Question 1

Exhibit 8-8: Choose the appropriate type of measuring instrument for the given purpose.
-Refer to Exhibit 8-8.To select students for admission to law school

Accepted Answer

An aptitude test is appropriate for selecting students for admission to law school as it measures their potential ability to succeed in the field of law.

Question 2

A researcher wishes to conduct a general personality assessment of 50 high school students who may be selected to participate in a special program.Low cost and ease of administration are important considerations.Which of the following instruments would you recommend in this situation?

Accepted Answer

An inventory is a low-cost and easy-to-administer personality test that can provide a general assessment of an individual's personality. It is well-suited for this situation as it can be given to a large group of high school students and provides a measurable outcome. The inkblot technique is a projective test that is expensive and can be time-consuming, while the cognitive abilities test assesses cognitive abilities rather than personality traits. An observation schedule also requires extensive time and resources.

Question 3

A teacher wishes to compare the effectiveness of two reading instructional programs for third graders.She carries out an experimental study in which one group receives one program and the second group receives the other program.What kind of measurement tool would you recommend to measure the outcome of this study?

Accepted Answer

A reading achievement test would be the best choice to measure the outcome of the study as it directly measures the students' reading skills and comprehension, which is the main focus of the instructional programs being compared. A verbal aptitude test or rating scale would not be specific enough for this study, and a reading readiness test would not be appropriate for third graders who are already expected to have basic reading skills.

Question 4

One advantage of projective techniques over self-report inventories is that they are

Accepted Answer

Projective techniques are believed to be less subject to faking because they involve ambiguous stimuli which elicit responses from the unconscious mind, rather than allowing the individual to consciously select responses as with self-report inventories. However, projective techniques may be more time-consuming and expensive to administer and score compared to self-report inventories.

Question 5

Consider the following data from a 40-item math skills test administered to three groups of elementary school students. $\begin{array}{ll}
\text { Age Group } & \text { Mean Score } \
3rd & 32.1 \
4th  & 37.5 \
4 \text { th } & 39.3
\end{array}$
Interpretation of these data for 5th graders may be limited by the test's

Accepted Answer

The ceiling effect refers to a situation where a test's items are too easy for the highest ability level in the population being tested, resulting in a lack of discrimination among the top performers. Since the mean score for the 4th grade group is already quite high (39.3 out of 40), it is possible that the test has reached its ceiling effect and may not be able to discriminate well among the highest ability level of 5th graders.

Question 6

An observer using a sign coding system would categorize behavior according to

Accepted Answer

An observer using a sign coding system focuses on individual occurrences of the behavior, marking each instance as it happens.

Question 7

A researcher wants to measure students' attitudes toward having school uniforms.He used the following format: 
This procedure is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

The format described is a bipolar adjective scale, where respondents rate their attitude on a scale between two opposing adjectives (e.g. "agree" and "disagree"). It is not a checklist, sign coding system, or inventory check.

Question 8

A researcher found significantly different mean scores on an attitude scale for two groups known to be on different sides of the gun control issue.The researcher reported that this finding was evidence of the scale's

Accepted Answer

The significant difference in mean scores on the attitude scale for two groups known to be on different sides of the gun control issue is evidence of the scale's validity. Validity refers to the extent to which a test or measure actually measures what it intends to measure. In this case, the significant difference in mean scores suggests that the scale is measuring differences in attitudes towards gun control, which is a good indication of validity. Reliability refers to the consistency of results over time or across different observers, so it is not the best choice. Objectivity and divergent index are not applicable to this scenario.

Question 9

"Voter apathy in the last election was greater among white-collar workers than among blue-collar workers." To differentiate the occupations of workers as "white-collar" and "blue-collar", a researcher would most likely use a(n)

Accepted Answer

A rating scale is the most appropriate tool for differentiating occupations as "white-collar" and "blue-collar" because it allows for the assessment of various job characteristics or worker attributes on a continuum, which can easily categorize occupations into these two broad types.

