Chapter 6: How Do We Measure Concepts?

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. What is the process of turning abstract concepts into concrete measurements?

A. direct observation

B. indirect observation

C. construction

D. operationalization

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Happiness is an example of a(n) ______.

A. direct observable

B. indirect observable

C. construct

D. operationalization

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. ______ would normally be at the nominal level of measurement.

A. Age

B. Temperature

C. Race

D. Happiness

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Levels of Measurement: Nominal

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Which of the following levels of measurement is only exhaustive and mutually exclusive?

A. ratio

B. nominal

C. interval

D. ordinal

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Levels of Measurement: Nominal

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. What is the difference between ordinal and nominal levels of measurement?

A. The ordinal measure has meaningful and constant differences between scale units.

B. The ordinal measure ranks categories.

C. The ordinal measure does not meet the requirement of being mutually exclusive.

D. The ordinal measure does not rank categories.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Levels of Measurement

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Measuring the temperature in Fahrenheit is a ______ level of measurement because the zero-point of 0°F is arbitrary.

A. ratio

B. nominal

C. interval

D. ordinal

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Levels of Measurement: Interval

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Which of the following elements of reliability describes a measure that produces similar results over periods of time?

A. stability

B. consistency

C. interobserver reliability

D. internal consistency

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Stability

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. A measure that has internal reliability should show ______.

A. disagreement among observers

B. agreement among observers

C. differences among measures

D. similarities among items within the measure

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: What Are Reliability and Validity?

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. According to the text, which of the following elements of validity should researchers be concerned about when avoiding bias in their research?

A. systematic measurement error

B. random measurement error

C. face validity

D. criterion validity

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Validity

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. How a measure compares to other theoretical concepts is also known as ______ validity.

A. criterion

B. construct

C. face

D. content

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Construct Validity

Difficulty Level: Easy

True/False

1. The attributes of a variable need to be exhaustive and inclusive in order to have a good measurement procedure.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Characteristics of a Good Measurement Procedure

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. The best time to express concerns about the reliability and validity of a study is after the data collection stage, according to the text.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Some Thoughts on Reliability and Validity

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. The number of people living in a single household is an example of a direct observable.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. Reliable methods are always valid.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: What Are Reliability and Validity?

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Researchers should be aware of the influence of random measurement error in their study designs because they can lead to biased studies.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Validity

Difficulty Level: Easy