Deck 15: The Logic of Multivariate Analysis

Question 1

Suppose there is a relationship between variables A and B.You introduce variable C as a control variable,and the relationship between A and B disappears in the partials.Then

A)the relationship between A and B was clearly spurious.
B)this is clearly an example of explanation.
C)variable C is clearly an antecedent variable.
D)variable C is clearly a distorter variable.
E)None of these choices is correct.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Deciding whether the partials are significantly different from the original table is(are)

A)an arbitrary decision.
B)based on mathematical formulas.
C)based on a rigorous procedure.
D)dependent on whether the test factor was an intervening or antecedent variable.
E)based on mathematical formulas that follow a rigorous procedure.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Suppose we observed that the more firefighters there were at a fire site,the greater the amount of fire damage.Suppose we also observed that the size of the fire was related to both the amount of damage and the number of firefighters present.In this case,we would call size of fire the

A)independent variable.
B)dependent variable.
C)intervening test variable.
D)antecedent test variable.
E)control variable.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Professor Rumpler found a relationship between age at marriage and marital happiness.Rumpler introduced sex,race,number of years married,and income as test variables.In all partials,the relationship between age at marriage and marital happiness held.Rumpler probably

A)concluded that the relationship between age and marital happiness was most likely a genuine one.
B)decided that replication had increased his confidence that there was a relationship between age and marital happiness.
C)now knew why age and marital happiness were related.
D)decided that it was a spurious relationship between age and marital happiness.
E)concluded that the relationship between age and marital happiness was most likely a genuine one and that replication increased his confidence that there was a relationship between age and marital happiness.

Question 5

A relationship was found between education and income.Tables A and B are the partials controlling for sex.Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning the table?

A)The partials specify the conditions under which the original relationship holds.
B)Among women there is no relationship between education and income.
C)Among men there is a relationship between education and income.
D)Sex is an intervening variable.
E)Sex is a distorter variable.

Question 6

According to the following model
X  Y  Z
Which of the following statements is (are)FALSE about Y? Y is the

A)test variable.
B)intervening variable.
C)antecedent variable.
D)Y helps us interpret the relationship between X and Z.
E)All of these choices are TRUE about Y.

Question 7

We say that a(n)_____ variable is at work when a test variable reverses the direction of a zero-order relationship

A)suppressor
B)distorter
C)ex post facto
D)antecedent
E)intervening

Question 8

The variable held constant in the elaboration model to determine the relationship between others is a(n)

A)test variable.
B)experimental variable.
C)multivariate variable.
D)elaboration variable.
E)regression variable.

Question 9

According to the following model
X  Y  Z

A)X is the dependent variable.
B)X is the independent variable.
C)Z is the independent variable.
D)X is the intervening variable.
E)Y is the dependent variable.

Question 10

Professor Smith found a relationship between education and occupation.However,when age was introduced as a test factor,the relationship between education and occupation disappeared in the partials.In Professor Smith's study,age was introduced as a(n)

A)control variable.
B)spurious variable.
C)distorter variable.
D)antecedent control variable.
E)intervening control variable.

Question 11

Walter discovered a strong positive relationship between parental engagement with their children and subsequent college success.He controlled for the educational level of parents and found the same relationship in all three partial tables for parental education level.Which type of elaboration analysis did he perform?

A) explanation.
B) replication.
C) interpretation.
D) extension.
E) specification.

Question 12

The difference between interpretation and explanation is

A)the time placement of the test variable.
B)a statistical difference.
C)that the partials are reduced in explanation but not in interpretation.
D)that the partials are reduced in interpretation but not in explanation.
E)the level of measurement used.

Question 13

A relationship between IQ and shoe size,with no other variables measured is the example of a(n)

A)elaborated relationship.
B)partial relationship.
C)zero-order relationship.
D)first-order relationship.
E)perfect relationship.

Question 14

A zero-order relationship means that

A)there is no relationship between the variables.
B)the partials have been reduced.
C)no test factors have been controlled for.
D)the partials have remained the same as the original relationship.
E)there is one independent variable.

Question 15

A relationship was found between education and income.Tables A and B are the partials controlling for sex.What do these tables indicate?

A)replication
B)specification
C)explanation
D)distorter
E)interpretation

Question 16

For a spurious relationship to occur,which of the following condition(s)is(are)required?

