Chapter 3: Topic and Conceptualization

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following would be a true conceptualization of a research study?

A. study of weight of residents in a municipality

B. average traffic on the 76 expressway in Philadelphia

C. mean flight arrivals at lax airport per hour of day

D. rate of illegal immigration from Bangladesh into India

Learning Objective: 3-1: State what it means to conceptualize a research project.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Conceptualization

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. In the context of scope of a definition, what do false negative cases refer to?

A. cases that are wrongly excluded from the study

B. cases within a defined a cutoff point

C. those that are incorrectly included in scope

D. those above a defined cutoff point.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Scope of a Definition Difficulty Level: Medium

3. What does the term “cutoff value” mean?

A. a value that measures the research concept

B. a number used to define the scope of a concept

C. numeric values that specify the range of cases

D. a value that quantifies an upper limit

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Scope of a Definition Difficulty Level: Medium

4. A potential customer targeted by a marketing campaign of a furniture company did not fall within the demographic characteristics required by the campaign. Which of the following would correctly describe this case?

A. a false negative

B. a true positive

C. a false positive

D. a true negative

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Scope of a Definition Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Changing the scope of a definition will result in which of the following?

A. reduce false positive and false negative cases

B. change in false positive cases only

C. reduce the false positives or the false negatives

D. change the false negative cases only

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. A research study on the effect of the 2008 recession on small businesses in Florida, defined small business as those with less than 200 employees. Another later study, also researching effects of the 2008 recession on small business, limited “small business” to include only those with 100 or less employees. Which of the following aspects of research make it difficult to compare the two studies?

A. scope

B. concept

C. definition

D. measurement

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: How Change or Variation in a Definition Affects the Scope

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. An annual survey conducted by local authorities in a township included the category “transgender” to the sex variable in its questionnaire from the year 2015. Which is the causal factor in making comparisons of results before and after 2015 difficult?

A. unit measure

B. scope

C. topic

D. definition

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: How Change or Variation in a Definition Affects the Scope

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. How is an anecdote different from a definition?

A. It only defines a modal case.

B. It describes only a few cases.

C. It takes only outlier cases.

D. It includes cases of other phenomena.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Anecdotes Are not Definitions

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. What does the term “overgeneralizing” refer to?

A. outlining a theory from observation

B. using data to develop a theory

C. defining a concept using anecdotes

D. extrapolating from one topic to another

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Anecdotes Are not Definitions

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. A researcher studying the association between elementary home-schooling and credit score of the respondent, chose cases which she knew had a positive association between the dependent and independent variable. What term or phrase is used to define this study design?

A. selective observation

B. overgeneralization

C. random sample

D. stratified sample

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Anecdotes Are not Definitions

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. What should be the role of an anecdote in defining a concept?

A. provide a cutoff point for cases

B. outline the scope of a concept

C. give an example of a typical case

D. illustrate outlier cases of the study

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Anecdotes Are not Definitions

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. The topic of a study naturally affects which of the following with regard to numbers?

A. plausibility and interpretation

B. scope and extreme values

C. context and definition

D. definition and interpretation

Learning Objective: 3-3: Identify how topic and conceptualization affect plausible levels and ranges of numeric values.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: How Topic and Scope affect Plausibility

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Students in a Biology class received their term exam papers back with a number marked in red on each paper. The numbers ranged from 30 to 125. The maximum mark for the exam was not known to the students. Which factor makes it difficult to make sense of these numbers?

A. plausibility

B. interpretation

C. context

D. definition

Learning Objective: 3-3: Identify how topic and conceptualization affect plausible levels and ranges of numeric values.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Concepts With Limits on Their Possible Values

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. What factor determines the maximum possible runs scored in a 20-over cricket match, when each over always consists of 6 balls played and the maximum runs possible per ball is always 6?

A. six balls in an over

B. six runs per ball

C. 20 overs played

D. 36 runs per over

Learning Objective: 3-3: Identify how topic and conceptualization affect plausible levels and ranges of numeric values.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Concepts With Limits on Their Possible Values

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. In a college statistics test, a set of numbers stated to come from a lognormal distribution has a negative number in it. Lognormal distributions are always positive. Which factor is to be considered in making sense of the negative number?

A. interpretation

B. plausibility

C. measurement

D. scope

Learning Objective: 3-3: Identify how topic and conceptualization affect plausible levels and ranges of numeric values.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Positive and Negative Values

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. What is an “optimal” value in reference to quantitative research?

A. the maximum possible numeric value

B. a number furthest from the cutoff value

C. the highest point of the variable distribution

D. one that is most desirable in context of the study

Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe how perspective affects which values are considered optimal.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: How Topic and Perspective Affect Optimal Values

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. Which of the following factors affects the optimal value in research?

A. topic of study

B. unit of measure

C. extreme values

D. scope of study

Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe how perspective affects which values are considered optimal.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: How Topic Affects Optimal Value

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. A private vehicle insurance company in New Hampshire conducts a study on risk of road incidents of their policyholders. The study was based on a similar study conducted by NAIC, the national insurance regulatory body. However, the cutoff value to identify high risk policyholders was kept at a lower level than the NAIC study. Which factor influenced the company's decision to choose a different cutoff?

A. scope of study

B. measurement unit

C. perspective of study

D. context of research

Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe how perspective affects which values are considered optimal.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: How Perspective Affects Optimal Value

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. Which of the following statements is valid with regard to a research study?

A. definition and scope are independent factors of a study

B. defining the topic is essential to understanding its numbers

C. unit of measure affects study perspective

D. extreme numbers should be removed from a study

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Highlights

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. Which of the following is true with regard to misclassification of cases?

