Test Bank

Chapter 7: Survey Research

Multiple Choice

1. Survey research involves the collection of information from a ______ of individuals.

a. sample

b. group

c. population

d. study

Learning Objective: 7.1: Identify the reasons for the popularity of survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Survey Research in the Social Sciences

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Why are surveys considered efficient?

a. They are relatively expensive.

b. They can be completed instantly.

c. They can measure many variables without increasing time or cost.

d. They are typically conducted in a face-to-face setting.

Learning Objective: 7.1: Identify the reasons for the popularity of survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Survey Research in the Social Sciences

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. What is one of the four main types of errors that may occur in survey research?

a. generalizability

b. sampling

c. adequate coverage of the population

d. redundant questions

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Errors in Survey Research

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Survey questions should generally be kept to less than ______ words, according to the text.

a. 20

b. 50

c. 75

d. 100

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Avoid Confusing Phrasing

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Sending ______ mailings to respondents of mail-in surveys is important for obtaining an adequate response rate.

a. multiple

b. follow-up

c. impressive

d. expensive

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Mailed, Self-Administered Surveys

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. What is a good way to determine if a questionnaire contains a context effect?

a. present questions in matrix format

b. properly train interviewers to maintain consistency

c. compare reverse question order in a split ballot design

d. have multiple interviewers conduct surveys with a small sample of original respondents

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Order the Questions

Difficulty Level: Comprehension

7. What is the minimum acceptable response rate for a mailed survey?

a. 50%

b. 67%

c. 70%

d. 90%

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Answer Location: Mailed, Self-Administered Surveys

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Which of the following is a typical problem for phone surveys?

a. high response rates

b. slow processing speeds

c. The number of callbacks required has increased greatly.

d. Cell phones cannot be included.

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Maximizing Response to Phone Surveys

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. When conducting survey research, which is a typical ethical concern?

a. anonymity

b. mixed modality

c. context effect

d. interview schedules

Learning Objective: 7.7: Discuss the key ethical issues in survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Ethical Issues in Survey Research

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Which of the following is a potential problem for in-person interviews?

a. The interaction with the researcher is personalized for each interviewee.

b. Small differences in how information is communicated by the researcher may impact results.

c. difficulty finding members of a target sample population

d. Subjects are less likely to engage with an interviewer face-to-face.

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: In-Person Surveys

Difficulty Level: Medium

11 Interactive Voice Response surveys require access to which of the following?

a. internet

b. e-mail

c. a telephone

d. a fax machine

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Phone Surveys

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. If sufficient resources and a trained staff are available, which survey design is almost always preferable?

a. e-mailed surveys

b. group surveys

c. phone surveys

d. in-person interviews

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: In-Person Surveys

Difficulty Level: Easy

13. Which of the following is a good idea for making the questionnaire attractive to respondents?

a. Leave lots of blank space on the pages.

b. List responses in a single line.

c. Incorporate instructions into the questions themselves.

d. If the questionnaire has several pages, do not staple them together.

Learning Objective: 7.3 List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Make the Questionnaire Attractive

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. If you receive poor participation in your survey research, it is likely due to ______.

a. your research question

b. satisficing

c. nonresponse

d. the target population

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Nonresponse

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. Which of the following response categories should be used to identify floaters?

a. strongly agree

b. strongly disagree

c. neutral

d. don't know

Learning Objective: 7.2: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of including “don’t know” and neutral responses among response choices and of using open-ended questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Minimize Fence-Sitting and Floating

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. When does anonymity exist?

a. Researchers limit information about respondents to trained staff.

b. No identifying information is ever collected to link respondent to responses.

c. The sample of respondents in a survey is selected purely by random.

d. The researcher only uses numbers to connect respondent identity to responses.

Learning Objective: 7.7: Discuss the key ethical issues in survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Ethical Issues in Survey Research

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. In a survey, a contingent question always follows a(n) ______ question.

a. double-barreled

b. double-negative

c. open-ended

d. filter

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Avoid Confusing Phrasing

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. What is the purpose of filter questions?

a. to select individuals for participation in surveys

b. to limit certain survey questions to competent subgroups of respondents

c. to investigate how respondents interpret questions

d. to assess social and physical context of administration

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Avoid Confusing Phrasing

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. What is the best way to reduce idiosyncratic variation in survey questions that measure a concept?

a. Write questions clearly.

b. Balance response categories.

c. Use an index.

d. Pretest the survey instrument.

