Chapter 5: Measurement

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. ______ is the process of defining the concepts researchers are interested in measuring.

A. Testing

B. Measurement

C. Variation

D. Demonstration

Learning Objective: 5.1: Distinguish between the conceptual and operational definition of a variable.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Conceptual Versus Operational Definition

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. ______ is the working definition a researcher uses for a concept.

A. Conceptual definition

B. Conceptual determination

C. Constance definition

D. Conjectural definition

Learning Objective: 5.1: Distinguish between the conceptual and operational definition of a variable.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Conceptual Versus Operational Definition

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. What is the process of defining the exact way you plan to measure the concept?

A. conceptualization

B. modernization

C. oppositionalization

D. operationalization

Learning Objective: 5.1: Distinguish between the conceptual and operational definition of a variable.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Conceptual Versus Operational Definition

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. Which of the following might be an operational definition of the concept of eating a lollypop?

A. remove the wrapper, put the candy in your mouth, enjoy

B. consuming the candy until it is completely gone

C. choosing which of the following candies you like in order from most to least

D. please decide whether you wish to participate in this study based on whether you like lollipops

Learning Objective: 5.1: Distinguish between the conceptual and operational definition of a variable.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Conceptual Versus Operational Definition

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Which level of measurement is defined by a variable’s attributes or characteristics?

A. ordinal

B. exclusive

C. nominal

D. inclusive

Learning Objective: 5.2: Differentiate between the various levels of measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Nominal Measurement

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. Which of the following levels of measurement are variables that are assigned a numerical value?

A. nominal

B. ordinal

C. ratio

D. interval

Learning Objective: 5.2: Differentiate between the various levels of measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Ordinal Measurement

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Which of the following levels of measurement can be logically ranked?

A. nominal

B. ratio

C. interval

Learning Objective: 5.2: Differentiate between the various levels of measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Levels of Measurement

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Which level of measurement has both variables and a true zero value?

A. nominal

B. ordinal

C. ratio

D. interval

Learning Objective: 5.2: Differentiate between the various levels of measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Ratio Measurement

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. What does a true zero value mean?

A. Zero value has a real meaning.

B. There were zero participants.

C. Zero people value this topic.

D. There is a 0% chance of this result occurring.

Learning Objective: 5.2: Differentiate between the various levels of measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Ratio Measurement

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. A mother takes her son’s temperature repeatedly throughout the day to see whether his fever is improving. What level of measurement is she using?

A. nominal

B. ordinal

C. ratio

D. interval

Learning Objective: 5.2: Differentiate between the various levels of measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Interval Measurement

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. Researchers ask a subject if they are currently pregnant. What level of measurement is used in this scenario?

A. nominal

B. ordinal

C. ratio

D. interval

Learning Objective: 5.2: Differentiate between the various levels of measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Nominal Measurement

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. A Likert-type scale (e.g., asking if someone is not satisfied, a little satisfied, satisfied, or very satisfied with their cable service) is an example of which measurement level?

A. nominal

B. ordinal

C. ratio

D. interval

Learning Objective: 5.2: Differentiate between the various levels of measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Ordinal Measurement

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. How does a researcher choose which level of measurement to use?

A. This is assigned at random by the university funding the researcher.

B. Decisions are based on a vote among all of the researchers of which they each most enjoy.

C. They consider what they are studying and choose the method that best gathers the information.

D. Peer-reviewed journals make all of these decisions for researchers.

Learning Objective: 5.2: Differentiate between the various levels of measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Levels of Measurement

Difficulty Level: Hard

14. ______occurs when there is a pattern to the error.

A. Overall error

B. Systematic error

C. Generalized error

D. Systemic error

Learning Objective: 5.3: Distinguish between the different sources of measurement error.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Systematic Error

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. When systematic error is caused by the participant providing the same response to all or most of all the items on a measure, this is referred to as a ______.

A. repetition set

B. response system

C. response set

D. systemic outlier

Learning Objective: 5.3: Distinguish between the different sources of measurement error.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Systematic Error

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. An ______ set is the tendency of person to response in a positive manner to a question regardless of the question being asked.

A. appropriate reaction

B. acquiescent reflex

C. acquired response

D. acquiescent response

Learning Objective: 5.3: Distinguish between the different sources of measurement error.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Systematic Error

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. Why might a person tell a toothpaste company that they love toothpaste when they do not?

A. social constructs

B. social desirability bias

C. societal expectations

D. research desirability bias

Learning Objective: 5.3: Distinguish between the different sources of measurement error.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Systematic Error

Difficulty Level: Medium

18. People with diabetes are more likely than nondiabetics to know how much sugar content is in a stick of gum. What is this outcome called?

A. recall bias

B. resistance

C. knowledge base

D. recall memory

Learning Objective: 5.3: Distinguish between the different sources of measurement error.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Sources of Measurement Error

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. What may occur due to the Hawthorne effect?

A. People may like dogs more than cats.

B. Students may study the same amount as they always do.

C. People answer questions honestly.

D. Abusive parents may be less likely to hit their child.

Learning Objective: 5.3: Distinguish between the different sources of measurement error.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Systematic Error

Difficulty Level: Hard

20. ______ is the degree to which a measure is consistent or dependable.

A. Reasonability

B. Validity

C. Variability

D. Reliability

Learning Objective: 5.4: Distinguish between the various types of reliability and validity.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Types of Reliability

Difficulty Level: Easy

21. Inter-rater reliability is defined as the degree of agreement between the ______.

A. observers

B. raters

C. participants

D. professors

Learning Objective: 5.4: Distinguish between the various types of reliability and validity.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Types of Reliability

Difficulty Level: Easy

22. When does the inter-observer reliability matter most?

A. during publication

B. during coding

C. at the time of presenting of the study

D. after the journal article about the research has been published

Learning Objective: 5.4: Distinguish between the various types of reliability and validity.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Reliability and Validity

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. Which of the following is best determined using criterion validity?

