Deck 8: Conceptualization in Quantitative and Qualitative Inquiry

Question 1

Conceptualization and operationalization in quantitative studies are always completed prior to the start of a research project.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

In social work studies testing hypotheses involving the variable "level of social functioning" that variable is:

A) ​always the dependent variable.
B) ​always either the dependent or control variable.
C) ​always the independent variable.
D) ​an independent, dependent, or control variable, depending on what is being conceptualized and postulated in any given study.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

If we study whether motivational interviewing is effective in treating substance abuse by the mechanism of increasing the likelihood that clients will complete substance abuse treatment programs, then whether clients complete such programs is our mediating variable.​

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Concepts are

A) ​empirical measurements.
B) ​variables.
C) ​mental images.
D) ​hypotheses.
E) ​definitions.

Question 5

A questionnaire contained the item "educational level completed" and responses of grade school, junior high school, high school, college, graduate degree, other. A researcher asked subjects to check the appropriate response. The researcher is using this question to measure​

A) ​direct observables.
B) ​indirect observables.
C) ​constructs.
D) ​a nominal variable.
E) ​validity.

Question 6

To elicit valid information, your scale should be sufficiently long to take at least an hour to complete.​

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an operational definition of degree of homophobia?

A) ​a score on a scale measuring attitude about homosexuality.
B) ​whether or not participates in protests against gay marriage.
C) ​view of homosexuality.
D) ​number of derogatory statements made about homosexuality in a conversation about it.

Question 8

The following is an example of a good hypothesis: "Social work practitioners who work in mental health agencies do not care adequately for the chronically mentally ill."​

Question 9

The specification of concepts in a scientific inquiry depends on​

A) ​nominal, operational, and real definitions.
B) ​real definitions.
C) ​nominal and operational definitions.
D) ​nominal and real definitions.
E) ​operational and real definitions.

Question 10

If level of marital satisfaction increases when socio-environmental stress decreases, that would be an example of a positive relationship:​

Question 11

It is possible to have several indicators of one concept.​

Question 12

Extraneous variables are variables that are irrelevant to a particular study.​

Question 13

A study tests the hypothesis that the provision of social work intervention will reduce the school dropout rate. It finds that social work intervention reduces the dropout rate only of children whose families are experiencing high levels of family stress. In this study, what type of variable is "level of family stress"?​

A) ​independent variable.
B) ​dependent variable.
C) ​moderating variable.
D) ​It could be an independent or dependent variable; it depends on whether it is stated first or second in the hypothesis.

Question 14

If we find that test performance improves as level of anxiety increases from low to moderate amounts and then worsens as level of anxiety increases beyond moderate amounts, then we have found what type of relationship?​

A) ​positive.
B) ​negative.
C) ​curvilinear.
D) ​causal.

Question 15

A nominal definition​

A) ​is a statement of the essential nature of some entity.
B) ​is a statement detailing what will be involved in measuring some entity.
C) ​is a statement that allows us to observe some entity.
D) ​is a statement that assigns a definition to a concept.

Question 16

The real and observable things that give evidence of the presence or absence of the concept being studied are called:​

A) dimensions​
B) indicators.
C) ​concepts.
D) ​measures.
E) ​definitions.

Question 17

Which of the following statements, as currently stated and without the need for rewording, comes closest to being a useful hypothesis?​

A) ​The provision of case management services reduces the number of days spent in institutions.
B) ​The provision of case management services should be increased.
C) ​The number of days spent in institutions can be decreased.
D) ​The greater the number of days spent in institutions, the fewer the number of days spent outside of institutions.

Question 18

Concepts are mental images that summarize collections of seemingly related observations and experiences.​

Question 19

Examining police records of the number of arrests for domestic violence is an example of the use of self-report as a source of data for an operational definition.​

Question 20

If we find that self-esteem is higher among children who are more active in sports, we have found what type of relationship?​

A) positive.​
B) ​negative.
C) ​curvilinear.
D) ​causal.

Question 21

Construct a hypothesis predicting that a particular intervention will be effective regarding a particular long-term outcome. Then identify a mediating variable and a moderating variable that could be assessed in testing the hypothesis. Explain why one variable is the mediating variable and the other is the moderating one.​

Question 22

Construct two hypotheses of interest to social workers. One should predict a positive relationship, the other a negative relationship: Identify the independent and dependent variables in each hypothesis. Identify a control variable for each hypothesis. Operationally define each variable.​

Question 23

Illustrate how a child's level of behavioral problems could be operationally defined in three different ways using three different sources of data.​

Question 24

Researchers who operationally define the severity of substance abuse as a total score on a scale with multiple questions asking research participants to indicate how often they use various types of substances are using what source of data for their operational definition?​

A) ​Direct observation.
B) ​Self-report.
C) ​Available records.
D) ​Direct observables.

Question 25

Which of the following statements is true about choosing an existing scale as an operational definition of self-esteem for children to complete before and after an intervention?​

A) ​The longer the scale, the better.
B) ​A scale that has been shown to be reliable and valid for adults would be a good choice.
C) ​The scale should be sensitive to change over time.
D) ​The scale exemplifies a direct observable.

Question 26

Measuring how practitioners feel about working with minority clients when you really want to know how well informed they are about cross-cultural practice is a problem of operationalization concerning

A) ​the use of single or multiple indicators.
B) ​how observations are going to be made.
C) ​the specific dimensions of the variable to be studied.
D) the relevant range of variations.
E) ​the degree of precision needed between extremes.

Question 27

Which of the following statements is true about the qualitative perspective on operational definitions? and after an intervention?​

A) ​We must know the most salient variables before we implement the study.
B) ​We must understand the variables well enough in advance to anticipate the best way to operationally define them. r an intervention?
C) ​Specifying variables only in terms of observable indicators is superficial.
D) ​Social context should be ignored, as it applies more to the quantitative perspective.

Question 28

Discuss how the quantitative and qualitative perspectives on operational definitions differ.​

Question 29

Select one of the following concepts. Give a complete conceptual and operational definition.​
a. child abuse
b. marital happiness
c. friendship