Question 1

Two observers record similar measurements of behavior for a group of children they are watching.The researchers have established what kind reliability?
A)split-half reliability
B)internal reliability
C)test-retest reliability
D)inter-rater reliability

Accepted Answer

Inter-rater reliability measures the degree of agreement between two or more observers who are independently observing and coding the same behavior, making it the most appropriate choice for this scenario. Split-half reliability, internal reliability, and test-retest reliability are all different types of reliability measures but are not applicable to this specific situation.

Question 2

The behavior observed in a research study may be very different from behavior in normal circumstances because the participants modify their behavior when they know that they are being studied.This problem is known as
A)reactivity.
B)novelty.
C)experimenter bias.
D)volunteerism.

Accepted Answer

Reactivity refers to the phenomenon where participants modify their behavior when they know they are being observed or studied. This can be a problem in research studies because it can lead to inaccurate or biased results. "Novelty" refers to the tendency for participants to be interested or excited about a new or unfamiliar situation, which may also affect their behavior. "Experimenter bias" refers to a type of bias where the researcher's own expectations or beliefs may influence the results. "Volunteerism" refers to the potential bias that arises when participants in a study have volunteered to participate, which may not be representative of the larger population. However, reactivity is the best answered as it specifically addresses the issue of behavior modification in response to being studied.

Question 3

Determining a person's reaction time (in milliseconds)would involve measurement on a(n)_____ scale of measurement.
A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) ratio

Accepted Answer

Reaction time is a quantitative variable that can be measured on a ratio scale, as it has a true zero point (i.e. no reaction time is represented by 0 milliseconds) and equal intervals between values. This allows for meaningful mathematical operations such as calculating ratios or differences between reaction times. Nominal, ordinal, and interval scales cannot provide this level of precision.

Question 4

Using letter grades (A,B,C,D,and F)to classify student performance on an exam is an example of measurement on a(n)_______ scale of measurement.
A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio

Accepted Answer

Using letter grades to classify student performance on an exam is an example of an ordinal scale of measurement, as the grades are ranked in order from highest to lowest (A being the highest and F being the lowest). An ordinal scale does not have equal intervals between the categories, as the difference between an A and a B may not be the same as the difference between a B and a C.

Question 5

Which of the following is not a procedure for assessing the validity of a measurement procedure?
A)split-half
B)concurrent
C)predictive
D)convergent

Accepted Answer

Split-half is a method for assessing the reliability of measurement, not validity. The other three options (concurrent, predictive, and convergent) are procedures for assessing validity.

Question 6

Suppose a researcher wants to evaluate a self-esteem program by measuring students' self-esteem before and after a self-esteem program is administered.If all of the students score very high in self-esteem before the program begins,then the measurement procedure has a sensitivity problem known as
A)a floor effect.
B)a ceiling effect.
C)a hypersensitive effect.
D)a hyposensitive effect.

Accepted Answer

A ceiling effect occurs when students' scores are already very high before the program begins, making it difficult to measure any improvement or changes in self-esteem after the program is administered. This is a sensitivity problem because the instrument used to measure self-esteem is not sensitive enough to detect changes in students who are already at a high level of self-esteem.

Question 7

Participants taking on the negativistic subject role are participants who
A)are concerned that their performance in the study will be used to evaluate them.
B)try to act so that their data are in contrast to the hypothesis.
C)try to act so that their data are consistent with the hypothesis.
D)try to avoid acting on the basis of their suspicions.

Accepted Answer

Participants taking on the negativistic subject role try to act in a way that their data counters the hypothesis, which is akin to being oppositional or negative towards the study.

Question 8

After measuring a set of individuals,a researcher finds that Bob's score is three times greater than Jane's score.These measurements must come from a(n)________ scale.
A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)ratio

Accepted Answer

The given information about Bob's score being three times greater than Jane's score indicates that there is a meaningful and absolute zero point (i.e., a score of 0 is the absence of what is being measured) and the scores can be compared using ratios. This is characteristic of a ratio scale. Nominal scales only provide names or labels, ordinal scales only indicate a relative rank order, and interval scales have equal intervals but do not have a true zero point.

Question 9

Cues given to the participants about how they are expected to behave is the definition of
A)experimenter bias.
B)volunteer bias.
C)reactivity.
D)demand characteristics.

Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics refer to cues or clues given to the participants that might lead them to behave in a certain way in response to what they believe the experimenter expects. These cues or clues might not necessarily be intentional, but they can bias the results of an experiment. Examples of demand characteristics include subtle verbal or nonverbal cues that suggest a desired response, or the design of the study itself, which might suggest to participants what the experimenter is trying to test or achieve.

Question 10

Which modality of measurement is least likely to be distorted by the participant's or the researcher's subjective interpretation?
A)self-report
B)behavioral
C)observational
D)physiological

Accepted Answer

Physiological measurements are the least likely to be distorted by subjective interpretation because they involve objective data collection such as recordings of brain activity, heart rate, or other biological processes, which are not influenced by individual perception or bias.

Question 11

What is demonstrated by showing that the scores measured today for a group of individuals are nearly identical to the scores obtained with the same measurement procedure last week?
A)predictive validity
B)test-retest reliability
C)inter-rater reliability
D)construct validity

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is an example of test-retest reliability, which refers to the degree of consistency between two sets of scores obtained through the same measurement procedure. If the scores obtained today are nearly identical to the scores obtained last week, it indicates that the measurement procedure is producing consistent results over time. This suggests that the test has good test-retest reliability.

