Question 1

The difference between an independent variable and a quasi-independent variable is that the quasi-independent variable lacks ______.
A) random assignment
B) parsimony
C) validity
D) reliability

Accepted Answer

The key difference between an independent variable and a quasi-independent variable is that an independent variable is manipulated by the researcher through random assignment, whereas a quasi-independent variable cannot be manipulated through random assignment. Therefore, the quasi-independent variable lacks random assignment, making choice A the correct answer. Parsimony, validity, and reliability are not specific to independent or quasi-independent variables.

Question 2

Suppose a psychologist developed a test to measure intelligence, but this test was poorly developed and really only measured how well people perform on standardized tests (in other words, it doesn't actually measure intelligence). This test would lack ______.
A) inter-rater reliability
B) test-retest validity
C) construct validity
D) parsimony

Accepted Answer

This test would lack construct validity because it is not measuring the construct of intelligence, but rather just standardized test-taking ability. Inter-rater reliability and test-retest validity are not relevant in this scenario, and parsimony refers to the simplicity of a theory or explanation, not the validity of a test.

Question 3

Time measured in minutes is an example of a(n) ______ scale.
A) interval
B) ordinal
C) nominal
D) ratio

Accepted Answer

Time measured in minutes falls under the ratio scale as it has a true zero point (i.e., the absence of time) and the values can be compared using ratios (i.e., 10 minutes is twice as long as 5 minutes). Interval scales do not have a true zero point, while ordinal and nominal scales do not have numerical values that can be compared using ratios.

Question 4

When different observers of behavior record the behavior in a similar way, the measure is said to have good ______.
A) inter-rater reliability
B) test-retest validity
C) construct validity
D) parsimony

Accepted Answer

Inter-rater reliability refers to the consistency of observations made by different observers. If different observers are able to record behavior in a similar way, it suggests that the measure is reliable and consistent. Test-retest validity refers to the consistency of a measure over time, construct validity refers to the degree to which a measure is actually measuring what it claims to measure, and parsimony refers to the use of the simplest explanation possible. While these are all important concepts in psychology research, the question specifically asks about the consistency of observations made by different observers. Therefore, the best answer is inter-rater reliability (choice A).

Question 5

Confounding variables primarily threaten the ______ of a study.
A) external validity
B) internal validity
C) reliability
D) third variable

Accepted Answer

Confounding variables can introduce error and bias into a study, threatening the internal validity of the research. This means that the study may not accurately measure the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Confounding variables do not necessarily affect external validity or reliability, and the concept of a "third variable" is related but not identical to confounding variables.

Question 6

Independent variables can be manipulated according to all but ______.
A) presence/absence of treatment
B) type of treatment
C) amount of treatment
D) level of treatment

Accepted Answer

The amount of treatment and the level of treatment are essentially the same thing, as they both refer to the quantity or intensity of the treatment being administered. Therefore, D is the correct answer because it is redundant to have both "amount" and "level" as options. A, B, and C are all valid ways to manipulate an independent variable.

Question 7

Suppose that a participant completes a task in a research study faster than he or she would have completed the task outside the study (i.e., in their natural surroundings). This would be an example of ______.
A) regression toward the mean
B) maturation
C) a history effect
D) the Hawthorne effect

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne effect refers to the phenomenon where participants in a study modify their behavior simply because they know they are being observed or are part of an experiment. Therefore, if a participant completes a task faster in a research study than they would have outside the study, it could be due to the Hawthorne effect.

Question 8

A solution to experimenter bias is to use a(n) ______ design.
A) double-blind
B) single-blind
C) experimental
D) correlational

Accepted Answer

Double-blind design is the best choice for reducing experimenter bias. In double-blind experiments, both the participants and the experimenter are unaware of which group they belong to or which treatment they are receiving. This ensures that any biases and expectations the experimenter may have do not influence the results.