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Combine Questions in Indexes

Difficulty Level: Easy

20. An index that weighs items based on importance is known as a(n) ______.

a. gamma

b. alpha

c. seurat

d. scale

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Combine Questions in Indexes

Difficulty Level: Medium

21. The best option for avoiding the impacts of idiosyncratic variation in responses is to develop multiple questions about a concept and then do what?

a. Average the responses to those questions in a composite measure.

b. Discard outlier responses from analysis.

c. Use absolute terms that invoke strong emotional reactions.

d. Use force-choice answer options.

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Combine Questions in Indexes

Difficulty Level: Hard

22. In a phone survey or an in-person survey, the list of questions is referred to as a(n) ______.

a. questionnaire

b. interview survey

c. interview schedule

d. interpretive questions

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Phone Surveys

Difficulty level: Easy

23. According to the text, what is the most important requirement for obtaining an adequate response rate to a mailed survey?

a. a personalized cover letter

b. a token financial incentive

c. a well-designed survey

d. sending follow-up mailings to non-respondents

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Mailed, Self-Administered Surveys

Difficulty Level: Medium

24. If the question “Do you agree that families with children are happier?” were included in a survey, it would violate which guideline for writing survey questions?

a. Avoid double negatives.

b. Avoid double-barreled questions.

c. Avoid making either disagreement or agreement disagreeable.

d. Minimize fence sitting and floating.

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Avoid Making Either Disagreement or Agreement Disagreeable

Difficulty Level: Medium

25. What guideline for writing survey questions is violated by the question, “Would you support or oppose penalties against gas-guzzling vehicles”?

a. Avoid double negatives.

b. Avoid double-barreled questions.

c. Minimize risk of biased words.

d. Avoid making disagreement or agreement disagreeable.

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Avoid Confusing Phrasing

Difficulty Level: Medium

26. If the question, “Do you favor or oppose tougher drug fines and longer mandatory sentences?” were included in a survey, it would violate which guideline for writing survey questions?

a. Avoid double negatives.

b. Avoid double-barreled questions.

c. Minimize risk of biased words.

d. Avoid making disagreement or agreement disagreeable.

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Avoid Confusing Phrasing

Difficulty Level: Medium

27 Consider the guidelines for writing survey questions and identify which guideline the following question violates: Do you disagree that there should not be a quiz on Chapter 8?

a. Avoid double negatives.

b. Avoid double-barreled questions.

c. Minimize risk of biased words.

d. Avoid filter questions.

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Avoid Confusing Phrasing

Difficulty Level: Medium

28. The ______ it sets the tone for mailed questionnaires.

a. cover letter

b. filter question

c. follow up mailings

d. response rates

Learning Objective: 7.4: Outline a cover letter for a survey that contains each of the required elements.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Mailed, Self-Administered Survey

Difficulty Level: Easy

29. A mailed survey’s cover letter must be ______ and ______.

a. creative; reasonable

b. interesting; responsible

c. rational; captivating

d. honest; quantifiable

Learning Objective: 7.4: Outline a cover letter for a survey that contains each of the required elements.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Mailed, Self-Administered Survey

Difficulty Level: Easy

30. A carefully prepared cover letter for a mailed survey should accomplish which of the following?

a. confidentiality

b. increased response rates

c. responsible behavior from participants

d. follow-up

Learning Objective: 7.4: Outline a cover letter for a survey that contains each of the required elements.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Mailed, Self-Administered Survey

Difficulty Level: Easy

31. A mixed-mode survey allows the strengths of one survey design to ______.

a. contradict the findings of another methodology

b. complicate the research finding by presenting multiple data sets

c. compensate for the weakness of another methodology

d. secure the data and ensure confidentiality

Learning Objective: 7.6: Explain the rationale for a mixed-mode survey.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Mixed-Mode Surveys

Difficulty Level: Medium

32. Which of the following statements is true about mixed-mode survey designs?

a. They improve overall participation rates.

b. They offer less complicated research methodologies.

c. They decrease the likelihood of securing data from a variety of populations.

d. They allow for longitudinal data collection.

