Question 1

James conducts a study on the number of churches and amount of crime and finds a strong positive relationship between the two (in other words, the more churches there are in a location, the more crime there is). What should James conclude?

Accepted Answer

Correlational data only shows a relationship between variables, not causation. Therefore, it is inappropriate to make causal claims based on such data.

Question 2

If you would like to determine the percentage of the population that engages in a particular behavior, you would use a(n) _________ survey.

Accepted Answer

Descriptive surveys are used to describe the characteristics of a population, including their behaviors.

Question 3

The defining characteristic of an ex post facto study is that

Accepted Answer

An ex post facto study involves selecting variables to study after the events have already occurred, without manipulating any independent variables.

Question 4

If you would like to determine how variables are related, you would use a(n) ________ survey.

Accepted Answer

Analytic surveys are used to determine relationships between variables, as they involve analyzing data to understand how different factors are related.

Question 5

Shaundra gave her new survey to 10 participants to get their reactions to the questions. She then made modifications to the survey and gave it to a larger sample. Shaundra has engaged in

Accepted Answer

Pilot testing involves trying out a survey or experiment on a small group to identify any issues before administering it to a larger sample.

Question 6

Suppose a survey contains the following item: "Explain in words your opinion on the death penalty." This question represents a(n)

Accepted Answer

This question is an open-ended question because it asks respondents to provide their own words and thoughts without restricting them to predefined options.

Question 7

Jack conducts a study in which he compares men and women in terms of locus of control. Jack has conducted a(n)

Accepted Answer

Jack's study is an ex post facto study because he is comparing existing groups (men and women) without manipulating any variables.

Question 8

When the variables to be studied are selected after they have occurred, the research study is called

Accepted Answer

Ex post facto research involves studying variables after they have already occurred, without manipulation by the researcher.

Question 9

What should come first when developing a survey or questionnaire?

Accepted Answer

Deciding what type of instrument to use is foundational as it influences the structure and format of the survey, guiding subsequent steps like question type and instructions.

Question 10

Suppose a survey contains the following item: "I am shy when around people I don't know well."
$\begin{array}{ccccc}
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 \
\text { Not at all } & \text { Not very } & \text { Slightly } & \text { Fairly } & \text { Very much }
\end{array}$
What kind of question is this?

Accepted Answer

This question uses a Likert-type scale, which measures the degree of agreement or frequency of a particular behavior or feeling.

Question 11

Which of the following types of questions allows the researcher to calculate an average or mean response?

Accepted Answer

Likert-type scale questions provide numerical values that can be averaged to calculate a mean response, as they typically involve a range of options that can be quantified.

Question 12

What does "ex post facto" mean?

Accepted Answer

"Ex post facto" is a Latin term that means "after the fact." It refers to actions or laws that are applied retroactively.

Question 13

If on a survey a respondent must select between two alternative responses, it is referred to as a(n) ____________ question.

Accepted Answer

A forced alternative question requires the respondent to choose between two specific options, without the possibility of selecting a neutral or undecided response.

Question 14

Bess conducts a study in which she measures self-esteem and grade point average in a sample of 50 college students. She hypothesizes that higher self-esteem will be associated with higher grade point average. This research approach is best described as _________ research.

Accepted Answer

This research approach is best described as correlational research because it involves examining the relationship between two variables, self-esteem and grade point average, to determine if they are associated.

Question 15

Brad develops a survey to examine the extent to which self-esteem is related to alcohol abuse. Brad is using a(n) ________ survey.

Accepted Answer

An analytic survey is used to investigate relationships between variables, such as the relationship between self-esteem and alcohol abuse in this case.

Question 16

Preliminary testing that is done prior to the completion of a research project is known as __________ testing.

Accepted Answer

Pilot testing is conducted to identify potential issues and refine the research design before the full-scale study is conducted.

Question 17

Which of the following types of questions allows the researcher to code responses?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following types of questions...

Question 18

Which of the following is one of the guidelines for writing good survey questions?

Accepted Answer

Questions should use familiar vocabulary to ensure that respondents understand the questions and can provide accurate answers.

Question 19

Keisha constructs a survey to determine what percentage of students at her school have experienced a violent crime. Keisha is using a(n) _________ survey.

Accepted Answer

Keisha is using a descriptive survey because she aims to describe the percentage of students who have experienced a violent crime, focusing on the characteristics of a specific group.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT one of the steps in developing a good survey?

Accepted Answer

Survey items should be clear and concise, focusing on one issue at a time to avoid confusion and ensure accurate responses.

Quiz 4: Nonexperimental Methods: Descriptive Methods, Correlational Studies, Ex Post Facto Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sampling, and Basic Research Strategies

James conducts a study on the number of churches and amount of crime and finds a strong positive relationship between the two (in other words, the more churches there are in a location, the more crime there is) . What should James conclude?