Question 9

A quasi-independent variable is the same as ______.
A) a subject variable
B) an independent variable
C) a dependent variable
D) a confounding variable

Accepted Answer

A quasi-independent variable is similar to a subject variable because it is not manipulated by the researcher but rather is an existing characteristic of the participants that is treated as an independent variable for the purposes of the study.

Question 10

Having different participants in a study experience conditions in different orders is ______.
A) counterbalancing
B) regression toward the mean
C) random assignment
D) attrition

Accepted Answer

Counterbalancing involves systematically varying the order or sequence of conditions in a study, such that different participants experience different orders. This helps to control for the potential influence of order effects, such as practice or fatigue, on participants' responses. The other options (B, C, and D) are not related to counterbalancing.

Question 11

A variable that affects the results of the study but is not a variable of interest in the study, is called a(n) ______ variable.
A) independent
B) dependent
C) subject
D) confound

Accepted Answer

A confound variable is a variable that can affect the results of the study but is not the variable of interest. It is important to identify and control for confound variables in order to accurately interpret the results of a study. Independent variables are variables that are manipulated in the study and dependent variables are the variables that are measured to assess the effect of the independent variables. Subjects are the individuals or entities that participate in the study.

Question 12

Testing effects are particularly problematic for ______ designs.
A) quasi-experimental
B) within-subjects
C) between-subjects
D) bivalent

Accepted Answer

Testing effects, such as practice or fatigue, can occur when participants are exposed to the same test or task multiple times. Within-subjects designs involve having the same participants undergo multiple conditions or treatments, which increases the likelihood of testing effects. Quasi-experimental and between-subjects designs do not necessarily involve exposing participants to the same test or task multiple times. Bivalent designs do not exist.

Question 13

If I set my alarm to read 8:10 when it is really 8:00 (i.e., it is 10 minutes fast) and the alarm goes off each day when it reads 8:10, it will be ______ but not ______.
A) valid; reliable
B) reliable; valid
C) accurate; testable
D) parsimonious; falsifiable

Accepted Answer

The alarm clock is reliable because it consistently goes off at the designated time, but it is not valid because it does not accurately reflect the true time.

Question 14

Measuring intelligence using the score on an IQ test is an example of ______.
A) reliability
B) an operational definition
C) an independent variable
D) maturation

Accepted Answer

Measuring intelligence using the score on an IQ test is an example of an operational definition, which defines a concept in terms of the specific procedures used to produce or measure it. An IQ test is a specific procedure used to measure intelligence, and thus using IQ test scores as a measure of intelligence is an example of an operational definition. Reliability refers to the consistency or stability of a measure, an independent variable is a manipulated variable in an experiment, and maturation refers to natural developmental changes over time.

Question 15

The difference between nominal and ordinal measurement scales is ______.
A) nominal scales have numerical response categories and ordinal scales do not
B) responses on ordinal scales can be rank ordered and responses on nominal scales cannot be rank ordered
C) nominal scales include zero as the lowest possible score and ordinal scales do not
D) nominal and ordinal scales are identical

Accepted Answer

Nominal measurement scales only provide labels for different groups or categories, while ordinal measurement scales allow responses to be ranked or ordered. Therefore, responses on ordinal scales can be rank ordered and responses on nominal scales cannot be rank ordered. The other options are incorrect.

Question 16

Getting better on a task in a study with practice can cause a source of bias called ______.
A) maturation
B) testing effects
C) regression toward the mean
D) mortality

Accepted Answer

The testing effect bias occurs when repeated testing or practice on a task improves a participant's performance, leading to an inflated effect size or skewed results. This can be a confounding variable in experimental research and needs to be controlled for or accounted for in the analysis of data. Maturation refers to natural changes over time, regression toward the mean occurs when extreme scores revert back to the mean over time or with repeated testing, and mortality refers to participants dropping out of a study. While these factors can also affect the results of a study, they are not directly related to the issue of practice or repeated testing.

