer 1

D

Question 2

One strength of causal-comparative studies, in comparison to experimental studies, is that causal-comparative studies can examine _____________ while experimental studies can not.

A) more than one dependent variable
B) causal relationships among variables
C) variables that should not be manipulated
D) variables that can be manipulated

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Of the following which is an example of a prospective casual-comparative study?

A) Katie was interested in whether differences in university persistence are found between students coming from large versus small high schools. She compared the percentage of students who had dropped out of college that had attended either a large or small high school.
B) Carrie compared college GPA of students who had either enrolled in high school AP classes and those who had not.
C) Molly compared the amount of time spent independently reading between those who were given phonics instruction in first grade and those who were given whole language.
D) Jason investigated whether assigning vocabulary homework for a high school history class would help their performance on his final. He identified one class that had weekly vocabulary homework and then compared their final exam scores to those of another class to which no weekly vocabulary homework was assigned.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The most common descriptive statistic used in causal-comparative research as a measure of spread around the mean is the

A) range.
B) standard deviation.
C) mean.
D) t test.

Question 5

The most common descriptive statistic used in causal-comparative research as a measure of central tendency is the

A) range.
B) mode.
C) mean.
D) median.

Question 6

One similarity between causal-comparative and experimental research is that both

A) employ random assignment.
B) attempt to establish cause-effect relationships.
C) manipulate independent variables.
D) examine relationships after the events have occurred.

Question 7

In contrast to experimental research, causal-comparative studies generally

A) randomly assign participants.
B) can establish causation.
C) do not manipulate independent variables.
D) examine relationships between two variables.

Question 8

One similarity between causal-comparative and correlational research is that both

A) can determine causal events.
B) can be treated as a type of descriptive research.
C) attempt to establish causes.
D) rely on the same research procedures.

Question 9

All of the following are relative weaknesses of causal-comparative research when compared with other forms of quantitative research EXCEPT

A) lack of randomization.
B) manipulation of independent variables.
C) time to conduct the study.
D) control of research variables

Question 10

Of the following, which is most likely to be an independent variable in a causal-comparative study?

A) Mathematics achievement
B) Time to complete a problem
C) Amount of content learned from instructional materials
D) Type of instructional treatment administered

Question 11

Stan's study examined the differences in self-concept between children enrolled in a summer outdoor adventure program and those who were not. The adventure group children had slightly higher self-concept prior to the program than the comparison group, so Stan took individual's initial self-concept score into consideration when he examined his data. Which of the following strategies for controlling extraneous variables did Stan employ?

A) Matching
B) Comparing homogeneous subgroups
C) Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)
D) Manipulation of independent variable

Question 12

Of the following, which is most likely to be an independent variable in a causal-comparative study?

A) Discipline referrals
B) Attitudes about science
C) Country of origin
D) SAT scores

Question 13

Causal comparative and experimental research both

A) examine differences between groups.
B) manipulate the independent variable(s) in the study.
C) assign participants to conditions.
D) have the same ethical considerations when considering independent variables.

Question 14

A causal-comparative study requires

A) a researcher manipulated grouping variable.
B) established groups that differ on some variable.
C) beginning with effects and investigating causes.
D) three or more levels of grouping variable and one dependent variable.

Question 15

Wendy is investigating differences in cardiovascular health between children who are involved in extra-curricular activities and those who are not. She decides to investigate only children who are average height and weight, with no existing heart conditions and no family history of obesity. Wendy has employed which method for controlling the extraneous variable in her study?

A) Matching
B) Comparing homogeneous subgroups
C) Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)
D) Manipulation of independent variable

Question 16

Paula examined differences in college persistence between students who took the SAT either before their junior year or during their junior year of high school. She compared students with the same score and found that students had taken the SAT before their junior year of high school were more likely to stay in college than those who had taken the SAT during their junior year. Paula employed which method for controlling the extraneous variable, performance, in her study?

A) Matching
B) Comparing homogeneous subgroups
C) Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)
D) Manipulation of independent variable

Question 17

Of the following, which is an example of a retrospective causal-comparative approach?

A) Allison believed allowing students open campus for lunch would promote better school attendance so she allowed one high school in the district to have open campus while the maintained their closed campus. She then assessed differences in attendance at the end of the semester.
B) Ben was interested in the benefits of outdoor recess on classroom behavior. One class he had take year-round outdoor recess and the other he scheduled for indoor recess in the gym. At the end of the school year he examined referrals for classroom management for both classes.
C) James hypothesized that adults who were scouts as children would possess more sophisticated environmental attitudes. He compared the environmental attitudes of adults who were scouts to those of adults who were not scouts.
D) Lisa was curious whether after-school snacks promoted healthier dinner eating habits so she compared children from one day care setting that provided after school snacks to one that did not. At the end of the semester she had parents rate dinner eating behaviors for both groups of children.

