Deck 2: Statistics in the Context of Scientific Research

Question 1

The fifth place finisher in a ski race was wearing the number 57. In this example the number 57 represents measurement.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Assigning numbers to variables following a set of rules refers to the process of.

A)summarizing
B)numbering
C)measuring
D)inferring

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Using involves observing behaviors occurring in natural settings without intruding into the situation.

A)archival records
B)naturalistic observation
C)experimentation
D)survey research

Answer 3

B

Question 4

If you classify individuals by assigning the value 1 to males and the value 2 to females, you are using measurement.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio

Question 5

A scientific question allows an answer to be obtained by.

A)collecting statistics
B)statistical testing
C)collecting empirical data
D)collecting population parameters

Question 6

When it is either not possible or unethical to manipulate an independent variable, which research method would be optimal?

A)operational definition
B)experimentation
C)quasi-experimentation
D)inferring

Question 7

A researcher was interested in evaluating the effect of gender on detecting whether another person is lying or not. What research method would be optimal?

A)naturalistic observation
B)archival records research
C)experimentation
D)quasi-experimentation

Question 8

You are asked to fill out a questionnaire indicating your preferences for types of food when you eat in a restaurant. The research method used here is called.

A)experimentation
B)naturalistic observation
C)survey research
D)archival records research

Question 9

A psychologist unobtrusively observes children in a preschool to study the children's interactions with each other. The research method used by this psychologist is called.

A)experimentation
B)naturalistic observation
C)survey research
D)archival records research

Question 10

Classification of a measured variable into different categories is measurement.

A)interval
B)nominal
C)ordinal
D)ratio

Question 11

A psychologist studies crime reports and city census values to determine if the amount of crime is related to population density. The research method used by this psychologist is called.

A)experimentation
B)naturalistic observation
C)survey research
D)archival records research

Question 12

involves manipulating one or more independent variables in a carefully controlled situation.

A)Archival records
B)Naturalistic observation research
C)Experimentation
D)Survey research

Question 13

Using involves answering scientific questions from

A)archival records
B)naturalistic observation
C)experimentation
D)survey research

Question 14

The word is used to refer to sensory experience or observation.

A)solvable
B)score
C)intuitive
D)empirical

Question 15

A psychologist manipulates the type of instructions participants are given when performing a task. One group of participants is told their performance on a task is affected only by chance, whereas a second group of participants is told their performance on the task relates to their ability levels. The research method used by this psychologist is called.

A)experimentation
B)naturalistic observation
C)quasi-experimentation
D)archival records research

Question 16

Which of the following would the IRB be looking for in a request by a researcher to use human subjects in an experiment.

A)Informed consent of the subject.
B)Highest quality research.
C)Good record keeping, including subjects' names.
D)Absolutely no risk to the subject.

Question 17

A general approach used by a behavioral scientist to collect data is called a(n).

A)research method
B)empirical method
C)statistical method
D)operational definition

Question 18

The term empirical means.

A)theoretically possible
B)observable
C)independent
D)intuitive

Question 19

Recording a juror's decision as either 1 for "guilty" or 2 for "not guilty" represents measurement.

A)interval
B)ordinal
C)ratio
D)nominal

Question 20

Using involves obtaining data from oral or written interviews with people.

A)archival records
B)naturalistic observation
C)experimentation
D)survey research

Question 21

Measurements that provide numerical .

A)empirical
B)quantitative
C)statistically useful
D)qualitative

Question 22

A person who is 50 years old can be said to be twice as old as a person who is 25 years old, because the measurement of age is made with a scale.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)ratio
D)interval

Question 23

Nominal measurements, which categorize the measured variable, are called.

A)empirical
B)statistically useful
C)qualitative
D)quantitative

Question 24

The sixth place finisher of a marathon finished in a time of 156 minutes. The number 156 in this example represents measurement.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio

Question 25

Given a choice, which of the following scales is preferred for measuring a variable?

