Question 1

Darla wants to test for differences between two sets of variables on religious fundamentalism (an interval variable). Her first variable is biological sex (male and female), and her second variable is religious affiliation (Catholic, Protestant, not religious, and other). What would be the most appropriate statistical test to conduct?
A)one t test and one one-way ANOVA
B)five paired t tests
C)one repeated measures ANOVA
D)one factorial ANOVA

Accepted Answer

Given that Darla is looking to test for differences between two sets of variables (biological sex and religious affiliation) on a third variable (religious fundamentalism), a factorial ANOVA is most appropriate. This statistical test is designed to examine the effect of two or more independent variables on a dependent variable and can handle the interaction between factors, which in this case are biological sex and religious affiliation.

Question 2

When Darla runs a 2  x 4 factorial ANOVA, she wants to look for differences between each of the nominal independent variable's categories separately. What is Darla looking for?
A)factors
B)relationships
C)interaction effects
D)main effects

Accepted Answer

Darla is looking for main effects, which are the separate effects of each independent variable on the dependent variable in a factorial ANOVA.

Question 3

Lamar is researching the potential for significant differences in communication apprehension based on biological sex (male/female) while controlling for an individual's willingness to communicate. Which test would be the most appropriate statistical test for Lamar to conduct?
A)one t test, and one one-way ANOVA
B)five paired t tests
C)one repeated measures ANOVA
D)one ANCOVA

Accepted Answer

ANCOVA (Analysis of Covariance) is the most appropriate statistical test for Lamar's research because it allows for the comparison of means between two or more groups (in this case, based on biological sex) while controlling for the effects of one or more covariate variables (in this case, an individual's willingness to communicate).

Question 4

Robert conducted a test on organizational friendships. He wants to find the relationship between organizational friendship (friendship prevalence and friendship opportunity) and organizational culture (task and relational). In essence, he has four interval scales he is examining: two for organizational friendship and two for organizational culture. Since he is attempting to examine four variables, which test would be the most parsimonious?
A)one canonical correlation
B)two multiple linear regressions
C)two canonical correlations
D)six bivariate correlations

Accepted Answer

One canonical correlation is the most parsimonious choice because it allows for the examination of the relationships between two sets of variables (in this case, organizational friendship and organizational culture) using a single statistical test, rather than multiple tests.

Question 5

Which statistical test allows a researcher to examine differences using one or more nominal independent variables with one or more dependent variables?
A)one-way ANOVA
B)MANOVA
C)repeated measures ANOVA
D)factorial ANOVA

Accepted Answer

MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) allows a researcher to examine differences using one or more nominal independent variables with one or more dependent variables. It is an extension of ANOVA that can handle multiple dependent variables simultaneously.

Question 6

Milika is conducting a research study to determine whether or not a student's communication apprehension will decrease over the course of a term in a public speaking class. Milika chooses
To test the students' communication apprehension at the beginning of the term, toward the middle of the term, and again at the end of the term. Which test would be the most appropriate statistical test for Milika to conduct?
A)one-way ANOVA
B)MANOVA
C)repeated measures ANOVA
D)factorial ANOVA

Accepted Answer

A repeated measures ANOVA is most appropriate because it is used to compare means under different conditions or times for the same subjects, which matches Milika's study design of testing the same students' communication apprehension at multiple points in time.

Question 7

Anna has collected data for her dissertation on the following variables: communication apprehension, ethnocentrism, humor assessment, and attitude about college. Anna is interested in determining the causal effects among the variables. Which test would be the most appropriate statistical test for Anna to conduct?
A)path analysis
B)MANOVA
C)repeated measures ANOVA
D)factorial ANOVA

Accepted Answer

Path analysis is the most appropriate statistical test for determining causal effects among variables, as it allows for the examination of complex relationships and direct and indirect effects between multiple variables.

Question 8

Which law of science states that scientists should look for the simplest assumption in the formulation of a theory and the simplest test to interpret data?
A)central limits theorem
B)law of numerical probability
C)law of parsimony
D)law of structural regressions

Accepted Answer

The law of parsimony, often referred to as Occam's razor, suggests that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. This principle is applied in science to ensure that theories remain simple and practical.

Question 9

Using path analysis, which variable is explained by one or more of the other variables in the model?
A)an exogenous variable
B)an endogenous variable
C)a parsimonious variable
D)a canonical variable

Accepted Answer

An endogenous variable in path analysis is explained by one or more of the other variables in the model, typically through direct or indirect relationships specified by the researcher.

