Question 1

1) Which of the following is a simple random sample: A) Selection of students by asking for volunteers B) Selection of students haphazardly from the refectory C) Selection of students using a shuffled raffle ticket system D) Selecting every 10^th student where the starting point in the first ten of a list is a randomly selected position

Accepted Answer

A simple random sample is a sample where each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected, and selection is done randomly. Option C uses a shuffled raffle ticket system, which ensures equal and random selection of students, making it the best choice for a simple random sample. Option A relies on volunteers, which may introduce bias, and option B involves haphazard selection, which is not truly random. Option D uses a systematic sampling method, which may lead to biased results if there is a recurring pattern in the population.

Question 2

2) Which of the following procedures would produce a systematic random sample: A) Selection of students by asking for volunteers B) Selection of students using a shuffled raffle ticket system C) Selecting every 10^th student after selecting a random starting point among the first ten students in a list D) Selecting randomly from within population sub-groups so that each sub-group is proportionally represented in the final sample

Accepted Answer

Systematic random sampling involves selecting every nth element from a population after randomly selecting a starting point. Option C describes this process, selecting every 10th student after randomly selecting a starting point among the first ten. Options A and B involve non-random selection methods, while option D describes stratified sampling, which is a different sampling technique.

Question 3

3) Which of the following would be a self-selecting sample:&#10;A) Participants who notice and complete an online survey&#10;B) Participants recruited by a direct approach from the researcher in the college canteen&#10;C) Students in a class who are asked to participate in an experiment&#10;D) Participants selected from a student list at random and who are then asked to participate in a research study

Accepted Answer

A self-selecting sample is one where participants voluntarily choose to participate in the study. In this case, participants who notice and complete an online survey are self-selecting because they are choosing to take part in the survey.

Question 4

4) A researcher contacts and interviews key members of a minority ethnic community and then asks these interviewees to suggest other members who might be able to contribute significantly to the interview based research project. The sample contacted would be an example of a:

A) Self-selecting sample
B) Haphazard sample
C) Stratified sample
D) Snowball sample

Accepted Answer

The given scenario describes a snowball sampling method, where the initial contacts suggest other potential participants from their network who can contribute to the research project. This is a non-probability sampling technique where the researcher's network expands through referrals from initial participants. Snowball sampling is typically used when a particular population is hard to reach or connect with, and relying on referrals can provide valuable insights into the research topic.

Question 5

5) The reliability of a psychological measure refers to:&#10;A) Its accuracy in predicting individuals' behaviour or characteristics&#10;B) The degree to which it measures what it was intended to measure&#10;C) Its consistency of measurement&#10;D) The degree to which the intention of the measure is obvious to the person being measured

Accepted Answer

The reliability of a psychological measure refers to its consistency of measurement. This means that the measures should produce consistent results when used on the same individuals or groups across time, different settings or with different researchers. It does not necessarily indicate the accuracy of the measure in predicting individuals' behaviour or characteristics (Option A) or the degree to which it measures what it was intended to measure (Option B). The intention of the measure being obvious to the person being measured (Option D) is related more to face validity or understandability of the measure.

Question 6

6) The validity of a psychological measure refers to:&#10;A) The degree to which it measures what it was intended to measure&#10;B) The degree to which the intention of the measure is obvious to the person being measured&#10;C) Its consistency of measurement&#10;D) Its accuracy in predicting individuals' behaviour or characteristics

Accepted Answer

The validity of a psychological measure refers to the degree to which it measures what it was intended to measure. It is important for a psychological measure to have high validity in order for it to be useful and meaningful.

Question 7

7) An operational definition of a psychological variable is one which:&#10;A) Gives a definition of a variable in terms of its rough measurement&#10;B) Gives a precise definition of a variable in terms of the procedures taken to measure it&#10;C) Gives a definition of a variable in terms of practical ways in which it might be observed&#10;D) Gives a precise definition of a variable in qualitative terms

Accepted Answer

An operational definition of a psychological variable is a precise definition that outlines the procedures taken to measure the variable. It provides clarity and objective criteria for researchers to ensure consistent and accurate measurement. Option A is almost correct but lacks the precision of the actual procedures. Option C is incorrect as it doesn't provide a precise definition in terms of measurement procedures. Option D is not correct as precise definitions are typically quantitative rather than qualitative.

Question 8

8) Larger randomly selected samples (compared with smaller) will:&#10;A) Be more representative of the target population&#10;B) Be less representative of the target population&#10;C) Be likely to contain far more of one sex than the other&#10;D) Be likely to produce greater sampling error

Accepted Answer

Larger randomly selected samples are more likely to be representative of the target population because they capture a larger portion of the variability that exists in the population. This reduces the risk of bias or unrepresentative results.

Question 9

9) A qualitative study is one in which:&#10;A) Data gathered are used to assess the quality of theories&#10;B) Data gathered are largely non-numerical&#10;C) Data gathered are largely statistical&#10;D) Data gathered are used to create equality

Accepted Answer

Qualitative studies involve the collection and analysis of non-numerical data, such as interviews, observations, and textual or visual materials. The data are often used to gain an understanding of the experiences, perceptions, and meanings of individuals or groups being studied. The goal of a qualitative study is typically to develop or refine theories and concepts, rather than to test hypotheses or make generalizations about a population.

Question 10

10) An advantage of qualitative over quantitative studies is that they tend to:&#10;A) Produce highly reliable and replicable data&#10;B) Produce data that are easy to present numerically&#10;C) Produce data that are hard to misinterpret&#10;D) Produce rich data with an emphasis on meaning

Accepted Answer

Qualitative studies provide rich data that emphasize meaning rather than just numerical data. They allow researchers to explore complex phenomena in-depth and gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of participants. This can be particularly useful in fields such as psychology and anthropology where subjective experiences are important. In contrast, quantitative studies tend to produce data that can be easily presented numerically and are more reliable and replicable, making them more suitable for measuring objective phenomena.

Deck 2: Measuring People Variables, Samples and the Qualitative Critique