A. the level of someone’s depression

B. which shade of green someone prefers

C. how the researchers measure validity

D. whether someone is suicidal

Learning Objective: 5.4: Distinguish between the various types of reliability and validity.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Types of Validity

Difficulty Level: Hard

24. ______ are established scores that are used to determine if someone meets or does not measure a specific criterion.

A. Safe scores

B. Cut-off rates

C. Cut-off scores

D. Determination rates

Learning Objective: 5.5: Select a standardized measure to assess a client’s presenting problem.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Selecting Standardized Measures

Difficulty Level: Easy

25. ______ has/have established reliability and validity.

A. Standardized testing

B. Standardized measures

C. Necessary measurement

D. Accurate measurements

Learning Objective: 5.5: Select a standardized measure to assess a client’s presenting problem.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Selecting Standardized Measures

Difficulty Level: Easy

26. Which measure involves respondents completing a question themselves?

A. provided measure/questionnaire

B. self-administered physical exam

C. self-administered measure/questionnaire

D. first person measure/questionnaire

Learning Objective: 5.6: Develop a measure.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Determine the Type of Measure You Want to Develop

Difficulty Level: Easy

27. When might an interview schedule be the best method for measurement?

A. when the researcher wants to move things along quickly

B. when researching those who are illiterate

C. when the research is on a tight deadline

D. when the researcher thinks tone of voice will affect responses

Learning Objective: 5.6: Develop a measure.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Determine the Type of Measure You Want to Develop

Difficulty Level: Medium

28. Which of the following types of questionnaire topics might be best if self-administered?

A. favorite lotion brands

B. number and types of shoes owned

C. sexual experiences

D. most liked and disliked candy flavors

Learning Objective: 5.6: Develop a measure.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Determine the Type of Measure You Want to Develop

Difficulty Level: Medium

29. How might a double barreled question be problematic for researchers?

A. A subject may prefer to talk slower.

B. Subjects may be overwhelmed with too many questions at once.

C. Researchers may want the interview to move along quicker.

D. Subjects may then want every question to become double barreled.

Learning Objective: 5.6: Develop a measure.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Determine the Wording of the Questions

Difficulty Level: Hard

30. The NASW Code of Ethics states that social workers are ______ responsible to their clients.

A. legally

B. ethically

C. morally

D. federally

Learning Objective: 5.7: Identify the ethical and diversity issues associated with measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Ethics and Measurement

Difficulty Level: Easy

31. ______ focuses on establishing equivalence by examining how items function across groups.

A. Measurement equivalence

B. Linguistic equivalence

C. Conceptuality

D. A metric system

Learning Objective: 5.7: Identify the ethical and diversity issues associated with measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Diversity and Measurement

Difficulty Level: Easy

32. ______ is the extent to which a measure is compatible with the language and culture to which it will be adapted.

A. Logical equivalence

B. Logic-based equality

C. Lingual equity

D. Linguistic equivalence

Learning Objective: 5.7: Identify the ethical and diversity issues associated with measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Diversity and Measurement

Difficulty Level: Easy

33. ______ is the extent to which the concepts represented by the items making up the measure are understood to have the same meaning across cultural groups.

A. Conceptual equality

B. Conceptual intention

C. Meaningful connection

D. Conceptual equivalence

Learning Objective: 5.7: Identify the ethical and diversity issues associated with measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Diversity and Measurement

Difficulty Level: Easy

34. Which of the following words might create a linguistic equivalence problem?

A. Crib can mean baby bed or home, depending the population asked.

B. Cherry is a flavor some cultures prefer over other cultures.

C. Green may or may not be someone’s favorite color.

D. 6:00 a.m. may be early for some people but may not be early for other people.

Learning Objective: 5.7: Identify the ethical and diversity issues associated with measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Diversity and Measurement

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. Standardized measures should have a Cronbach’s α of .80 or higher and should be able to discriminate between high and low levels of the construct of interest. Standardized measures may have cut-off scores.

Learning Objective: 5.5: Select a standardized measure to assess a client’s presenting problem.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Types of Reliability

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. The connotative meaning is the literal translation of the words.

Learning Objective: 5.5: Select a standardized measure to assess a client’s presenting problem.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Selecting Standardized Measures

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Google Translate uses a connotative meaning structure.

Learning Objective: 5.5: Select a standardized measure to assess a client’s presenting problem.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Selecting Standardized Measures

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Loaded questions are one that contain an assumption.

Learning Objective: 5.6: Develop a measure.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Determine the Wording of the Questions

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Metric equivalence refers to equivalence in item or question difficulty across groups which must include minority groups.

Learning Objective: 5.7: Identify the ethical and diversity issues associated with measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Diversity and Measurement

Difficulty Level: Medium

Short Answer

1. Why is Google Translate not necessarily the best method to deliver research questions to those not fluent in English?

Learning Objective: 5.5: Select a standardized measure to assess a client’s presenting problem.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Selecting Standardized Measures

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Why might it be problematic for three different researchers to handle translation, one-way translation, and back-translation work?

Learning Objective: 5.5: Select a standardized measure to assess a client’s presenting problem.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Selecting Standardized Measures

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. If you are developing your own measure, what are the two types of ways you can gather participant answers?

Learning Objective: 5.6: Develop a measure.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Constructing Measurement Instruments

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. What types of questionnaire questions should be avoided?

Learning Objective: 5.6: Develop a measure.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Constructing Measurement Instruments

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Name some groups that the need for measurement equivalence applies to.

Learning Objective: 5.7: Identify the ethical and diversity issues associated with measurement.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Ethics and Measurement

Difficulty Level: Hard