Question 1

Companies that specialize in constructing, administering, and analyzing survey data are called ______.

Accepted Answer

Survey research firms specialize in constructing, administering, and analyzing survey data. Survey consulting firms may also work with a variety of research methodologies besides just surveys, opinion pollsters typically focus on polling public opinion for political or social issues, while "survey companies" is a vague and undefined term.

Question 2

Joe designs and conducts surveys and analyzes survey results. According to your text, Joe is a ______.

Accepted Answer

The description of Joe's job includes designing and conducting surveys and analyzing survey results, which aligns with the responsibilities of a survey researcher. The other options do not accurately reflect Joe's job duties.

Question 3

The results of psychological tests are often reported ______, and the results of surveys are often reported ______.

Accepted Answer

Psychological tests typically yield an overall derived score summarizing the test taker's performance, whereas survey results are often reported at the question level, detailing responses to individual questions.

Question 4

If you were going to conduct a study that involved examining a cause-and-effect relationship between two or more variables, what type of research technique would you most likely use?

Accepted Answer

The experimental research technique involves manipulating one variable to see how it affects another variable, which allows for the examination of cause-and-effect relationships between variables. This is the best choice for a study that involves examining cause-and-effect relationships. Scientific, descriptive, and empirical research techniques may also be used in various studies, but they do not necessarily focus specifically on cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 5

Which one of the following is FALSE about surveys?

Accepted Answer

Constructing surveys is not a simple and quick process, even if the scientific method is followed. It requires careful planning, design, and testing to ensure validity and reliability.

Question 6

According to your textbook, which one of the following is a well-known survey software provider?

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, Qualtrics is mentioned as a well-known survey software provider, while the other options, Snap Surveys, Inquisite, and StatPac, are not specifically cited.

Question 7

A table that lists objectives, operational definitions for each objective, and the number of questions that measure each objective of a survey is very similar to a ______.

Accepted Answer

A test specification table lists objectives, operational definitions, and the number of questions that measure each objective of an assessment or survey, which is similar to the table described in the question. Research methods and validation matrices refer to broader concepts in research and are not as directly related to the specific table described. A reliability table would focus on measures of consistency within the survey rather than defining objectives and their corresponding questions.

Question 8

______ research techniques help us to determine cause and effect, and ______ research techniques help us to describe a situation or a phenomenon.

Accepted Answer

Experimental research techniques involve manipulating a variable to determine its effect on another variable, allowing us to establish cause and effect relationships. On the other hand, descriptive research techniques aim to describe a situation or a phenomenon without manipulating any variables, providing us with valuable information about the nature of the phenomenon but not necessarily allowing us to determine cause and effect relationships. Therefore, the best choice is D, where experimental research techniques help us determine cause and effect, and descriptive research techniques help us describe a situation or a phenomenon.

Question 9

What statement about surveys is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Simple survey questions may seem easy to develop, but there is an art and science to constructing questions that are clear, unbiased, and accurately capture the information you need. Therefore, it is not false to say that survey research is an art and science, constructing a reliable and valid survey takes time.

Question 10

How many steps are associated with a scientific approach to survey design?

Accepted Answer

The scientific approach to survey design involves five steps: defining the research problem, developing the survey instrument, sampling the population, collecting the data, and analyzing the data.

Question 11

Survey objectives refer to the ______.

Accepted Answer

Survey objectives define the purpose of the survey and what it aims to measure, guiding the design and questions included in the survey.

Question 12

Whereas psychological tests focus on ______ outcomes, surveys focus on ______ outcomes.

Accepted Answer

Psychological tests are designed to measure specific individual traits or characteristics, while surveys are designed to gather data from a broad group of people on a variety of topics. Therefore, psychological tests focus on individual outcomes, while surveys focus on group outcomes.

Question 13

A class evaluation survey administered at the end of a semester is what type of research tool?

Accepted Answer

A class evaluation survey administered at the end of a semester is a type of descriptive research tool, which aims to describe and analyze a particular phenomenon or characteristic, such as student satisfaction with the course. It does not involve manipulating variables, which is the focus of experimental research, or relying on intuition, as in intuitive research. It is also not designed to test hypotheses, which is the main purpose of rational research.

Question 14

Which one of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good survey?

Accepted Answer

While it is important for a survey to have clear objectives and evidence of reliability and validity, there is no specific requirement for a minimum number of survey items per objective. The number of items may vary depending on the complexity of the objective and the survey as a whole. Therefore, option C is not a characteristic of a good survey.

Question 15

According to your textbook, what is the most popular type of survey software?

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, the most popular type of survey software is "software available on a company's server and accessed over the Internet," also known as web-based survey software. This type of software is popular because it allows for easy distribution of surveys and data collection, as well as real-time analysis and reporting.

Question 16

What is the fourth step in a scientific approach to survey design?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the fourth step in a...

Question 17

If you were going to design a survey, what would be the first step?

Accepted Answer

The first step in designing a survey is to identify the objectives of the survey. Without clear objectives, it is difficult to develop survey questions and to determine the target audience. Once objectives are identified, the survey designer can move on to specifying the target audience, stating a hypothesis, and defining objectives operationally.

Question 18

If you were going to conduct a study that involved explaining a phenomenon, what type of research technique would you most likely use?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive research techniques are used to explain a phenomenon, typically through the use of surveys, observations, and case studies. This type of research aims to provide a detailed account of the phenomenon being studied, rather than manipulating variables or testing hypotheses like experimental research does. Scientific and empirical research refer more broadly to any research that uses systematic methods to investigate natural phenomena, and may or may not involve explanations of specific phenomena.

Question 19

Each of the objectives of a survey must be ______.

Accepted Answer

Each of the objectives of a survey must be operationalized, meaning it must be clear and specific enough to be measured. Rationalization may be necessary to clarify the goals of the survey, but it is not the same as making the objectives operational. Reliability and validity are important considerations for the overall survey design, but they do not specifically relate to the objectives. Objectification is not a recognized term in the context of survey design.

Question 20

Whereas the results of psychological tests are often reported at the ______ level, the results of surveys are often reported at the ______ level.

Accepted Answer

Psychological tests are designed to measure an individual's traits or characteristics, so the results are typically reported at the individual level. Surveys, on the other hand, are used to gather information from a group of people, so the results are typically reported at the group level.

Quiz 9: How Do We Construct and Administer Surveys and Use Survey Data