Question 1

What kind of variable can have a hidden effect on your experiment's outcome causing you to incorrectly infer a spurious correlation?

Accepted Answer

A confounding variable is an external variable that can affect both the independent and dependent variables, leading to a false association or spurious correlation.

Question 2

Michael found that ice cream sales and crime rates were highly correlated to each other. Michael concluded that ice cream sales caused high crime. What mistake is Michael making?

Accepted Answer

Michael is making the mistake of assuming causation from correlation. The correlation between ice cream sales and crime rates is likely spurious, meaning that both may be influenced by a third factor, such as temperature, rather than one causing the other.

Question 3

Which of the following sampling methods involves representing the major characteristics of a population by sampling an equal amount of each?

Accepted Answer

Proportional quota sampling involves dividing the population into subgroups and sampling an equal amount from each subgroup to ensure that the sample represents the major characteristics of the population.

Question 4

If the researcher wants the sample size of each subgroup to be proportional in its representation to the population, which type of stratified sampling strategy should they use?

Accepted Answer

Proportional stratified sampling ensures that the sample size of each subgroup is proportional to its representation in the population.

Question 5

Which type of sampling method specifies a minimum number of sampled units for a particular category?

Accepted Answer

Nonproportional quota sampling specifies a minimum number of sampled units for a particular category, ensuring that enough data is collected from each category of interest.

Question 6

Jorge is conducting a customer feedback survey that uses each quota separately. Which type of quota is Jorge using?

Accepted Answer

Noninterlocking quotas are used when each quota is treated separately, without considering the interaction between different categories.

Question 7

Pedro is creating a client feedback survey for his social work agency and his sample quota consists of age and household composition. Which type of quota is Pedro using?

Accepted Answer

Pedro is using interlocking quota sampling because he is considering two characteristics (age and household composition) simultaneously to create specific subgroups for his survey.

Question 8

Which type of sampling is best to use when a sample is difficult to access?

Accepted Answer

Snowball sampling is used when the sample is difficult to access, as it relies on existing participants to recruit future participants from among their acquaintances.

Question 9

How is a two-stage cluster different from a one-stage cluster?

Accepted Answer

In a one-stage cluster sampling, all elements within selected clusters are included in the sample. In a two-stage cluster sampling, a sample of elements is chosen from each selected cluster.

Question 10

Which of the following is an advantage of cluster sampling?

Accepted Answer

Cluster sampling is advantageous when the target population is widely dispersed geographically, as it allows researchers to divide the population into clusters and then randomly select clusters to sample, reducing travel and logistical costs.

Question 11

Which type of sampling is best used when there are few resources to conduct a study at an agency?

Accepted Answer

Convenience sampling is often used when resources are limited because it involves selecting samples that are easiest to access, requiring less time and effort.

Question 12

Sampling ______ is produced by using sampling strategies that overrepresent a portion of the study population.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sampling ______ is produced by using sampling...

Question 13

Nonsampling error is due to the ______ between those who responded to the survey and those who did not and how the survey was administered.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nonsampling error is due to the ______...

Question 14

When a researcher does not acknowledge other variables that can influence a relationship between two variables, what might result?

Accepted Answer

A spurious correlation occurs when two variables appear to be related but are actually influenced by a third, unacknowledged variable.

Question 15

A power analysis allows researchers to determine the sample size required to produce a given effect size.

Accepted Answer

A power analysis helps researchers calculate the minimum sample size needed to detect an effect of a given size with a desired level of statistical power, reducing the risk of Type II errors.

Question 16

A disadvantage of a proportional stratified sampling strategy is that you need to have incomplete data on the variable used to stratify the sample on everyone in the population.

Accepted Answer

A disadvantage of proportional stratified sampling is that you need complete data on the stratifying variable for everyone in the population, not incomplete data.

Question 17

Sampling with replacement involves, for example, selecting a number from a participant from a hat, including the participant associated with the number in the sample, and then putting the number back in the hat so that it can be selected again.

Accepted Answer

Sampling with replacement means that each participant or item can be chosen more than once because it is returned to the pool after being selected.

Question 18

Social work researchers must take into consideration how the sampling strategies used in their research might present ethical dilemmas.

Accepted Answer

Sampling strategies can impact the representation and treatment of participants, potentially leading to ethical issues such as bias, privacy concerns, or harm to vulnerable populations.

Question 19

There are standard guidelines for the remuneration of participants.

Accepted Answer

There are no universally standard guidelines for participant remuneration; it varies by study, organization, and country.

Question 20

What are at least three factors researchers should consider when choosing a sampling method?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are at least three factors researchers...

Quiz 11: Sampling