Question 1

Raul has taken the GRE three times and his scores varied by only 10 points each time.Raul's test scores reflect the GRE's

Accepted Answer

Raul's scores varying by only 10 points each time reflects the consistency of the test, which is an indication of its reliability.

Question 2

An increase in average intelligence test performance during the past decades would best illustrate why intelligence tests need

Accepted Answer

If there has been an increase in average intelligence test performance during the past decades, it suggests that the population has become more intelligent and therefore, the norms used to score intelligence tests may no longer be accurate. In order to align the norms with current population intelligence levels, periodic restandardization of the tests is necessary. This would entail administering the test to a representative sample of the current population and establishing new norms based on their performance.

Question 3

The Flynn effect best illustrates that the process of intelligence testing requires up-to-date

Accepted Answer

The Flynn effect refers to the phenomenon that intelligence test scores have been increasing steadily over time. This may be due to a variety of factors, including changes in education, nutrition, and technology. In order to accurately measure intelligence across time, it is important to use up-to-date standardization samples. These samples are used to establish a baseline and comparison group for the test takers, and they need to be periodically updated to reflect changes in the population being tested. Without up-to-date standardization samples, the validity and reliability of intelligence tests may be compromised. Therefore, Option B (standardization samples) is the best answer.

Question 4

The distribution of body weights in the general adult human population forms a(n)

Accepted Answer

The normal curve, also known as the bell curve or Gaussian distribution, is commonly used to describe the distribution of body weights in the general adult human population. This distribution is characterized by a symmetrical bell-shaped curve, where the majority of people fall within one standard deviation of the mean weight, and fewer people fall within two or three standard deviations from the mean.

Question 5

Dr.Bronfman has administered her new 100-item test of abstract reasoning to a large sample of students.She is presently comparing their scores on the odd-numbered questions with those on the even-numbered questions in an effort to

Accepted Answer

By comparing the scores on the odd-numbered questions with those on the even-numbered questions, Dr. Bronfman is testing the consistency or reliability of the test. If there is a high positive correlation between the two sets of scores, it would indicate that the test is measuring the abstract reasoning ability consistently, and therefore the test is reliable.

Question 6

A bell-shaped pattern that characterizes the distribution of a large sample of intelligence test scores is a graphic representation of

Accepted Answer

A bell-shaped pattern is a classic graphic representation of a normal distribution, which is common for many natural phenomena including intelligence test scores. This distribution allows for the calculation of measures like the mean and standard deviation, which can inform interpretations of individual scores and group differences. While intelligence quotient (A) and general intelligence (D) are related concepts, they do not specifically describe the distribution pattern of scores. The Flynn effect (C) refers to a trend of increasing intelligence scores over time and is not directly related to the shape of the distribution.

Question 7

Researchers assess the correlation between scores obtained on alternate forms of the same test in order to measure the ________ of the test.

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency or stability of scores on a test over time or across different forms of the test. Assessing the correlation between scores obtained on alternate forms of the same test is a common method for measuring the reliability of a test. Content validity refers to how well a test measures what it is supposed to measure, predictive validity refers to whether or not a test can accurately predict future performance or outcomes, and normal distribution refers to the distribution of scores on a test in a bell-shaped curve.

Question 8

Your score on the WAIS does not indicate how well you control your impulses or deal effectively with social conflict.This best illustrates that intelligence is

Accepted Answer

The fact that the WAIS score doesn't measure impulse control or social conflict resolution skills suggests that intelligence is not a single, general ability, but rather a collection of distinct abilities. This idea is consistent with the theory of multiple intelligences proposed by Howard Gardner. Options A, B, and D are not supported by the information provided in the statement.

Question 9

When a person's test performance can be compared with that of a representative and pretested sample of people,the test is said to be

Accepted Answer

Standardized tests are designed to be given under specific conditions to a representative and pretested sample of people, allowing for meaningful comparisons of individual performance to the overall group. This ensures that the test is fair and consistent, and that results can be meaningfully interpreted. Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of test scores, validity refers to the degree to which a test measures what it is intended to measure, and normal distribution refers to a statistical pattern in which most scores are clustered around the average. While these concepts are important for understanding the properties of tests, they do not necessarily indicate whether a test has been standardized or not.

Question 10

Dr.Renk is testing the reliability of an assessment she developed for testing depression.She divided her participants in half and gave one section the odd-questions and the other section the even-questions of the test.Which type of reliability is she testing?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Renk is testing split-half reliability by dividing the participants into two groups and comparing their scores on the odd and even questions. This measures the consistency or reliability of the test by comparing how well the two halves of the test yield similar results. Correlation, test-retest, and criterion are other types of reliability tests.