Question 18

Laura is designing a study that examines difference in social skills between children raised in a three-generation family household compared to those raised in a two-generation family home. Laura is most likely to study this research problem by use of causal-comparative research because

A) the events have already happened.
B) she will not attempt to explain any reasons for differences in social skills.
C) she wants to manipulate the independent variable, type of home environment.
D) she will only address relationships and not levels of an independent variable.

Question 19

Of the following, which is considered an organismic variable?

A) Age
B) Marital status
C) Intelligence
D) Self-esteem

Question 20

The following are primary statistical procedure employed to analyze data in a causal-comparative study EXCEPT

A) Spearman rho.
B) ANOVA.
C) t test.
D) chi square.

Question 21

Of the following, which likely describes a causal-comparative study?

A) The hygiene procedures followed during a day in a high school alternative schooling environment
B) The differences between mathematics learning outcomes in traditional and alternative schooling
C) The relationship between alternative schooling and later youth criminal offenses in urban youth offenders
D) The qualifications or credentials of teachers in a typical alternative school located in the southwest United States

Question 22

Katrina has conducted a study that examines entering children's social skills. She had first-grade teachers rate students' social skills at the end of first grade. She then compared the scores of students who attended formal Pre-Kindergarten programs with those who did not. What is the dependent variable in Katrina's study?

A) First grade
B) Pre-Kindergarten programs
C) Social Skills
D) First grade teachers

Question 23

Gretchen is comparing second grade students' spelling ability across three existing groups. One group has had phonemic instruction, one group has used invented spelling, and the final group has had weekly spelling activities with high frequency words. Gretchen will likely use which of the following data analysis techniques to examine differences between these groups on a spelling test?

A) Chi Square
B) T test
C) Pearson r
D) ANOVA

Question 24

Jon is interested in the benefits of community service for student self-esteem. He administers a self-esteem measure at the beginning of the school year and then assigns students to one of three types of community service activities. After the service is complete he again measures their self-esteem to see differences. Which of the following might be a causal-comparative research question Jon first posed prior to designing his study?

A) What types of community service do students say that they would like to complete?
B) Is 5 hours of community service enough for students to gain benefits in self-esteem?
C) Is there a relationship between self-esteem scores taken before and self-esteem scores taken after community service?
D) Are there differences in students' self-esteem after engagement in three types of community service activities?

Question 25

Katrina has conducted a study that examines entering children's social skills. She had first-grade teachers rate students' social skills at the end of first grade. She then compared the scores of students who attended formal Pre-Kindergarten programs with those who did not. What is the independent variable in Katrina's study?

A) Social Skills
B) First grade teachers
C) Pre-Kindergarten program
D) First grade

Question 26

Given the following design, identify the most probable example of the study from the descriptions below. E X O
C O

A) Ned examines how fourth graders who were provided after school homework help and those who were not on the end of year mathematics test.
B) Ned describes the typical mathematics standardized test that fourth graders are required to take in his state.
C) Ned compares how fourth graders given either after school homework help via the phone or the Internet perform on the end of year mathematics test.
D) Ned examines how the amount of homework help available after school relates to performance on the end of year mathematics test.

Question 27

Nala wants to determine if providing awards for science fair winners increases or decreases participation by average students. She thinks that by promoting science as a competition some children may decide not to participate. To address this question, Nala identifies two types of schools in her district, schools that provide awards or schools that do not. She compares the participation rate of students in her two groups. Given Nala's study, what is the dependent variable?

A) School location
B) Student achievement
C) School type
D) Participation rate

Question 28

Alice's study examined the benefits of early morning exercise on young children's attention during circle time. She had two groups of students, one who came to circle time first and then had recess and a second group that had recess before circle time. She is comparing the groups' attention based upon a frequency of off-task behaviors by group at circle. The likely descriptive statistic for Alice's dependent variable is

A) the range of off-task behavior by group.
B) the mode off-task behavior by group.
C) the mean off-task behavior by group.
D) the median off-task behavior by group.

Question 29

Given the following design, identify the most probable example of the study from the descriptions below. E X₁ O
C X₂ O

A) Susan compares mathematics achievement scores between those students who received after school instruction and those who did not.
B) Susan compares self-esteem levels of children who are in ability grouped versus non-ability grouped classrooms.
C) Susan examines the relationship between school violence incidences and number of children in a typical class.
D) Susan describes how fathers and mothers feel about moral education curriculum legislation.

Question 30

Diana examines violence prevention programs. She is interested in the differences in number of referrals for violent behavior between two schools. One school has implemented a violence prevention program and the other has not. Diana is likely to use which of the following statistical procedures to analyze her data?

A) Chi Square
B) T test
C) Pearson r
D) ANOVA

Question 31

Which of the following is considered an ability variable?

