Research Methods A Modular Approach 2nd Edition by Jackson – Test Bank

Complete Test Bank With Answers

 

 

Sample Questions Posted Below

 

Module 5

Defining, Measuring, and Manipulating Variables

Chapter Outline

Defining Variables

Properties of Measurement

Scales of Measurement

Nominal Scale

Ordinal Scale

Interval Scale

Ratio Scale

Discrete and Continuous Variables

Types of Measures

Self-report Measures

Tests

Behavioral Measures

Physical Measures

Summary

Review of Key Terms

Absolute Zero—A property of measurement in which assigning a score of zero indicates an absence

of the variable being measured.

Behavioral Measures—Measures taken by carefully observing and recording behavior.

Continuous Variables—Variables that usually fall along a continuum and allow for fractional

amounts.

Discrete Variables—Variables that usually consist of whole number units or categories and are made

up of chunks or units that are detached and distinct from one another.

Equal Unit Size—A property of measurement in which a difference of 1 means the same amount

throughout the entire scale.

Identity—A property of measurement in which objects that are different receive different scores.

Interval Scale—A scale in which the units of measurement (intervals) between the numbers on the

scale are all equal in size.

Magnitude—A property of measurement in which the ordering of numbers reflects the ordering of the

variable.

Nominal Scale—A scale in which objects or individuals are broken into categories that have no

numerical properties.

Operational Definition—A definition of a variable in terms of the operations (activities) a researcher

uses to measure or manipulate it.

28Ordinal Scale—A scale in which objects or individuals are categorized and the categories form a rank

order along a continuum.

Physical Measures—Measures of bodily activity (such as pulse or blood pressure) that may be taken

with a piece of equipment.

Ratio Scale—A scale in which, in addition to order and equal units of measurement, there is an

absolute zero that indicates an absence of the variable being measured.

Reactivity—A possible reaction by participants in which they act unnaturally because they know they

are being observed.

Self-report Measures—Usually questionnaires or interviews that measure how people report that

they act, think, or feel.

Tests—A measurement instrument used to assess individual differences in various content areas.

Web Resources

For step-by-step practice and information, have your students check out the Statistics and Research

Methods Workshops at http://www. cengage.com/psychology/workshops. In addition,

practice quizzes, vocabulary flashcards, and more are available at

http://www.cengage.com/psychology/jackson

Answers to Module Exercises

1. Alternative “c” represents an operational definition of depression.

2. a. This is a cognitive self-report measure.

b. c. e. f. This is a behavioral self-report measure.

This is an affective self-report measure. It is also a type of test.

d. This is a test.

This is a behavioral measure.

This is a physical measure.

Test Items

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following represents the best operational definition of hunger?

a. b. c. d. that empty, gnawing feeling that you get in your stomach

not having eaten for 18 hours.

the number of stomach growls reported in a ten-minute time interval.

all of the alternatives are equally good.

Answer: b

2. A definition of a variable in terms of the activities a research uses to measure or manipulate it is

a(n):

a. operational definition

29b. functional definition

c. well-defined variable

d. measure definition

Answer: a

3. A property of measurement in which objects that a different receive different scores is _____.

a. identity

b. magnitude

c. equal unit size

d. absolute zero

Answer: a

4. A property of measurement in which the ordering of numbers reflects the ordering of the variable

is _____.

a. identity

b. magnitude

c. equal unit size

d. absolute zero

Answer: b

5. A property of measurement in which a difference of 1 is the same amount throughout the entire

scale is _____.

a. identity

b. magnitude

c. equal unit size

d. absolute zero

Answer: c

6. A property of measurement in which assigning a score of zero indicates an absence of the variable

being measured is _____.

a. identity

b. magnitude

c. equal unit size

d. absolute zero

Answer: d

7. Political affiliation is to the _____ property of measurement as inches are to the _____ property of

measurement.

a. magnitude; identity

b. equal unit size; magnitude

c. absolute zero; equal unit size

d. identity; equal unit size

Answer: d

8. Arranging a group of individuals from tallest to shortest represents the _____ property of

measurement.

a. identity

b. magnitude

30c. equal unit size

d. absolute zero

Answer: b

w9. Number on a football jersey is to the _____ scale of measurement as temperature measured on the

Fahrenheit scale is to the _____ scale or measurement.