Question 11

Professor Stott is examining the reliability of the final exam she gives to her class.She gives half of the students one version of the text and the other half a different version of the test.Which type of reliability is she testing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Professor Stott is examining the reliability of...

Question 12

Dr.Benthem reports that the scores of 100 male and 100 female students on his new test of mechanical reasoning form a normal curve.From his statement we may conclude that

Accepted Answer

The statement mentions that the scores form a normal curve, which means that the distribution is bell-shaped and symmetrical. In such a distribution, most scores tend to be near the average, and relatively few scores deviate extremely from the average. Therefore, option D is the best choice as it captures this characteristic of normal distributions. Option A cannot be determined from the given information, option B is unlikely given that the test is designed to measure mechanical reasoning, and option C assumes a 50/50 chance of guessing, which may not be the case if the test has multiple-choice questions with more than two options.

Question 13

About ________ percent of WAIS scores fall between 70 and 130.

Accepted Answer

The WAIS is a standardized test with an average score of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Therefore, 68% of scores fall within one standard deviation above or below the mean, which in this case would be between 85 and 115. However, we know from research that the distribution of scores on the WAIS is roughly normal, which means that if we look at two standard deviations above and below the mean, we should capture approximately 95% of all scores. This means that roughly 95% of all WAIS scores fall between 70 and 130.

Question 14

The normal curve is often described as

Accepted Answer

The normal curve is often described as bell-shaped, which means it is symmetrical around the mean with the majority of cases falling in the middle and decreasing as you move towards either extreme.

Question 15

Dr.Zimmer has designed a test to measure golfers' knowledge of their sport's history.To interpret scores on the test,he is presently administering it to a representative sample of all golfers.Dr.Zimmer is clearly in the process of

Accepted Answer

Standardizing a test involves administering it to a representative sample of the population for which it is intended, to establish norms or standards. This process allows for the interpretation of individual scores in relation to the broader population's performance.

Question 16

Andrea is conducting a study measuring the effectiveness of a new drug to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).She has to select a scale that will consistently provide objective data about OCD symptoms on a weekly basis.Andrea needs the scale to provide consistent results that gradually change only in response to the positive effects of the drug.Andrea needs a scale with good

Accepted Answer

Andrea needs a scale with good reliability, meaning it consistently produces the same results over time. This is important for measuring the effectiveness of the drug over the course of multiple weeks. Option A, standardization, refers to consistent administration of the scale to different participants and is less relevant in this scenario. Option B, predictive validity, refers to the ability of the scale to predict future outcomes and is not as important as consistency over time. Option D, content validity, refers to the extent to which the scale measures the construct it is intended to measure, and while important, is not mentioned as a priority in this scenario.

Question 17

Dr.Walsh has designed a test to measure eleventh-graders' knowledge of American history.To ensure that the test represents eleventh-graders in the United States,he is standardizing the test by

Accepted Answer

Standardizing the test by giving it to a representative sample of eleventh-graders would ensure that the test represents eleventh-graders in the United States. This would help to eliminate any biases or differences in knowledge levels among different regions or populations. Correlating scores on two halves of the test (option A) would be a method of checking the test's reliability, but not necessarily its representativeness. The Flynn effect (option B) refers to the increase in intelligence test scores over time and is not relevant to standardizing this particular test. Establishing a criterion behavior to test (option D) would be a method of establishing validity, but not necessarily representativeness.

Question 18

Carlise's doctor suspects that she may have had a stroke.So,he has arranged for her to take a test that assesses her verbal comprehension.The test she is taking is the

Accepted Answer

The WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) assesses various aspects of intelligence, including verbal comprehension. As Carlise is an adult suspected of having had a stroke, the WAIS would be the most appropriate test for her doctor to arrange. The other options (Stanford-Binet, WISC, and GRE) are not designed specifically to assess verbal comprehension in adults.

Question 19

The widespread improvement in intelligence test performance during the past century is called

Accepted Answer

The widespread improvement in intelligence test performance during the past century is known as the Flynn effect, which is named after James R. Flynn who observed this phenomenon in various countries. The other answer options are not related to the improvement in intelligence test performance.

Question 20

A test is reliable if it

Accepted Answer

A test is reliable if it yields dependably consistent scores, meaning that if the same person takes the test multiple times, they should receive similar scores each time. While options A, C, and D are important for a test to be valid, they are not necessarily indicative of test reliability.

Quiz 29: Thinking