A)The partial relationships must be significantly less than the original.
B)The test variable must be antecedent to the dependent variable.
C)The test variable must be antecedent to the independent variable.
D)All of these choices must occur.
E)The partial relationships must be significantly less than the original and the test variable must be antecedent to the independent variable only.

Question 17

A relationship was found between variables A and B.Variable C was introduced,and the relationship between A and B was still strong in the partials.This illustrates

A)that the relationship between A and B is nonspurious.
B)that the relationship between A and B is spurious.
C)replication.
D)that the relationship between A and B is nonspurious and replication took place.
E)that the relationship between A and B is spurious and that replication took place.

Question 18

Whenever the partial relationships are essentially the same as the original relationship,the term assigned to the result,regardless of whether the test variable is antecedent or intervening,is a(n)

A)spurious relationship.
B)explanation.
C)specification.
D)replication.
E)interpretation.

Question 19

Suppose we observed that the more firefighters there were at a fire site,the greater the amount of fire damage.Suppose we also observed that the size of the fire was related to both the amount of damage and the number of firefighters present.The relationship between numbers of firefighters and the amount of fire damage illustrates that:

A)the relationship between the two variables is causal.
B)the number of firefighters causes the damage.
C)the relationship between firefighters and the amount of damage is spurious.
D)the number of firefighters at a fire may cause the amount of damage.
E)the amount of damage at a fire causes firefighters to appear at the fire.

Question 20

Interpretation differs from explanation when it comes to:

A)level of measurement of test variable.
B)time placement of test variable.
C)level of measurement of experimental variables.
D)number of test variables used.
E)interpretation and explanation are synonymous.

Question 21

Which one of the following is the term used to describe a spurious relationship?

A)replication
B)explanation
C)interpretation
D)specification
E)extension

Question 22

The key to making ex post facto hypothesizing legitimate is that

A)a large enough sample must be used.
B)enough variables are used.
C)the researcher is up-front about saying so.
D)such hypotheses are themselves subject to testing.
E)the research must be replicable

Question 23

Caitlin studied the relationship between gender and adjustment to retirement.She controlled for type of job before retirement and set up tables relating gender to retirement adjustment for each of her three categories of job type before retirement.These tables are known as

A)test variables.
B)partial tables.
C)explanatory tables.
D)zero-order tables.
E)descriptive tables

Question 24

Forrester found a strong positive relationship between participation in high school extracurricular activities and community involvement as adults.He controlled for gender and got the same relationship between high school extracurricular activities and community involvement for both partial tables showing men and women.Which type of elaboration analysis is this?

A)replication
B)explanation
C)interpretation
D)specification
E)extension

Question 25

Naoko performed a research project on community perceptions of police officer discretion,and after observing the empirical relationship; she created a hypothesis that explained the relationship between the variables.She engaged in

A) elaboration.
B) sample reconstruction.
C) distorter variable construction.
D) deductive reasoning.
E) ex post facto hypothesizing.

Question 26

No zero-order relationship exists,but a relationship does appear when the two variables are examined in the presence of a control variable.The control variable in this situation is known as a(n)

A)incremental variable.
B)distorter variable.
C)suppressor variable.
D)ghost variable.
E)magic variable

Question 27

The test variable is also known as the

A)the Lazarsfeld variable.
B)the control variable.
C)the specification variable.
D)the replication variable.
E)the independent variable

Question 28

Forrester found a strong positive relationship between participation in high school extracurricular activities and community involvement as adults.He controlled for gender,and the relationship between high school extracurricular activities and community involvement appeared among the men but not at all among the women.Which type of elaboration analysis is this?

A)replication
B)explanation
C)interpretation
D)specification
E)extension

Question 29

The elaboration model has its origins in

A)Civil War research.
B)research on those living during the Depression.
C)research on student unrest in the 1960s.
D)research on soldiers during World War II.
E)research on civil rights activists in the 1970s

Question 30

To begin the elaboration paradigm,we must know whether the test variable

A)is operationalized.
B)is continuous or discrete.
C)fits with our theory.
D)is antecedent or intervening to the other two variables.
E)is the independent or dependent variable

Question 31

Forrester found a strong positive relationship between participation in high school extracurricular activities and community involvement as adults.He controlled for amount of college and the relationship between high school extracurricular activities and community involvement was negative for low college attainment,nonexistent for medium college attainment,and positive for high college attainment.Which type of elaboration analysis is this?

