Question 1

Who are the four groups we will be comparing in the chapter examples and practice problems?
* 2. In what roles will you be better because you understand data analysis?
* 3. What are some common units of analysis in social science research studies?

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

For the following pair of variables, which is the more likely DEPENDENT variable: current residence and place of birth?
A) current residence
B) place of birth

Accepted Answer

The current residence is more likely to be the dependent variable because it can change based on various factors, including one's place of birth. The place of birth is a fixed event and does not depend on where one currently lives.

Question 3

What are variables and attributes?

Accepted Answer

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Question 4

The variable "amount of control a child has over what he or she watches on TV" (categories: no control, slight control, moderate control, complete control) has what level of measurement?
A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval/ratio

Accepted Answer

The categories have a specific order or ranking, with "complete control" being the highest level of control and "no control" being the lowest level of control. However, the difference between categories is not necessarily equal (e.g. the difference between "slight control" and "moderate control" may not be the same as the difference between "moderate control" and "complete control"). Therefore, it is not an interval/ratio level of measurement.

Question 5

A researcher wants to measure the variable "age at last birthday" at the interval/ratio level. Provide a complete set of attributes for the variable.

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Question 6

You are interested in the effect of education on income. What are some other possible influences on income that you would want to control for?

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Question 7

What are the three questions to ask about a variable's attributes in order to determine that variable's level of measurement?

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Question 8

A critic charges that IQ tests don't really measure what they claim to measure. They say they measure natural intelligence but they really measure knowledge of the dominant culture of a society. This critic is claiming IQ tests lack
A) authenticity
B) parsimony
C) reliability
D) validity

Accepted Answer

The critic is questioning the validity of IQ tests, suggesting that they don't actually measure what they claim to measure. Therefore, the best choice is D, validity.

Question 9

Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable in the expression "the early bird catches the worm." Be clear which is which.

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Question 10

A researcher wants to know how annual number of work days missed is affected by a worker's age. Of course, other things may also affect annual number of work days missed so the researcher will also take into account the worker's gender and number of children under the age of 18. What is the dependent variable here?
A) annual number of work days missed
B) worker's age
C) worker's gender
D) worker's number of children under age 18

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or observed, in this case, the annual number of work days missed. The other variables (worker's age, gender, and number of children under age 18) are independent variables that may affect the dependent variable.

Question 11

The variable "favorite color" (attributes: red, blue, yellow, other) has what level of measurement?
A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval/ratio

Accepted Answer

"Favorite color" is a categorical variable with no inherent order or numerical value assigned to each category, making it nominal level of measurement.

Question 12

What is the difference between reliability and validity?

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

For the following pair of variables, which is the more likely INDEPENDENT variable: occupation and race?
A) occupation
B) race

Accepted Answer

Race is typically considered an independent variable as it is a demographic characteristic that is not influenced by occupation, whereas occupation can be influenced by race due to social and economic factors.

Question 14

The variable "percent of a police department's officers who are female" (attributes: 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% … 99%, 100%) has what level of measurement?
A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval/ratio

Accepted Answer

The variable "percent of a police department's officers who are female" can be measured on an interval/ratio scale because it has a meaningful zero point (0% indicates no female officers) and the intervals between each value have equal magnitude (each additional percentage point represents the same increase in female representation). Nominal and ordinal scales do not have a meaningful zero point or equal intervals between values.

Question 15

A researcher wants to measure the variable "favorite type of music" at the nominal level. Provide a set of attributes for the variable.

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

What are the differences between independent, dependent, and control variables?

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Question 17

What is the difference between a variable's theoretical definition and its operational definition?

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Question 18

What are the three levels of measurement used in the text?

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Question 19

Which of the following is a probability sampling technique?
A) purposive sampling
B) quota sampling
C) simple random sampling
D) snowball sampling
(Note: * indicates

Accepted Answer

Simple random sampling involves selecting a sample from a population randomly, making it a probability sampling technique. Purposive sampling, quota sampling, and snowball sampling are all non-probability sampling techniques.

Question 20

A researcher wants to measure the variable "frequency of seat belt use" at the ordinal level. Provide a set of attributes for the variable.

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 1: Introduction

Who are the four groups we will be comparing in the chapter examples and practice problems? * 2. In what roles will you be better because you understand data analysis? * 3. What are some common units of analysis in social science research studies?

For the following pair of variables, which is the more likely DEPENDENT variable: current residence and place of birth?

What are variables and attributes?

The variable "amount of control a child has over what he or she watches on TV" (categories: no control, slight control, moderate control, complete control) has what level of measurement?

A researcher wants to measure the variable "age at last birthday" at the interval/ratio level. Provide a complete set of attributes for the variable.

You are interested in the effect of education on income. What are some other possible influences on income that you would want to control for?

What are the three questions to ask about a variable's attributes in order to determine that variable's level of measurement?

A critic charges that IQ tests don't really measure what they claim to measure. They say they measure natural intelligence but they really measure knowledge of the dominant culture of a society. This critic is claiming IQ tests lack

Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable in the expression "the early bird catches the worm." Be clear which is which.

The variable "favorite color" (attributes: red, blue, yellow, other) has what level of measurement?

What is the difference between reliability and validity?

For the following pair of variables, which is the more likely INDEPENDENT variable: occupation and race?

The variable "percent of a police department's officers who are female" (attributes: 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% … 99%, 100%) has what level of measurement?

A researcher wants to measure the variable "favorite type of music" at the nominal level. Provide a set of attributes for the variable.

What are the differences between independent, dependent, and control variables?

What is the difference between a variable's theoretical definition and its operational definition?

What are the three levels of measurement used in the text?

Which of the following is a probability sampling technique?

A researcher wants to measure the variable "frequency of seat belt use" at the ordinal level. Provide a set of attributes for the variable.