Question 10

Exhibit 8-7:Choose the type of instrument that corresponds with the major concern about its use.
-Refer to Exhibit 8-7.When two different people use this instrument in a particular setting, will the results agree?

Accepted Answer

A rating scale is designed to measure subjective opinions or attitudes, and therefore, it is expected that different people using the same scale may have different responses. The other instruments listed are designed to measure more objective factors such as achievement, aptitude, or personality traits, and so the results are expected to be more consistent across users.

Question 11

One of the best ways for an observer to record the occurrence of specific behaviors as they happen is to use a

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the best ways for an...

Question 12

Which one of the following items would NOT be suitable for a Likert type scale measuring attitudes toward church?

Accepted Answer

Option A, B, and D all relate to attitudes toward church, but option C provides factual information rather than an attitude statement. A Likert type scale is designed to measure the degree of agreement or disagreement with attitude statements, so option C would not be suitable for this purpose.

Question 13

A researcher found that the performance range of a test he wanted to use was restricted at the upper end so that subjects could not show their maximum ability.This limitation is called the ____ effect.

Accepted Answer

The given scenario describes the "ceiling" effect, where the test's upper limit restricts subjects from showing their maximum ability. The "projective" effect refers to the subject projecting their own thoughts onto ambiguous stimuli. The "floor" effect refers to the lower limit restricting subjects from demonstrating their minimum ability. The "baseline" effect is not a recognized term in psychology or testing.

Question 14

Exhibit 8-7:Choose the type of instrument that corresponds with the major concern about its use.
-Refer to Exhibit 8-7.Does the content of the instrument correspond to the content covered in the schools that will use it?

Accepted Answer

Achievement tests are designed to measure a student's level of understanding and knowledge in a particular subject, making them ideal for assessing if the content covered in a school corresponds to the content in the test. Projective personality tests, rating scales, and aptitude tests measure different aspects of a student's abilities and traits rather than academic knowledge.

Question 15

Procedures for recording data in direct observation studies include

Accepted Answer

Checklists, rating scales, and coding sheets are all common methods used for recording data in direct observation studies. Each serves a specific purpose in capturing and organizing observed behaviors or events systematically.

Question 16

A floor effect on a test occurs when the test

Accepted Answer

A floor effect occurs when a test is too difficult, causing a large number of test takers to score at the lower end of the score range. This can make it difficult to distinguish between lower levels of ability or performance.

Question 17

Exhibit 8-7:Choose the type of instrument that corresponds with the major concern about its use.
-Refer to Exhibit 8-7.Do I have the skill to administer and interpret the instrument?

Accepted Answer

Projective personality tests require specialized training and skill to administer and interpret accurately, unlike more straightforward measures such as achievement or aptitude tests, or rating scales.

Question 18

Situational tests in observational studies have the advantage of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Situational tests in observational studies have the...

Question 19

A teacher reports having a kindergarten child who is withdrawn and does not interact with other students.What measurement tool would a researcher use to get a better grasp of the problem before suggesting behavior modification therapy?

Accepted Answer

Direct observation would allow the researcher to witness the behavior of the child firsthand and gather more specific information about the extent and nature of the withdrawal, as well as identify any triggers or patterns. This information would be crucial in designing targeted behavior modification therapy. Attitude scales, personality inventories, and semantic differentials are not likely to provide the same level of detail about the child's behavior in a social setting.

Question 20

Which of the following measurements is the best example of a performance test?

Accepted Answer

A performance test typically involves the direct observation and evaluation of a student's performance on tasks that reflect actual job or life situations. A student's portfolio in English class, which can include a variety of work such as essays, projects, and presentations, is a good example of a performance test because it assesses the student's ability to apply skills and knowledge in a comprehensive and practical manner, rather than through traditional testing methods.

Quiz 8: Tools of Research

Exhibit 8-8: Choose the appropriate type of measuring instrument for the given purpose. -Refer to Exhibit 8-8.To select students for admission to law school