A)replication
B)explanation
C)interpretation
D)specification
E)extension

Question 32

The particular value of the elaboration model is to show

A)the logic of causal analysis.
B)the origins of causal analysis.
C)the limitations of causal analysis.
D)the ethical implications of causal analysis.
E)the extension of causal analysis

Question 33

Mabel did a study on regional differences in Christmas gift-giving and,after observing the empirical relationship,she developed an hypothesis to explain the relationship.Mabel was engaging in

A)ex post facto hypothesizing.
B)elaboration.
C)distorter variable construction.
D)sample reconstruction.
E)deductive reasoning

Question 34

Which one of the following statements is the most accurate?

A)we can prove things scientifically if we try hard enough
B)we can prove things scientifically if we measure things well enough
C)we can prove things scientifically if we try often enough
D)we cannot prove things scientifically
E)we can prove things scientifically if we use enough different variables

Question 35

A positive zero-order relationship exists,but the relationship becomes negative in the partials when introducing a control variable.Such a control variable is known as a(n)

A)incremental variable.
B)distorter variable.
C)suppressor variable.
D)ghost variable.
E)magic variable

Question 36

Forrester found a strong positive relationship between participation in high school extracurricular activities and community involvement as adults.He controlled for amount of college and the relationship between high school extracurricular activities and community involvement was nonexistent for all three categories of college attainment.Which type of elaboration analysis is this?

A)replication
B)explanation
C)interpretation
D)specification
E)extension

Question 37

The elaboration model examines the impact of other variables on the:

A)frequency distribution of the dependent variable.
B)frequency distribution of the independent variable.
C)measure of central tendency.
D)relationship first observed.
E)the dependent variable

Question 38

Forrester found a strong positive relationship between participation in high school extracurricular activities and community involvement as adults.He controlled for gender and the relationship between high school extracurricular activities and community involvement was nonexistent for both men and women.Which type of elaboration analysis is this?

A)replication
B)explanation
C)interpretation
D)specification
E)extension

Question 39

Caitlin studied the relationship between gender and adjustment to retirement.She controlled for type of job before retirement and set up tables relating gender to retirement adjustment for each of her three categories of job type before retirement.The relationships displayed in these tables are known as

A)test relationships.
B)zero-order relationships.
C)primary relationships.
D)partial relationships.
E)extensive relationships

Question 40

Who developed the elaboration model?

A)Babbie
B)Rosenberg
C)Lazarsfeld
D)Hirschi
E)Weber

Question 41

Which of the following would not be an example of sociological diagnostics?

A) Robert's GPA variations while in college.
B) differing income between men and women in the workforce.
C) race, ethnicity, and ability to receive a home mortgage.
D) dispersions of educational funds throughout the United States.
E) these are all examples of sociological diagnostics.

Question 42

In the elaboration model,a test variable that prevents a genuine relationship from appearing at the zero-order level is known as the

A)distorter variable.
B)suppressor variable.
C)intervening variable.
D)antecedent variable.
E)specification variable.

Question 43

A variable that prevents a genuine relationship to be observed at the zero-order level is a(n)

A)control variable.
B)inversion variable.
C)test variable.
D)suppressor variable.
E)unobserved variable.

Question 44

The elaboration model can only be used on dichotomous variables.

Question 45

Studying the relationship between parental supervision and juvenile delinquency,Maria found a strong relationship between the two.She then introduced a third variable,education,and the partials still showed a strong relationship between supervision and delinquency.What may she conclude?

A) replication.
B) that the relationship between supervision and delinquency is spurious.
C) that the relationship between supervision and delinquency is nonspurious.
D) that the relationship between supervision and delinquency is spurious and replication took place
E) that the relationship between supervision and delinquency is nonspurious and replication took place

Question 46

A variable that reverses the direction of a zero-order relationship when it is introduced is an example of a(n):

A)suppressor variable.
B)test variable.
C)distorter variable.
D)control variable.
E)inversion variable.