A)Interval
B)Nominal
C)Ordinal
D)Ratio

Question 26

Variable A is measured on an interval scale with values that range from 0 to 10. Which of the following statements must be true?

A)The value 0 represents the complete absence of variable A.
B)The value 8 represents twice the amount of variable A as does the value 4.
C)The difference in the amount of A from 2 to 3 is the same as the difference from 6 to7.
D)All the above statements are true.

Question 27

Which of the following measurement scales has an arbitrary zero point?

A)Nominal
B)Ordinal
C)Interval
D)Ratio

Question 28

Data obtained from rating scales often are treated statistically as representing measurement.

A)interval
B)nominal
C)ratio
D)average

Question 29

A bathroom scale used to measure a person's weight provides a(n) measurement.

A)nominal
B)ratio
C)ordinal
D)interval

Question 30

The 17th place finisher in a road race was wearing the number 285. The number 17 in this example represents measurement.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio

Question 31

Rank ordering students on their grade point average results in measurement.

A)interval
B)nominal
C)ordinal
D)ratio

Question 32

Determining dominance order by ordering animals along the dimension of "most dominant" to "least dominant" represents measurement.

A)interval
B)nominal
C)ratio
D)ordinal

Question 33

A set of rating scales that are added or averaged is called a rating scale.

A)summated
B)cumulative
C)composite
D)multidimensional

Question 34

The commonly-used 5- or 7-point rating scale with values ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree represents at least measurement.

A)interval
B)nominal
C)ordinal
D)ratio

Question 35

Time, length and weight are variables that typically are measured by scales.

A)interval
B)nominal
C)ordinal
D)ratio

Question 36

Arranging a group of people from shortest to tallest in height is an example of measurement.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio

Question 37

The Fahrenheit and Centigrade temperature scales are examples of measurement scales.

A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)ratio
D)interval

Question 38

Arranging characteristics of a variable along an ordered continuum from largest to smallest is an example of measurement.

A)interval
B)nominal
C)ordinal
D)ratio

Question 39

Assigning numerical values to a variable with an arbitrary zero point is measurement.

A)interval
B)nominal
C)ordinal
D)ratio

Question 40

Assigning numerical values to a variable with a scale that possesses a physically real zero point is measurement.

A)interval
B)ratio
C)nominal
D)ordinal

Question 41

Damon's reaction time to a stimulus is 0.613 seconds. Reaction time is a variable.

A)continuous
B)discrete
C)discontinuous
D)nominal

Question 42

A variable that can be measured only with a finite set of values is a variable.

A)discrete
B)nondiscrete
C)continuous
D)discontinuous

Question 43

If it takes a person 45 seconds to complete a task, then the lower real limit for this score is seconds.

A)44.0
B)44.5
C)45.0
D)45.5

Question 44

Which of the following is the correct order for identifying the four types of measurement scales from least to most

A)Nominal-interval-ratio-ordinal
B)Ratio-nominal-interval-ordinal
C)Nominal-ordinal-interval-ratio
D)Ratio-ordinal-interval-nominal

Question 45

Which of the following scales of measurement provides the greatest precision in measurement?

A)Nominal
B)Ordinal
C)Interval
D)Ratio

Question 46

If a digital scale displays Margaly's weight as 116 pounds, then the lower real limit of her weight is pounds.

A)115.5
B)115.0
C)115.9
D)116.0

Question 47

What are the lower and upper real limits of a score of 5 on a 7-point rating scale?

A)4 and 6
B)4.9 and 5.1
C)4.5 and 5.5
D)5.0 and 6.0

Question 48

A variable that can assume an infinite set of values between any two levels of the variable is a variable.

A)discrete
B)nondiscrete
C)continuous
D)discontinuous

Question 49

If it takes a person 42.21 seconds to complete a task, then the upper real limit for this score is seconds.

A)42.50
B)42.205
C)42.215
D)42.2100

Question 50

The number of people in a group classified as either students or nonstudents illustrates a(n).

A)continuous variable
B)discrete variable
C)ordinal scale
D)ratio scale