Learning Objective: 7.6: Explain the rationale for a mixed-mode survey.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Mixed-Mode Surveys

Difficulty Level: Medium

33. Sending a mailed survey and following up with non-respondents with a phone interview is an example of ______.

a. gield work

b. a computer-assisted interview

c. a mixed-mode survey

d. an Interactive voice response

Learning Objective: 7.6: Explain the rationale for a mixed-mode survey.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Mixed-Mode Surveys

Difficulty Level: Easy

34. Leaving out cell-phones when conducting phone surveys may result in ______.

a. survey bias

b. improved response rates

c. increased participation from the poor

d. quantifiable data

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Reaching Sample Units

Difficulty Level: Easy

35. Dr. Jarvis is conducting a survey to explore how students feel about their academic institutions. Several of the questions she aims to ask cannot be measured using fixed response choices. What should Dr. Jarvis consider for her study?

a. e-mailed surveys

b. a cover letter

c. open-ended questions

d. Likert scales

Learning Objective: 7.2: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of including “don’t know” and neutral responses among response choices and of using open-ended questions.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Questionnaire Structure

Difficulty Level: Medium

36. Respondents who chose a substantive answer when they really don’t know are known as ______.

a. fence-sitters

b. floaters

c. nonrespondents

d. variables

Learning Objective: 7.2: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of including “don’t know” and neutral responses among response choices and of using open-ended questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Minimize Fence-Sitting and Floating

Difficulty Level: Easy

37. What type of participants can skew results if they are required to choose between fixed options?

a. nonrespondents

b. floaters

c. fence-sitters

d. free-riders

Learning Objective: 7.2: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of including “don’t know” and neutral responses among response choices and of using open-ended questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Minimize Fence-Sitting and Floating

Difficulty Level: Easy

38. ______ phrase an attitude in terms of one end of a continuum such as strongly agree-strongly disagree.

a. Bipolar response options

b. Likert scales

c. Labeled unipolar response options

d. Skip patterns

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Maximize the Utility of Response Categories

Difficulty Level: Easy

39. The combination of questions created in a survey by filter and contingent questions is known as a(n) ______.

a. Likert scale

b. research agenda

c. index

d. skip pattern

Learning Objective: 7.1: Identify the reasons for the popularity of survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Avoid Confusing Phrasing

Difficulty Level: Easy

40. A survey which covers a range of topics of interest to different social scientists is called a(n) ______.

a. finding

b. omnibus survey

c. longitudinal survey

d. web research

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Survey Research in the Social Sciences

Difficulty Level: Easy

True/False

1. An omnibus survey shows how versatile, generalizable, and efficient and survey can be.

Learning Objective: 7.1: Identify the reasons for the popularity of survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Survey Research in the Social Sciences

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. The following is an example of a double-negative question: Do you agree or disagree that gas prices should not increase this year?

Learning Objective: 7.2: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of including “don’t know” and neutral responses among response choices and of using open-ended questions.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Avoid Confusing Phrasing

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Survey methods have a difficult time collecting data from large populations.

Learning Objective: 7.1: Identify the reasons for the popularity of survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Survey Research in the Social Sciences

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. Questions are the centerpiece of survey research.

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Writing Survey Questions

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Problems with response choices can sometimes be corrected by getting rid of questions.

Learning Objective: 7.2: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of including “don’t know” and neutral responses among response choices and of using open-ended questions.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Maximize the Utility of Response Categories

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. A straight forward approach to asking questions minimizes confusion.

Learning Objective: 7.1: Identify the reasons for the popularity of survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Writing Survey Questions

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. People often “agree” with a statement just to avoid seeming disagreeable.

Learning Objective: 7.2: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of including “don’t know” and neutral responses among response choices and of using open-ended questions.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Avoid Making Either Disagreement or Agreement Disagreeable

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. It is okay to use an instrument that another researcher has designed as long as previous surveys indicate that the measure is reliable and valid, and they receive credit.

Learning Objective: 7.7: Discuss the key ethical issues in survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Build on Existing Instruments

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. The order in which questions are presented will not influence how respondents react to the questionnaire as a whole.

Learning Objective: 7.3: List the different methods for improving survey questions.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Order the Questions

Difficulty Level: Easy

Short Answer

1. What is the difference between anonymity and confidentiality? When is each appropriate?

Learning Objective: 7.7: Discuss the key ethical issues in survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Ethical Issues in Survey Research

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. Describe four different ways that surveys can be administered. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates. | 7.1: Identify the reasons for the popularity of survey research.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Organizing Surveys

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. How might one improve response rates in a mailed survey?

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Mailed, Self-Administered Surveys

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of including neutral, middle alternatives in response choices for survey questions. What potential pitfalls could a researcher encounter if they do not include these alternatives?

Learning Objective: 7.2: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of including “don’t know” and neutral responses among response choices and of using open-ended questions.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Minimizing Fence-Sitting and Floating

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. What makes a good survey questionnaire? Consider the questions themselves and the questionnaire as a whole. Why is it important to make sure you have a good questionnaire? How can you determine if you have a good questionnaire?

Learning Objective: 7.5: List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of survey design, giving particular attention to response rates.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Writing Survey Questions | Errors in Survey Research

Difficulty Level: Hard