Question 12

Counting the number of people who smile at a baby in a stroller as they pass by is an example of a ________ measure.
A)self-report
B)survey
C)behavioral
D)physiological

Accepted Answer

Counting the number of people who smile at a baby in a stroller involves observing and measuring their behavior, which makes it a behavioral measure. Self-report measures involve individuals reporting on their own thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, while survey measures involve obtaining information from a sample of individuals through a questionnaire or interview. Physiological measures involve measuring physiological responses such as heart rate, skin conductance, or brain activity.

Question 13

What additional information is obtained by measuring on an interval scale compared to an ordinal scale?
A)whether the measurements are the same or different
B)the direction of the differences
C)the size of the differences
D)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Interval scales provide information on the size of the differences between measurements, unlike ordinal scales which only indicate whether measurements are higher or lower than one another.

Question 14

A strategy for reducing experimenter bias is to
A)standardize the experiment.
B)use a "blind" experiment.
C)standardize the experiment and use a "blind" experiment.
D)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Standardizing the experiment ensures that all participants experience the same procedures and conditions, which reduces the potential for bias. Using a "blind" experiment, where participants are not aware of the purpose or hypothesis of the study, helps to reduce the potential for the experimenter to unintentionally influence the results through their behavior or communication with participants. Using both standardization and a "blind" experiment provides the best strategy for reducing experimenter bias.

Question 15

Artifacts
A)distort measurement.
B)threaten validity of measures.
C)threaten reliability of measures.
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

Artifacts can distort measurements, threaten the validity of measures, and threaten the reliability of measures. Therefore, all of the above choices are correct.

Question 16

Measurement that includes a large error component will have very low
A)face validity.
B)concurrent validity.
C)reliability.
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

A large error component in measurement indicates low reliability, as the measurement is not consistently accurate. Face validity and concurrent validity refer to the degree to which a measure appears to be valid and correlates with other measures at the same time, respectively, and are not directly impacted by measurement error. Therefore, the correct answer is C, reliability.

Question 17

After measuring two individuals,a researcher can say that Tom's score is 4 points higher than Bill's.The measurements must come from a(n)_______ scale.
A)nominal
B)ordinal
C)interval
D)interval or ratio

Accepted Answer

The difference between Tom's and Bill's scores indicates a numerical value, making it an interval or ratio scale. Nominal scales are used for categorization, while ordinal scales order responses but do not provide a numerical value. Therefore, interval or ratio scales are the best choice for this scenario.

Question 18

Establishing the reliability of a measurement procedure by using the procedure to measure the same individuals twice and comparing the two sets of scores is known as
A)split-half reliability.
B)internal reliability.
C)test-retest reliability.
D)inter-rater reliability.

Accepted Answer

Test-retest reliability involves measuring the same individuals twice with the same procedure and comparing the results. This method assesses the consistency of a measurement over time and ensures that the measurement is reliable. Split-half reliability assesses the consistency of a measurement by comparing two halves of a test. Internal reliability assesses how well the items in a scale measure the same construct. Inter-rater reliability assesses the consistency of ratings made by different raters.

Question 19

An EEG,heart rate,and brain activity are all examples of ________ measures.
A)self-report
B)survey
C)behavioral
D)physiological

Accepted Answer

EEG, heart rate, and brain activity are all objective measures of physiological responses and do not rely on subjective interpretation or reporting. They are commonly used in experimental research to measure changes in bodily functions in response to different stimuli or interventions.

Question 20

What additional information is obtained by measuring on an ordinal scale compared to a nominal scale?
A)whether the measurements are the same or different
B)the direction of the differences
C)the size of the differences
D)none of the above

Accepted Answer

With an ordinal scale, the measurements can be ranked in order, indicating the direction of the differences between them. This information is not provided by a nominal scale, which only identifies whether the measurements are the same or different, but does not indicate direction or magnitude. Option C is not entirely incorrect, but the size of the differences can only be estimated, and not measured precisely on an ordinal scale. Therefore, option B is the most appropriate answer.

Quiz 3: Defining and Measuring Variables

Two observers record similar measurements of behavior for a group of children they are watching.The researchers have established what kind reliability?

The behavior observed in a research study may be very different from behavior in normal circumstances because the participants modify their behavior when they know that they are being studied.This problem is known as

Determining a person's reaction time (in milliseconds) would involve measurement on a(n) _____ scale of measurement.

Using letter grades (A,B,C,D,and F) to classify student performance on an exam is an example of measurement on a(n) _______ scale of measurement.

Which of the following is not a procedure for assessing the validity of a measurement procedure?

Suppose a researcher wants to evaluate a self-esteem program by measuring students' self-esteem before and after a self-esteem program is administered.If all of the students score very high in self-esteem before the program begins,then the measurement procedure has a sensitivity problem known as

Participants taking on the negativistic subject role are participants who

After measuring a set of individuals,a researcher finds that Bob's score is three times greater than Jane's score.These measurements must come from a(n) ________ scale.

Cues given to the participants about how they are expected to behave is the definition of

Which modality of measurement is least likely to be distorted by the participant's or the researcher's subjective interpretation?

What is demonstrated by showing that the scores measured today for a group of individuals are nearly identical to the scores obtained with the same measurement procedure last week?

Counting the number of people who smile at a baby in a stroller as they pass by is an example of a ________ measure.

What additional information is obtained by measuring on an interval scale compared to an ordinal scale?

A strategy for reducing experimenter bias is to

Artifacts

Measurement that includes a large error component will have very low

After measuring two individuals,a researcher can say that Tom's score is 4 points higher than Bill's.The measurements must come from a(n) _______ scale.

Establishing the reliability of a measurement procedure by using the procedure to measure the same individuals twice and comparing the two sets of scores is known as

An EEG,heart rate,and brain activity are all examples of ________ measures.

What additional information is obtained by measuring on an ordinal scale compared to a nominal scale?