Deck 5: Selecting Research Participants

Question 1

Sample is to population as __________ is to

A)systematic; unsystematic.
B)some; all.
C)whole; part.
D)probability; nonprobability.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

If the results of a survey are accurate within 3.5 percentage points, 3.5 is the

A)significance level.
B)power.
C)probability.
D)error of estimation.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What kind of samples do most psychological experiments use?

A)Simple random
B)Systematic
C)Convenience
D)Purposive

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Sampling error

A)is lower with small samples than with large.
B)reflects mistakes in selecting which sample to use in a study.
C)reflects differences between a population and a sample from that population.
D)is greater when representative samples are used.

Question 5

What characteristic defines a simple random sample?

A)Every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample.
B)Individuals selected for the sample are in the same geographical location.
C)Every individual's score falls within the error of estimation.
D)Every possible sample of the desired size has an equal chance of being chosen.

Question 6

Why might a researcher decide to use cluster sampling rather than simple random sampling?

A)The error of estimation is lower.
B)The respondents may be located closer together geographically.
C)It is more representative of the population.
D)The required sample size is smaller.

Question 7

The error of estimation is affected by

A)sample size.
B)population size.
C)the variance of the data.
D)all of these answers are correct.

Question 8

Nonresponse is a problem in survey research because it

A)indicates that participants are not motivated to participate.
B)increases the margin of error.
C)makes the sample less representative of the population.
D)makes the sample less economical.

Question 9

When a nonprobability sample is used, the error of estimation

A)reflects the likelihood that an individual from the population will be selected.
B)is underestimated.
C)is unacceptably large.
D)cannot be calculated.

Question 10

When determining the size of a sample, researchers typically

A)choose 3% of the population for the sample.
B)select an economic sample.
C)recruit as large a sample as they can.
D)use samples of at least 100 individuals.

Question 11

Which of the following is not a probability sample?

A)Stratified random sample
B)Simple random sample
C)Cluster sample
D)Quota sample

Question 12

Researchers question Kinsey's data regarding sexual behavior because

A)people usually lie about their sexual behavior.
B)Kinsey's samples were not representative.
C)the error of estimation was large.
D)his sample size was small.

Question 13

When researchers use a probability sample, they know

A)the results are valid.
B)the sampling error is zero.
C)the probability that any individual in the population will be in the sample.
D)the error of estimation is small.

Question 14

A researcher separated the people in a population into three political categories: Democrat, Republican, or Independent. She then selected a random sample from each of these three groups. What kind of sample did she select?

A)Cluster sample
B)Quota sample
C)Systematic sample
D)Stratified random sample

Question 15

Which of the following is a nonprobability sample?

A)Quota
B)Simple random
C)Stratified random
D)Cluster

Question 16

Which of the following sampling methods is recommended when a researcher finds it difficult to obtain a list of the individuals in a large population?

A)Cluster sampling
B)Stratified random sampling
C)Simple random sampling
D)Purposive sampling

Question 17

A sample from which a researcher can draw accurate inferences about the population is a

A)systematic sample.
B)sampling frame.
C)quota sample.
D)representative sample.

Question 18

The Literary Digest election survey of 1936 led to an incorrect prediction because

A)the sample size was too small.
B)the sample was not representative of U.S. voters.
C)the error of estimation was too high.
D)a stratified random sample was used.

Question 19

An economic sample

A)can be obtained inexpensively.
B)is small.
C)gives a good estimation of the population at reasonable cost.
D)is used by economists to forecast financial trends.

Question 20

A researcher numbered all of the people in a population from 1 to n, then chose a sample by using a random numbers table. What kind of sample did he select?

A)Stratified random sample
B)Cluster random sample
C)Systematic sample
D)Simple random sample

Question 21

Explain why systematic sampling is not random.

Question 22

Distinguish among simple random samples, stratified random samples, and cluster samples.

Question 23

Explain why nonresponse is a problem in survey research.

Question 24

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using probability versus nonprobability samples.

Question 25

Why did Literary Digest erroneously predict that Landon would defeat Roosevelt in the presidential election of 1936?

Question 26

Explain how you would use a multistage cluster sampling procedure to obtain a sample of children with learning disabilities in your state.

Question 27

One way to increase power is to

A)increase the sample size.
B)use multistage cluster sampling.
C)select a proportionate sample.
D)use an economic sample.

Question 28

A subset of a population that shares a particular characteristic is called a

A)representative group.
B)stratum.
C)sampling frame.
D)quota.

Question 29

Under what set of conditions is the error of estimation lowest?

Question 30

Why should purposive sampling be avoided in general?

Question 31

The problem that occurs when a researcher generalizes results to a population that differs from the one from which the sample was drawn is called

A)misgeneralization.
B)error of estimation.
C)nonprobable generalization.
D)misstratification.

Question 32

Researchers stop every third pedestrian on a busy street and ask about his or her attitude toward gun control. This is an example of

A)purposive sampling.
B)quota sampling.
C)simple random sampling.
D)systematic sampling.

Question 33

Why do experts believe that sampling would improve the quality of the U. S. Census?

Question 34

When researchers use past research findings or their judgment to decide which participants to include in a sample, they are using

A)quota sampling.
B)representative sampling.
C)probability sampling.
D)purposive sampling.

Question 35

Explain how you would use a table of random numbers to select a random sample.

Question 36

The ability of a research design to detect any effects that exist in the data is called its

A)estimation.
B)reliability.
C)power.
D)generalization.

Question 37

What is misgeneralization, and why is it a problem?

Question 38

Discuss the pros and cons of using convenience samples in behavioral research.

Question 39

What is sampling error?

Question 40

When researchers want to ensure that a certain kinds of participants in a convenience sample are obtained in particular proportions, they use

A)quota sampling.
B)representative sampling.
C)probability sampling.
D)purposive sampling.

Question 41

Describe power and how it relates to sample size.