A. False positives are independent of true positives.

B. Increase of false negatives decreases false positives.

C. rRise in false positives increases false negatives.

D. Reduction of false negatives reduces false positives.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Highlights

Difficulty Level: Hard

21. Which of the following is true with regard to conceptualization?

A. a scientific idea for study is summarized

B. a phenomena is described for study

C. a study topic is given a quantitative definition

D. different concepts are compared for study

Learning Objective: 3-1: State what it means to conceptualize a research project.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Conceptualization

Difficulty Level: Medium

22. A survey is planned on the height of army personnel at a U.S. base in Germany. Which factor needs to be mentioned for a good conceptualization of the study?

A. unit of measure for the survey

B. list of cases to be surveyed

C. group(s) of personnel for study

D. maximum numeric value possible

Learning Objective: 3-1: State what it means to conceptualize a research project.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Conceptualization

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. A research study is to be conducted on how insurance premium rates differ by region. Which factors need to be defined for a proper conceptualization of the study?

A. statistical technique(s) to be used in study

B. how data are to be collected and analyzed

C. define type of insurance and the regions

D. trend of insurance rates in the market

Learning Objective: 3-1: State what it means to conceptualize a research project.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Conceptualization

Difficulty Level: Medium

24. What is of critical importance when researching an abstract concept?

A. define the concept so it could be measured

B. provide anecdotes of the concept from real life

C. compare the abstract to an actual phenomenon

D. scope out the concept in general terms

Learning Objective: 3-1: State what it means to conceptualize a research project.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Conceptualization

Difficulty Level: Medium

25. What does the scope of a definition refer to?

A. a threshold value determined by consensus

B. the topic and context of the study

C. the location and time of the cases for study

D. the number and type of cases to be studied

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. A topic may have only one dimension or variant.

Learning Objective: 3-1: State what it means to conceptualize a research project.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Conceptualization

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. The government of Bhutan measures the “Gross Domestic Happiness” (GDH) at regular intervals to assess the pulse of the country's population. GDH is an abstract concept.

Learning Objective: 3-1: State what it means to conceptualize a research project.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Conceptualization

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. The scope of a definition outlines the criteria for including cases in a research study.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. A study of homeowners in Brick township, with household income above $50,000, and with at least one pet in the house, incorrectly excluded 10% of homeowners in the township who did qualify for the study. These 10% of homeowners would be termed as false positive cases.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. A cutoff value is a number used to include or exclude cases for a research study.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. Adjusting the value of a cutoff point results in a trade-off between false positive and false negative cases.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. A statistical model quantifies the probability of a defined customer category purchasing a certain class of products sold by a retail store. The probability value to identify customers predicted to make purchase was initially set at 0.5, and later changed to 0.4. This resulted in an increase in “false negative” customers.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Hard

8. An undergraduate degree in Pakistan is completed in 3 years, whereas it is completed in 4 years in the United States. Any study comparing the undergraduate degrees between the two countries is difficult due to differences in definition

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. The conceptualization of any topic should always have variables with both positive, zero, and negative values.

Learning Objective: 3-3: Identify how topic and conceptualization affect plausible levels and ranges of numeric values.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Positive and Negative Values

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. The perspective of the researcher on a given topic may affect which values are considered optimal.

Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe how perspective affects which values are considered optimal.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: How Topic and Perspective Affect Optimal Values

Difficulty Level: Easy

Short Answer

1. In your own words, describe the process of conceptualization of a topic.

Learning Objective: 3-1: State what it means to conceptualize a research project.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Conceptualization

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Illustrate with an example, how the scope of a definition is determined.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. Define the misclassification terms “false positive” and “false negative.” Provide an example of each term.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Explain how a change in scope affects the trade-off between false positive and false negative cases. Give an example.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Scope of a definition

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Explain how varying definitions of a concept between two locations affect the scope of the study. Give an example.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Scope of a definition

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. What are the likely effects of a revision of the definition of a concept? Provide an example.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Scope of a definition

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Distinguish between an anecdote and a definition. Provide an example to make this distinction.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Anecdotes Are Not Definitions

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. What does the phrase “selective observation” mean? Illustrate with an example.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Anecdotes Are Not Definitions

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Provide an example of how a topic influences which numbers are plausible for a study on the topic.

Learning Objective: 3-3: Identify how topic and conceptualization affect plausible levels and ranges of numeric values.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: How Topic and Scope Affect Plausibility

Difficulty Level: Hard

10. Explain why certain numeric values are preferred or are considered optimal with respect to a topic of study. Give an example to explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe how perspective affects which values are considered optimal.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: How Topic Affects Optimal Value

Difficulty Level: Medium

Essay

1. Conceptualize a research study on an abstract topic of your choice. Explain the dimensions in your study design and their units of measure. How would you collect the data needed for this study?

Learning Objective: 3-1: State what it means to conceptualize a research project.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Conceptualization

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. For the research study you outlined in Question 1, explain the scope of the study. Is there any cutoff value for inclusion of cases for the study? If so, what would be the effects of adjusting this cutoff value?

Learning Objective: 3-2: Explain how the definition of a concept affects the scope of what will be captured by that definition.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Scope of a Definition

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. For the research study you outlined in Question 1, discuss the plausibility of numbers in the study and their interpretation. Are there any restrictions on, and limits to, their numeric value?

Learning Objective: 3-3: Identify how topic and conceptualization affect plausible levels and ranges of numeric values.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: How Topic and Scope Affect Plausibility

Difficulty Level: Medium