Deck 5: Measurement: Linking Theory to Research

Question 1

According to Box 5.1, creating an index by adding together multiple indicators of a concept

A) is likely to compound the error associated with each of the individual indicators.
B) will improve the quality of the measure if the error of individual indicators tends to be random.
C) tends to obscure the meaning of the operational definition.
D) works better with simple concepts than with complex ones.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In Pager's study of the impact of criminal record on employment opportunity, what type of operational definition did she use to measure employment opportunity?

A) Manipulation operations
B) Verbal report
C) Observation
D) Archival records

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The data source for surveys consists of _______; a primary data source for the analysis of existing data is _______.

A) archival records; observation
B) observation; archival records
C) verbal reports; observation
D) verbal reports; archival records

Answer 3

D

Question 4

According to Box 5.3, scales differ from indexes in terms of

A) what they are used to measure.
B) how items are combined to create the measure.
C) the type of indicators or survey items included in the measure.
D) how their relationships with other variables can be analyzed.

Question 5

According to Box 5.3, a researcher creates a composite measure of attitudes toward research methods consisting of 20 statements with which respondents indicate their level of agreement or disagreement (strongly agree to strongly disagree). The researcher's measure is an example of

A) an index.
B) a Guttman scale.
C) a summated ratings scale.
D) a cumulative scale.

Question 6

According to Box 5.4, the social desirability effect refers to

A) class differences in happiness and mental health.
B) respondents' tendency to give answers that project a positive self-image.
C) the tendency to agree with a statement regardless of its content.
D) higher response rates obtained by pleasant than unpleasant interviewers.

Question 7

The feedback loop in the measurement process

A) is consistent with the cyclical relation between theory and data.
B) moves from theoretical concepts to data.
C) reflects the deductive model of inquiry.
D) consists of conducting tests for reliability and validity.

Question 8

The first steps in the measurement process-conceptualization and operationalization-follow the deductive model of inquiry.

Question 9

According to Box 5.3, indexes and scales are types of composite measures.

Question 10

According to Box 5.3, indexes are generally superior to scales.

Question 11

According to Box 5.3, Guttman scaling is a method of constructing a unidimensional scale.

Question 12

According to Box 5.4, the social desirability effect lowers measurement validity.

Question 13

The feedback loop in the measurement process reflects the inductive logic of inquiry.

Question 14

Explain how the text's example of a recipe for carrot cake illustrates an operational definition in social research. What are the recipe ingredients analogous to in social measurement? What do the steps for combining ingredients and baking the cake illustrate about an operational definition?

Question 15

Levels of measurement indicate the inferences that can be drawn when comparing one category or value of a variable with another: Do they differ? Is one ranked higher than the other? What is the numerical difference? What is the ratio of the values? Identify the four levels of measurement. Then, for each level describe the inferences that can be made when comparing units (e.g., people) who are in different variable categories.

Question 16

Sociologists Richard Schwartz and James Miller proposed that changes in societies' legal systems parallel changes in societal complexity (or, in Durkheim's terms, the societal "division of labor"). Fully developed legal systems are seen to have the following three characteristics:
a. Mediation: regular use of third parties to settle disputes
b. Police: use of specialized, armed force to enforce laws
c. Counsel: regular use of specialized, non-kin advocates (e.g., lawyers)

Question 17

Describe the relationship between reliability and validity. (Note: Your description should answer the following two questions: Is it possible to have a reliable but invalid measure? Is it possible to have an unreliable but valid measure?)

Question 18

Explain how construct validation (a) depends on the theory underlying the concept that is being measured, and (b) is based on an accumulation of evidence.

Question 19

Refer to Figure 5.2.
Using this figure as a reference, discuss how this process reflects the cyclical relationship between theory and data in science. What part of the figure reflects the deductive logic of inquiry? What part reflects the inductive logic of inquiry?