Question 1

Concepts are:
A)empirical measurements.
B)variables.
C)mental images.
D)hypotheses.
E)definitions.

Accepted Answer

Concepts are mental images or ideas that represent a category of objects, events, or behaviors. Empirical measurements (A) refer to the process of collecting data through observation or experimentation, while variables (B) are characteristics or traits that can take on different values and affect outcomes. Hypotheses (D) are testable predictions based on previous research or theory, and definitions (E) are explanations of the meaning of a word or term.

Question 2

A nominal definition:
A)Tells us what indicators to use in observing a concept.
B)Is a statement detailing what will be involved in measuring some entity.
C)Is like a dictionary definition.
D)All of these.

Accepted Answer

A nominal definition is a dictionary definition that seeks to clarify the meaning of a concept, term, or word.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Concepts are mental representations that summarize a group of related observations and experiences.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is NOT true if you include only women in a study of a hypothesis:
A)You rule out any effect that gender might have on the two variables under study.
B)Gender is a third variable in the study.
C)Female is a constant in the study.
D)You are controlling for the effects of gender.

Accepted Answer

Including only women in the study means gender is not a variable but a constant, so it cannot be a third variable.

Question 5

If we find that rates of behavioral disorder are lower among children who are more active in sports,then we have found what type of relationship?
A)positive.
B)negative.
C)curvilinear.
D)causal.

Accepted Answer

If rates of behavioral disorder are lower among children who are more active in sports, we have found a negative relationship. This means that as one variable (sports participation) increases, the other variable (behavioral disorder rates) decreases.

Question 6

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.

Accepted Answer

The variable "level of social functioning" can be an independent, dependent, or control variable depending on the conceptualization and postulation of the study. It can be an independent variable if it is manipulated to see how it affects other variables, a dependent variable if it is being measured to see how it is affected by other variables, and a control variable if it is used to control for other variables that may affect the outcome of the study. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is/are true about the qualitative perspective on operational definitions?
A)We may not know the most salient variables before we implement the study.
B)We may not understand the variables well enough in advance to anticipate the best way to operationally define them.
C)Specifying variables only in terms of observable indicators is superficial.
D)All of these are true about the qualitative perspective.
E)None of these is true about the qualitative perspective.

Accepted Answer

The qualitative perspective acknowledges that we may not know the most salient variables before we implement the study and we may not understand the variables well enough in advance to anticipate the best way to operationally define them. Specifying variables only in terms of observable indicators is also seen as superficial in the qualitative perspective. Therefore, all options A, B, and C are true about the qualitative perspective.

Question 8

At what level of measurement is the variable ethnicity?
A)Nominal.
B)Ordinal.
C)Ratio.
D)Interval.

Accepted Answer

Ethnicity is a categorical variable and falls under the nominal level of measurement, which implies that the variable has no inherent order or ranking. It is merely used for identification or classification purposes. For example, the different ethnicities can be classified into categories such as Hispanic, Asian, African-American, etc., but no particular ethnic group is superior or inferior to any other group.

Question 9

In choosing an existing scale as an operational definition of self-esteem before and after an intervention,researchers should consider
A)its length.
B)how difficult it will be for subjects to complete.
C)its sensitivity to change over time.
D)its reliability and validity.
E)all of these.

Accepted Answer

All of these factors are important to consider when choosing an existing scale as an operational definition of self-esteem before and after an intervention. The length of the scale will affect participant engagement and completion rates, while the difficulty of completing the scale could affect the validity of the results. It is also important to choose a scale that is sensitive to change over time in order to measure the effectiveness of the intervention. Finally, reliability and validity are essential to ensure that the results accurately reflect changes in self-esteem. Therefore, all of these factors should be considered when selecting a scale for measuring self-esteem.

Question 10

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.

Accepted Answer

The described relationship is curvilinear, as test performance improves initially but then worsens beyond a certain point. It is not a positive or negative relationship, where there is a consistent increase or decrease in test performance with increasing anxiety levels. It is also not necessarily a causal relationship, as there could be other factors involved in the relationship between anxiety and test performance.

Question 11

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."

Accepted Answer

A good hypothesis should be clear and testable, and it should not make value judgments or assumptions. The given statement is not a good hypothesis because it makes a value judgment ("do not care adequately") that is not objectively measurable or testable.

Question 12

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)mediating variable.

Accepted Answer

The "level of family stress" is a moderating variable because it affects the strength or direction of the relationship between the independent variable (social work intervention) and the dependent variable (school dropout rate).

Question 13

Concepts that make up a variable are called attributes of that variable.

Accepted Answer

Attributes are the characteristics or properties that make up a variable.

Question 14

One possible operational definition of patient morale in a nursing home is how happy or optimistic patients feel.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One possible operational definition of patient morale...

Question 15

If marital discord increases when socio-environmental stress increases,that would be an example of a positive relationship.

Accepted Answer

A positive relationship means that as one variable increases, the other variable also increases. In this case, marital discord increasing as socio-environmental stress increases shows a positive relationship.

Question 16

If a relationship between two variables is spurious:
A)it is curvilinear.
B)it can disappear when a third variable is controlled for.
C)it will remain unchanged when a third variable is controlled for.
D)it involves a mediating variable.

Accepted Answer

Spurious relationships are falsely assumed to be causal due to the presence of a third variable that is influencing both the independent and dependent variable. Controlling for this third variable can eliminate the spurious relationship. Therefore, option B is the correct choice. The other options do not accurately describe spurious relationships.

Question 17

At what level of measurement is the variable number of future incidents of child neglect?
A)Nominal.
B)Ordinal.
C)Ratio.
D)Interval.

Accepted Answer

The variable "number of future incidents of child neglect" can be measured at the ratio level, as it has a true zero point and quantitative values that can be compared and manipulated mathematically. For example, a score of zero means no future incidents of neglect, while a score of 10 means ten times as many future incidents as a score of 1.

Question 18

Which of the following IS NOT an operational definition of marital satisfaction?
A)a score on a scale measuring marital satisfaction.
B)whether or not identified by a therapist as having marital problems.
C)amount of marital unhappiness.
D)number of derogatory statements made by spouses to each other.

Accepted Answer

An operational definition requires a measurable and observable criterion. "Amount of marital unhappiness" is vague and not directly measurable without a specific scale or method.

Question 19

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.

Accepted Answer

A is the closest to a useful hypothesis as it states a clear cause and effect relationship that can be tested. The other options are too vague or not specific enough to be considered a hypothesis.

Question 20

One operational definition is usually as good as any other operational definition.

Accepted Answer

One operational definition may not accurately capture the complexity of a concept or phenomenon. A well-developed and thorough operational definition is more effective in measuring and defining a concept.

Quiz 7: Problem Formulation

Concepts are:

A nominal definition:

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

Which of the following statements is NOT true if you include only women in a study of a hypothesis:

If we find that rates of behavioral disorder are lower among children who are more active in sports,then we have found what type of relationship?

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

Which of the following statements is/are true about the qualitative perspective on operational definitions?

At what level of measurement is the variable ethnicity?

In choosing an existing scale as an operational definition of self-esteem before and after an intervention,researchers should consider

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?

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."

Concepts that make up a variable are called attributes of that variable.

One possible operational definition of patient morale in a nursing home is how happy or optimistic patients feel.

If marital discord increases when socio-environmental stress increases,that would be an example of a positive relationship.

If a relationship between two variables is spurious:

At what level of measurement is the variable number of future incidents of child neglect?

Which of the following IS NOT an operational definition of marital satisfaction?

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

One operational definition is usually as good as any other operational definition.