Question 1

A table that shows the distribution of cases across the values of a dependent variable for cases that have different values on an independent variable is called ______.
A) frequency distribution
B) bar chart
C) arrow diagram
D) cross-tabulation

Accepted Answer

Cross-tabulation, also known as a contingency table, helps to show the relationship between two variables by displaying their frequency distribution in a table format. The independent variable is usually listed on the top of the table, while the dependent variable is listed on the side. This allows for an easy comparison of the distribution of cases across different categories of the dependent variable for each value of the independent variable.

Question 2

The statement that gender and same-sex marriage attitudes are related is a poor hypothesis because ______.
A) it is not a hypothesis
B) it is not a testable statement
C) the tendency of the relationship is not specified
D) the concepts are not clearly defined

Accepted Answer

A good hypothesis should specify the direction or nature of the relationship between variables, which this statement does not do.

Question 3

A researcher believes that voter turnout in a state is positively related to the educational achievement of its citizens. If true, the researcher should expect to find that ______.
A) voter turnout is unrelated to education
B) voter turnout is lower in states with higher educational achievement
C) voter turnout is roughly equal in all states
D) voter turnout is higher in states with higher educational achievement

Accepted Answer

The researcher believes that there is a positive relationship between voter turnout and educational achievement of citizens. Therefore, if this is true, the researcher should expect to find that voter turnout is higher in states with higher educational achievement.

Question 4

A researcher believes that political attitudes are influenced by education level. What is the dependent variable?
A) the researcher
B) education level
C) political attitudes
D) influence

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable being studied and affected by the independent variable, which in this case is education level. Political attitudes are the dependent variable being affected by education level.

Question 5

A researcher hypothesizes that age, party ID, and ideology are related to vote choice. What is the dependent variable?
A) party ID
B) vote choice
C) age
D) ideology

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable being measured or studied in relation to the other variables. In this case, the researcher is hypothesizing that age, party ID, and ideology are related to vote choice. So, the variable being measured or studied here is vote choice. Therefore, the dependent variable is B, vote choice.

Question 6

When comparing two categorical variables, it is appropriate to use which of the following methods?
A) means comparison
B) cross-tabulation
C) regression
D) logistic regression

Accepted Answer

Cross-tabulation, also known as contingency tables, is used to compare two categorical variables by constructing a table of counts or percentages for each possible combination of variable categories. This method allows for easy visualization and analysis of the relationship between the two variables. Means comparison and regression methods are appropriate for analyzing numerical variables, while logistic regression is used to model the relationship between a categorical dependent variable and one or more independent variables.

Question 7

A relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable that runs in a negative direction is called a(n) ______ relationship.
A) inverse
B) obverse
C) direct
D) indirect

Accepted Answer

In a negative relationship, as the independent variable increases, the dependent variable decreases. This is also known as an inverse relationship.

Question 8

Which of the following is considered to be the workhorses of explanation in political science?
A) hypotheses
B) inferences
C) relationships
D) variables

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses are considered the workhorses of explanation in political science because they propose explanations for phenomena that can be tested through research and analysis.

Question 9

The variable that represents the effect in a causal explanation is called the ______ variable.
A) antecedent
B) dependent
C) independent
D) intervening

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable that is impacted or affected by the independent variable in a causal explanation. It is called the "dependent" variable because its value depends on the value of the independent variable.

Question 10

A researcher hypothesizes that the higher the level of education a citizen has will increase his or her propensity to vote. This is an example of a(n) ______ relationship.
A) indirect
B) inverse
C) obverse
D) direct

Accepted Answer

A direct relationship is a positive correlation where two variables increase or decrease together. In this case, the higher the level of education a citizen has, the more likely they are to vote, indicating a direct relationship.

Question 11

Suppose a researcher hypothesizes that states with higher levels of education will have higher GDP per capita. After conducting the research the results will be displayed in a ______.
A) frequency distribution table
B) cross-tabulation
C) mean comparison table
D) bar graph

Accepted Answer

A mean comparison table is used to compare the average values of a variable (GDP per capita) across different groups (states with varying levels of education).

Question 12

Which of the following is an unacceptable explanation for attitudes regarding same-sex marriage?
A) An individual's religion is related to his or her views on the subject.
B) An individual's views on the subject are innate.
C) An individual's view on the issue is related to his or her political ideology.
D) An individual's view on the issue is related to his or her education level.

Accepted Answer

Attitudes towards same-sex marriage are generally considered to be influenced by external factors such as religion, political ideology, and education level, rather than being innate. Innate implies a natural, inborn characteristic, which does not align with the understanding that attitudes and beliefs are shaped by experiences and social context.

