Question 1

Colleen was asked about her political attitudes on a survey in her sociology class. She did not want to seem politically overzealous so she indicated moderate levels throughout the rating scale. This is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Colleen's behavior is an example of an error of central tendency, which occurs when respondents avoid extreme positions on a scale and instead choose middle or moderate options, regardless of their actual opinions. This can distort the accuracy of the survey results.

Question 2

Internal consistency reliability refers to:

Accepted Answer

Internal consistency reliability refers to how well the items on a test or scale measure the same construct or concept, indicating the degree to which these items interrelate.

Question 3

(Scenario I) In Scenario I, the statistic used to measure the relationship between overall satisfaction and breast appearance is the:

Accepted Answer

The correct statistic to measure the relationship between overall satisfaction and breast appearance is correlation, as it quantifies the degree to which two variables are related.

Question 4

The best approach to examining associations and relationships between two variables is a(n):

Accepted Answer

A correlational study is specifically designed to determine the degree to which two variables are related without inferring a cause-and-effect relationship, making it the best approach for examining associations and relationships between variables.

Question 5

(Scenario II) One of the items included in the scale administered during the pilot study described in Scenario II was "Climate change has a negative impact on our lives and our environment." This item was later changed, most likely because:

Accepted Answer

The item "Climate change has a negative impact on our lives and our environment" is considered double-barreled because it asks about two different things in one question: the impact of climate change on our lives and its impact on our environment. This can confuse respondents or make it difficult for them to answer if they agree with one part of the statement but not the other.

Question 6

(Scenario III) A psychologist used the 2014 ATUS data described in Scenario III to examine time spent working and time engaged in leisure activities. Based on your knowledge of survey research, which result is most appropriate for this study?

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C because it correctly identifies a statistically significant negative relation between work and leisure time based on survey data, without implying causation, which is appropriate for the correlational nature of survey research.

Question 7

A quantitative strategy in which data are systematically collected from groups or individuals is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Surveying is a quantitative strategy that involves systematically collecting data from groups or individuals to gather insights, opinions, or information.

Question 8

Zofia was completing a survey in her literature course and agreed with every statement no matter her actual opinion on the item's content. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This behavior is known as an acquiescent response set, where a respondent tends to agree with all the statements in a survey regardless of their content, often to avoid conflict or due to indecisiveness.

Question 9

(Scenario II) When developing the Climate Change Attitude Survey, the authors formatted items in a way to minimize the likelihood of participants providing a response set. This was done by:

Accepted Answer

Including reverse items in a scale is a common method to minimize response sets, such as acquiescence bias, where participants might agree with statements without careful consideration. Reverse items require respondents to engage more deeply with the content, reducing the likelihood of patterned responses.

Question 10

(Scenario III) Suppose a group of researchers found a strong positive correlation between the 2013 and 2014 results of the ATUS. This information would support the _____ reliability of the ATUS.

Accepted Answer

Test-retest reliability refers to the consistency of a measure over time. If the ATUS (American Time Use Survey) results are strongly positively correlated from one year to the next (2013 to 2014), it suggests that the survey produces stable and consistent results over time, which is indicative of high test-retest reliability.

Question 11

(Scenario III) Based on the information provided in Scenario III, which statement are you more likely to agree with?

Accepted Answer

The statement that the response rate reported is acceptable acknowledges the practical challenges in achieving 100% participation in survey research, reflecting a realistic understanding of survey methodology and participant behavior.

Question 12

(Scenario I) In Scenario I the authors state the relationship between overall satisfaction with breast augmentation surgery and satisfaction with breast appearance is r = .80. This means that:

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient (r = .80) indicates a strong positive relationship between satisfaction with breast appearance and overall satisfaction with breast augmentation surgery, meaning as satisfaction with appearance increases, so does satisfaction with the surgery experience.

Question 13

(Scenario II) Suppose the authors of the Climate Change Attitudes Survey stated that it had strong convergent validity. The evidence to support this statement would likely include data showing that:

Accepted Answer

Convergent validity is demonstrated when a test correlates well with measures of the same construct. Therefore, a positive correlation between kids' attitudes on this instrument and kids' attitudes on a similar instrument would support the claim of strong convergent validity.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a typical benefit of using web-based surveys?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT a...

Question 15

_____ ratings scales have participants evaluate a series of statements using a set of predetermined response options and can also be referred to as a Likert scale.

Accepted Answer

Summated ratings scales, often referred to as Likert scales, involve participants evaluating a series of statements using a predetermined set of response options, typically ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree.

Question 16

(Scenario III) Suppose a psychologist used the ATUS to test whether volunteerism is related to education level. The psychologist predicted that those with more education would report spending more time volunteering. The psychologist made a _____ hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The psychologist's hypothesis is directional because it specifies the direction of the relationship between education level and time spent volunteering, predicting that more education leads to more volunteering time.

Question 17

(Scenario I) What is the best reason for why the authors probably selected the BREAST-Q to measure satisfaction associated with breast augmentation surgery?

Accepted Answer

The BREAST-Q is a validated patient-reported outcome measure specifically designed to assess satisfaction and quality of life related to breast surgery, making it suitable for capturing subjective experiences that are difficult to measure through observation alone.

Question 18

(Scenario I) Suppose the participants surveyed in Scenario I were asked to respond to survey items using a 5-point scale in which 1 = very satisfied and 5 = very dissatisfied. Which of the following does NOT describe this type of scale?

Accepted Answer

This type of scale is not open-ended because it provides specific response options (1 to 5) rather than allowing for any answer the respondent chooses to give. Open-ended scales typically involve qualitative responses without predefined options.

Question 19

(Scenario II) After piloting the survey described in Scenario II, the authors found that many children responded by always using the endpoints in the provided set of response alternatives. The participants seem to be exhibiting which response bias?

Accepted Answer

The answer of (Scenario II) After piloting the survey described...

Question 20

(Scenario II) Why did Christensen and Knezek conduct a pilot study in Scenario II?

Accepted Answer

Christensen and Knezek conducted a pilot study to evaluate the survey in multiple aspects: its overall effectiveness as a tool, clarity of the survey items, and the survey's reliability and validity.

Quiz 7: Survey Design and Scale Construction: Is Going Greek a Great Idea