Question 47

Tables A and B show that
TABLE A: GOOD HEALTH

TABLE B: ILL HEALTH

A)marrying a younger women may cause a man to live longer.
B)marrying a younger women does not cause a man to live longer.
C)The hypothesized causal effect of marrying a younger woman is spurious.
D)marrying a younger woman causes a man to live longer, and the causal effect is suppressive
E)marrying a younger woman does not cause a man to live longer, and the causal effect of marrying a younger woman is spurious

Question 48

The acceptance of a hypothesis is really a function of the extent to which it has been tested and not disconfirmed.

Question 49

In the elaboration model,a test variable that reverses the direction of a zero-order relationship is known as the

A)distorter variable.
B)suppressor variable.
C)intervening variable.
D)antecedent variable.
E)specification variable.

Question 50

Explanation is the term used to describe a spurious relationship.

Question 51

In the following set of tables,the control variable is ______.
Partial frequency tables for gender and desire to have children within the next 5 years.


N=50 N=50

Gender

N=50 N=50

A)Age
B)Gender
C)Desire for Kids
D)5 years
E)Male vs. Female

Question 52

In the following table set,the independent and dependent variables,respectively,are _______.
Partial frequency tables for gender and desire to have children within the next 5 years.


N=50 N=50

Gender

N=50 N=50

A)Gender; Desire for Kids
B)Desire for Kids; Gender
C)Age; Desire for Kids
D)Age; Gender
E)Gender; Age

Question 53

The elaboration model is NOT a simple set of procedures for analyzing data.

Question 54

When using the elaboration paradigm,you should always begin with an observed relationship.

Question 55

Ex post facto hypothesizing refers to the development of hypotheses "predicting" relationships that have already been observed in the data.

Question 56

An antecedent control variable is one that occurs between the independent and the dependent variable in time.

Question 57

When partial relationships and original relationships are essentially the same,it is an example of

A)explanation.
B)replication.
C)interpretation.
D)specification.
E)refinement.

Question 58

Table A shows the (hypothetical)percentages of men age 50-79 who live 20 or more years,cross-tabulated with whether they did or did not marry a younger women.
TABLE A: GOOD HEALTH

TABLE B: ILL HEALTH

The control variable in Tables A and B is

A)Age
B)Marriage
C)Level of Health
D)Living or dying
E)Married or Not

Question 59

In conducting a project to study the relationship between number of criminal offenses committed and education,a researcher introduces the variable of age.When this was done,the relationship between education and crime disappeared.What type of research was conducted?

A) replication
B) spurious relationship.
C) explanation.
D) interpretation.
E) descriptive.

Question 60

A partial relationship cannot be stronger than the original relationship.

Question 61

When Roland introduced a measure of poverty to his study of drug use and chances of being arrested,it changed from a positive to a negative relationship.Poverty then is an example of a distorter variable.

Question 62

The terms "test factor" and control variable are synonyms.

Question 63

Differentiate between a suppressor variable and a distorter variable.Give an example of each and interpret the results.

Question 64

Which elaboration paradigm is used to describe a spurious relationship? Give an example,and interpret the results.

Question 65

A distorter variable is a test variable in the elaboration model that prevents a genuine relationship from being found at the zero-order level.

Question 66

The purpose of the elaboration model is to provide a way to examine relationships that may be causal

Question 67

Good researchers always avoid ex post facto hypothesizing.

Question 68

The origins of the Elaboration Model dates back to World War II.

Question 69

A suppressor variable is a test variable in the elaboration model that prevents a genuine relationship from appearing at the zero-order level.

Question 70

Compare and contrast the differences between explanation and interpretation.Give examples of both.

Question 71

When the partial relationship is essentially the same as the original relationship,the term specification is applied to the result.

Question 72

A good researcher can always prove an hypothesis.

Question 73

The term specification is used in the elaboration model regardless of whether the test variable is antecedent or intervening.

Question 74

What is meant by ex post facto hypothesizing? Why does it sometimes mislead inexperienced researchers?

Question 75

Regardless of whether the test variable is antecedent or intervening,the independent variable must come before the dependent variable.

Question 76

Interpretation only differs from explanation when it comes to the level of measurement used.

Question 77

Having observed an empirical relationship between two variables,we seek to understand the nature of that relationship through the effects produced by introducing other variables.In view of this,what is the basic form of the elaboration model?