a. ordinal; interval

b. interval; nominal

c. nominal; ratio

d. nominal; interval

Answer: d

10. Class rank is to the _____ scale of measurement as weight is to the _____ scale of measurement.

a. ordinal; ratio

b. ordinal; nominal

c. nominal; interval

d. interval; ratio

Answer: a

11. Which of the following represents data arranged on an interval-ratio scale?

a. b. c. d. ranking of contestants in a beauty contest

reaction time in seconds to complete a task

categorizing subjects according to their gender

letter grade on an exam

Answer: b

12. Time is to the _____ scale of measurement as ethnicity is to the _____ scale of measurement.

a. ratio; ordinal

b. ratio; nominal

c. interval; nominal

d. ordinal; ratio

Answer: b

13. A scale of measurement in which objects or individuals are assigned to categories that have no

numerical properties is a _____ scale.

a. nominal

b. ordinal

c. interval

d. ratio

Answer: a

14. A scale of measurement in which objects or individuals are categorized and the categories form a

rank order along a continuum is a _____ scale.

a. nominal

b. ordinal

c. interval

d. ratio

31Answer: b

15. A scale of measurement in which the units of measurement between the numbers on the scale are

all equal in size is a _____ scale.

a. nominal

b. ordinal

c. interval

d. ratio

Answer: c

16. A scale of measurement in which, in addition to order and equal units of measurement, there is an

absolute zero that indicates an absence of the variable being measured is a _____ scale.

a. nominal

b. ordinal

c. interval

d. ratio

Answer: d

17. Discrete variables are to _____ as continuous variables are to _____.

a. b. c. whole units; whole units and/or fractional amounts

whole units and/or fractional amounts; whole units

usually nominal and ordinal; usually interval and ratio

d. both a and c

Answer: d

18. Which of the following is NOT a type of measure?

a. a self-report measure

b. a test

c. an operational definition

d. a behavioral measure

Answer: c

w19. Which of the following is NOT a type of self-report measure?

a. behavioral self-report measure

b. physical self-report measure

c. cognitive self-report measure

d. affective self-report measure

Answer: b

20. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

a. A test is a measurement instrument used to assess individual differences in various content

b. c. d. areas.

An aptitude test measures an individual’s competence in an area.

An achievement test measures an individual’s potential to do something.

All of these statements are true .

Answer: a

3221. Which of the following is FALSE?

a. Behavioral measures are usually questionnaires or interviews that measure how people

report that they act, think, or feel.

b. Self-report measures are measures taken by carefully observing and recording others’

behavior(s).

c. d. Physical measures usually involve using an aptitude or achievement test.

All of these statements are false.

Answer: d

w22. Sara decided to have participants in her study of the relationship between diet and weight keep a

journal of everything they ate each day. The type of measurement that Sara is employing is known

as a(n):

a. behavioral self-report measure.

b. cognitive self-report measure.

c. affective self-report measure.

d. aptitude test.

Answer: a

23. A blood pressure reading is to a _____ measure as observing how many patrons in a fast food

restaurant take advantage of free drink refills is to a ______ measure.

a. physical; behavioral self-report

b. behavioral; physical

c. physical; behavioral

d. behavioral; cognitive self-report

Answer: c

Short Answer/Essay Questions

1. 2. 3. What is an operational definition? Give an operational definition of intelligence.

An operational definition is a definition of a variable in terms of the operations (activities) a

researcher uses to measure or manipulate it. Thus, an operational definition of intelligence could

be based on one’s score on an intelligence test or on one’s ability to solve a problem that the

researcher has determined requires intellectual ability.

Identify the four scales of measurement noting the properties of measurement each scale has.

The nominal scale has the property of identity; the ordinal scale has the properties of identity and

magnitude; the interval scale has the properties of identity, magnitude, and equal unit size; and

the ratio scale has the properties of identity, magnitude, equal unit size, and a true zero.

Provide an example of a variable measured on a(n): nominal scale, ordinal scale, interval scale,

and ratio scale.

Nominal: gender; ethnicity

Ordinal: letter grade; class rank

Interval: Fahrenheit temperature; SAT score

Ratio: percentage grade on an exam; weight

334. 5. Identify the three types of self-report measures discussed in the text and briefly describe each.

Behavioral self-report measures ask people to report how often they do something.

Cognitive self-report measures ask people to report what they think about something.

Affective self-report measures ask individuals to report how they feel about something.

Explain the difference between discrete and continuous variables.

A discrete variable consists of whole number units or categories and is made up of chunks or units

that are detached and distinct from one another. A continuous variable is a variable that usually

falls along a continuum and allows for fractional amounts.

6. What is reactivity and why is it a concern when taking behavioral measures?

Reactivity is a possible reaction by participants in which they act unnaturally because they

know they are being observed. It is obviously a concern when taking behavioral measure

because these measures involve carefully observing and recording behavior.

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