Question 17

People in a grocery store are asked to sample three types of energy drinks and then indicate which one they liked best and which they liked least (i.e., they rank ordered the drinks). The dependent variable in this study is measured on a(n) ______ scale.
A) interval
B) ratio
C) ordinal
D) nominal

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is rank ordered, meaning that it is measured using an ordinal scale. The participants are not providing numerical values or measurements, but rather are indicating preferences or rankings. Therefore, nominal and ratio scales are not appropriate, and an interval scale is not necessary because the differences between the ranks are not quantitatively meaningful.

Question 18

An independent variable that includes three different types of treatments is called a(n) ______ variable.
A) amount
B) bivalent
C) multivalent
D) subject

Accepted Answer

A multivalent variable includes three or more types of treatments. Option A, amount, refers to the quantity or size of something and is not relevant to this question. Option B, bivalent, refers to a variable with two possible values, such as gender (male or female). Option D, subject, refers to the individuals or units being studied and is not relevant to the type of variable being described in this question.

Question 19

Suppose that on average, you tend to score about 83% on exams in your courses. Scoring a 95% on the first exam in a course and 84% on the second exam in that course is an example of ______.
A) the Hawthorne effect
B) maturation
C) regression toward the mean
D) attrition

Accepted Answer

Regression toward the mean is the tendency for extreme scores or behaviors to return to their average. The fact that the student scored a 95% on the first exam, which is above their average, means it is likely that they will score lower on the next exam, closer to their average of 83%. This is not an example of the Hawthorne effect, maturation, or attrition.

Question 20

Temperature measured in Fahrenheit or Celsius is an example of a(n) ______ measurement scale.
A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) ratio

Accepted Answer

Temperature is an example of an interval measurement scale because there is a consistent and equal distance between units of measurement (e.g. 1-degree Celsius), but there is no true zero point on the scale (i.e. -273.15°C is the theoretical absolute zero, but it is not attainable). Therefore, ratios of temperatures (e.g. 100°C is not twice as hot as 50°C) are not meaningful. Nominal and ordinal measurement scales do not involve numerical values, and ratio measurement scales have a true zero point on the scale (e.g. weight or length).

Quiz 5: Variables and Measurement in Research

The difference between an independent variable and a quasi-independent variable is that the quasi-independent variable lacks ______.

Suppose a psychologist developed a test to measure intelligence, but this test was poorly developed and really only measured how well people perform on standardized tests (in other words, it doesn't actually measure intelligence) . This test would lack ______.

Time measured in minutes is an example of a(n) ______ scale.

When different observers of behavior record the behavior in a similar way, the measure is said to have good ______.

Confounding variables primarily threaten the ______ of a study.

Independent variables can be manipulated according to all but ______.

Suppose that a participant completes a task in a research study faster than he or she would have completed the task outside the study (i.e., in their natural surroundings) . This would be an example of ______.

A solution to experimenter bias is to use a(n) ______ design.

A quasi-independent variable is the same as ______.

Having different participants in a study experience conditions in different orders is ______.

A variable that affects the results of the study but is not a variable of interest in the study, is called a(n) ______ variable.

Testing effects are particularly problematic for ______ designs.

If I set my alarm to read 8:10 when it is really 8:00 (i.e., it is 10 minutes fast) and the alarm goes off each day when it reads 8:10, it will be but not .

Measuring intelligence using the score on an IQ test is an example of ______.

The difference between nominal and ordinal measurement scales is ______.

Getting better on a task in a study with practice can cause a source of bias called ______.

People in a grocery store are asked to sample three types of energy drinks and then indicate which one they liked best and which they liked least (i.e., they rank ordered the drinks) . The dependent variable in this study is measured on a(n) ______ scale.

An independent variable that includes three different types of treatments is called a(n) ______ variable.

Suppose that on average, you tend to score about 83% on exams in your courses. Scoring a 95% on the first exam in a course and 84% on the second exam in that course is an example of ______.

Temperature measured in Fahrenheit or Celsius is an example of a(n) ______ measurement scale.