A) Scholastic aptitude
B) Self-concept
C) Social Economic Status
D) Sex

Question 32

Which is most typical of an independent variable in a causal-comparative study?

A) Achievement
B) Gender
C) Intelligence
D) Attitude

Question 33

Ms. Angelo examines whether there are differences in students' gain achievement scores from the last administration based upon the nature of the out of class reading she assigns during the school year. In two of her sections, she allows students to read seven books that they want to read. In two of her other sections, she assigns seven texts. In her last two sections she assigns four texts and allows students to select three. What is the independent measure in Ms. Angelo's study?

A) Type of books read
B) Eighth grade students
C) Gain achievement scores
D) Number of books read

Question 34

Nala wants to determine if providing awards for science fair winners increases or decreases participation by average students. She thinks that by promoting science as a competition some children may decide not to participate. To address this question, Nala identifies two types of schools in her district, schools that provide awards or schools that do not. She compares the participation rate of students in her two groups. Given Nala's study, what is the independent variable?

A) School location
B) Student achievement
C) School type
D) Participation rate

Question 35

Ms. Angelo examines whether there are differences in students' gain achievement scores from the last administration based upon the nature of the out of class reading she assigns during the school year. In two of her sections, she allows students to read seven books that they want to read. In two of her other sections, she assigns seven texts. In her last two sections she assigns four texts and allows students to select three. What is the dependent measure in Ms. Angelo's study?

A) Type of books read
B) Eighth grade students
C) Gain achievement scores
D) Number of books read

Question 36

Given the following design, identify the most probable example of the study from the descriptions below. E X₁ O
C X₂ O

A) Ned examines how fourth graders who were provided after school homework help and those who were not on the end of year mathematics test.
B) Ned describes the typical mathematics standardized test that fourth graders are required to take in his state.
C) Ned compares how fourth graders given either after school homework help via the phone or the Internet perform on the end of year mathematics test.
D) Ned examines how the amount of homework help available after school relates to performance on the end of year mathematics test.

Question 37

Given the following design, identify the most probable example of the study from the descriptions below. E X O
C O

A) Susan compares mathematics achievement scores between those students who received after school instruction and those who did not.
B) Susan compares number self-esteem levels of children who are in ability grouped versus non-ability grouped classrooms.
C) Susan examines the relationship between school violence incidences and number of children in a typical class.
D) Susan describes how fathers and mothers feel about moral education curriculum legislation.

Question 38

Steve studies diet and endurance during extended swim practices. Which of the following represents a causal-comparative research question he might examine?

A) Is there a relationship between calories consumed at breakfast and endurance during after-school practice?
B) Are there differences between year-round swimmers' versus summer swimmers' endurance after 12 weeks of winter practice?
C) What is the typical fatigue response in ninth grade female swimmers?
D) How long does the typical competitive middle school swimmer train before he first shows signs of fatigue?

Question 39

Which of the following is most likely a dependent variable in a causal-comparative study?

A) Gender
B) Ethnicity
C) Achievement
D) Grade level

Question 40

Ruth collected data on boys' and girls' self-esteem. Which statistical procedure will Ruth employ to analyze differences between conditions?

A) Spearman's rho
B) T test
C) Chi Square
D) ANOVA

Question 41

Of the following, which best represents a causal-comparative study?

A) The typical number of hours spent studying mathematics in cyber-learning.
B) The differences in mathematics learning outcomes between students enrolled in traditional and cyber learning.
C) The relationship between cyber-learning and attitudes about utility of mathematics.
D) The most common personality profiles of those students who are not injured but enrolled in cyber learning experiences.

Question 42

Katlyn examined attitudes about a new portfolio assignment she included in her advanced graphics class. She felt this assignment might result in more positive attitudes in her male students than in her female students. She is concerned about extraneous variables and would like to control use ACT scores as a control Which of the following is the best control procedure?

A) Matching
B) T test analysis
C) Grouping variable analysis
D) Factorial analysis of variance

Question 43

Jon is interested in the benefits of community service for student self-esteem. He administers a self-esteem measure at the beginning of the school year and then assigns students to one of three types of community service activities. After the service is complete he again measures their self-esteem to see differences. When he analyzes his data, Jon will use which of the following tests to examine differences between groups?

A) Pearson r
B) ANOVA
C) Dependent T-test
D) Independent T-test

Question 44

Carol conducted a causal-comparative study of the effects of attendance on math achievement. She found a statistically significant relationship between math achievement and school attendance. What would be the most appropriate next step?

A) Conclude that math achievement causes improved attendance
B) Conclude that attendance causes improve math achievement
C) Conduct an ANOVA to examine achievement for each level of attendance
D) Examine reverse causality to proceed cautiously with interpretation