Question 13

In a cross-tabulation, the categories of the independent variables are always placed ______.
A) in the columns
B) in the rows
C) where the researcher wants them
D) wherever it is most convenient

Accepted Answer

The categories of the independent variables are always placed in the columns in a cross-tabulation. This allows for easy comparison of the frequency or percentage of each category with respect to the dependent variable that is placed in the rows. Placing the independent variable categories in the rows would require the viewer to scan horizontally, which is less efficient. Therefore, placing the independent variable categories in the columns is the standard practice.

Question 14

An explanation must be described in such a way that it can be tested with ______.
A) empirical data
B) independent variable
C) dependent variable
D) conceptual definition

Accepted Answer

An explanation can only be tested with empirical data, which involves observations and experiments to gather objective evidence to support or reject a hypothesis. Independent and dependent variables are components of an experiment that are manipulated or measured, respectively, to test a prediction or explanation. Conceptual definitions are theoretical explanations that need to be operationalized into measurable variables before they can be empirically tested.

Question 15

A cross-tabulation is interpreted by comparing values across ______.
A) the same columns of the independent variable
B) the same columns of the dependent variable
C) the same rows of the independent variable
D) the same rows of the dependent variable

Accepted Answer

The answer of A cross-tabulation is interpreted by comparing values...

Question 16

When performing a cross-tabulation, the researcher should always calculate the percentages of the categories of the ______.
A) dependent variable
B) intervening variable
C) independent variable
D) antecedent variable

Accepted Answer

In cross-tabulation, percentages are typically calculated for the categories of the independent variable to understand its distribution across the dependent variable.

Question 17

Suppose that as education increases so does the likelihood of political participation. However, the likelihood of participation levels off and begins to fall after one obtains a Master's degree. What type of relationship is present between education and political participation?
A) linear
B) curvilinear
C) negative
D) inverse

Accepted Answer

The relationship between education and political participation is not linear as the likelihood of participation levels off and begins to fall after obtaining a Master's degree. This indicates a curvilinear relationship. The options of negative and inverse are not appropriate as they suggest a negative correlation between education and political participation, which is not the case here.

Question 18

A(n) ______ is a testable statement about the empirical relationship between cause and effect.
A) concept
B) hypothesis
C) variable
D) explanation

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a testable statement about the empirical relationship between cause and effect. A concept is a general idea or notion, a variable is any factor that can be measured or manipulated, and an explanation is a detailed analysis that provides a reason or justification for something that has occurred or is occurring.

Question 19

The variable that represents a causal factor in an explanation is the ______.
A) antecedent variable
B) dependent variable
C) independent variable
D) intervening variable

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed in order to observe its effect on the dependent variable. It is the causal factor in an explanation.

Question 20

A relationship in which the value of the dependent variable changes consistently with a change in the value of the independent variable is referred to as a ______ relationship.
A) positive
B) negative
C) linear
D) curvilinear

Accepted Answer

A linear relationship is characterized by a consistent change in the value of the dependent variable as the independent variable changes. This change occurs in a straight line and has a constant slope. Positive and negative relationships refer to the direction of the relationship (either increasing or decreasing) while curvilinear refers to a relationship that is not a straight line.

Quiz 3: Proposing Explanations, Framing Hypotheses, and Making Comparisons

A table that shows the distribution of cases across the values of a dependent variable for cases that have different values on an independent variable is called ______.

The statement that gender and same-sex marriage attitudes are related is a poor hypothesis because ______.

A researcher believes that voter turnout in a state is positively related to the educational achievement of its citizens. If true, the researcher should expect to find that ______.

A researcher believes that political attitudes are influenced by education level. What is the dependent variable?

A researcher hypothesizes that age, party ID, and ideology are related to vote choice. What is the dependent variable?

When comparing two categorical variables, it is appropriate to use which of the following methods?

A relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable that runs in a negative direction is called a(n) ______ relationship.

Which of the following is considered to be the workhorses of explanation in political science?

The variable that represents the effect in a causal explanation is called the ______ variable.

A researcher hypothesizes that the higher the level of education a citizen has will increase his or her propensity to vote. This is an example of a(n) ______ relationship.

Suppose a researcher hypothesizes that states with higher levels of education will have higher GDP per capita. After conducting the research the results will be displayed in a ______.

Which of the following is an unacceptable explanation for attitudes regarding same-sex marriage?

In a cross-tabulation, the categories of the independent variables are always placed ______.

An explanation must be described in such a way that it can be tested with ______.

A cross-tabulation is interpreted by comparing values across ______.

When performing a cross-tabulation, the researcher should always calculate the percentages of the categories of the ______.

Suppose that as education increases so does the likelihood of political participation. However, the likelihood of participation levels off and begins to fall after one obtains a Master's degree. What type of relationship is present between education and political participation?

A(n) ______ is a testable statement about the empirical relationship between cause and effect.

The variable that represents a causal factor in an explanation is the ______.

A relationship in which the value of the dependent variable changes consistently with a change in the value of the independent variable is referred to as a ______ relationship.