Question 10

If you have two sets of multiple variables between which you want to find a relationship, which is the most parsimonious test to conduct?
A)a series of linear regressions
B)a series of Pearson product-moment correlations
C)a series of multiple linear regressions
D)a canonical correlation

Accepted Answer

Canonical correlation is the most parsimonious test for finding relationships between two sets of multiple variables, as it directly assesses the relationship between the sets as a whole, rather than conducting separate tests for each variable.

Question 11

In statistics, what is the simplest assumption in the formulation of a theory and the simplest test to interpret data?
A)law of parsimony
B)Type I error
C)theory of inference
D)law of interpretation

Accepted Answer

The law of parsimony, often referred to as Occam's Razor, suggests that the simplest explanation or theory is preferred over more complex ones. In statistics, this principle guides the formulation of theories and the interpretation of data, making it the simplest assumption and test.

Question 12

Which advanced difference test makes sense in the following scenario?
Jolene is conducting a study to see if individual levels of ethnocentrism decrease as a result of taking a course in intercultural communication. Her goal is to assess ethnocentrism levels every week over the course of a 16-week semester.
A)repeated measures ANOVA
B)multivariate analysis of variance
C)analysis of covariance
D)factorial ANOVA

Accepted Answer

Repeated measures ANOVA is appropriate for Jolene's study because it is designed to compare means across more than two time points or conditions on the same group of subjects, which matches her goal of assessing ethnocentrism levels every week over a 16-week period.

Question 13

Which advanced difference test makes sense in the following scenario?
Bobby is conducting a study to see if females and males differ in their level of organizational satisfaction. He's worried that one's age may be a factor as well, so he wants to take age out of the picture.
A)analysis of covariance
B)repeated measures ANOVA
C)multivariate analysis of variance
D)factorial ANOVA

Accepted Answer

Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) is the correct choice because it allows Bobby to compare the organizational satisfaction between females and males while controlling for the effect of age, which is considered a covariate in this scenario.

Question 14

Which advanced relationship test makes sense in the following scenario?
Tika is creating a new measure to examine patient communication satisfaction with a physician. She wants to make sure her new measure is a single construct with no subscales.
A)factor analysis
B)path analysis
C)structural equation model
D)canonical correlation

Accepted Answer

Factor analysis is the correct choice because it is used to identify the underlying relationships between measured variables, helping to determine if they can be explained by a smaller number of factors or constructs. In this scenario, Tika would use factor analysis to ensure her new measure represents a single construct without subscales, by examining the correlations between items and identifying if they all load onto one factor.

Question 15

Which advanced relationship test makes sense in the following scenario?
Penelope is conducting a study examining the relationship between two series of related concepts. On the one hand, she has employee motivation and job satisfaction; on the other hand, she has the two forms of organizational dissent (articulated and latent).
A)canonical correlation
B)factor analysis
C)structural equation model
D)path analysis

Accepted Answer

Canonical correlation is the appropriate statistical method for examining the relationships between two sets of variables, in this case, the set comprising employee motivation and job satisfaction, and the set comprising the two forms of organizational dissent (articulated and latent).

Question 16

It is not parsimonious to run a single one-way ANOVA when you could run three Student's t tests.

Accepted Answer

Running a single one-way ANOVA is more parsimonious because it reduces the risk of Type I error that increases with multiple t-tests due to multiple comparisons.

Question 17

An interaction effect examines the differences in the combination of the two factors.

Accepted Answer

An interaction effect occurs when the effect of one factor on the outcome variable depends on the level of another factor, thus examining the differences in combinations of two or more factors.

Question 18

A one-way ANOVA is considered a multivariate test.

Accepted Answer

A one-way ANOVA is considered a univariate test because it evaluates the difference in means across multiple groups using a single dependent variable.

Question 19

Path analysis is concerned with observed and latent variables.

Accepted Answer

Path analysis is primarily concerned with observed variables, while structural equation modeling (SEM) deals with both observed and latent variables.

Question 20

Factor analysis is a technique needed in research measures creation.

Accepted Answer

Factor analysis is used in the development of research measures to identify underlying variables, or factors, that explain the pattern of correlations within a set of observed variables, helping in creating more reliable and valid instruments.

Quiz 21: Statistical Tests and Concepts in Research Analysis

When Darla runs a 2 x 4 factorial ANOVA, she wants to look for differences between each of the nominal independent variable's categories separately. What is Darla looking for?

Lamar is researching the potential for significant differences in communication apprehension based on biological sex (male/female) while controlling for an individual's willingness to communicate. Which test would be the most appropriate statistical test for Lamar to conduct?

Which statistical test allows a researcher to examine differences using one or more nominal independent variables with one or more dependent variables?

Which law of science states that scientists should look for the simplest assumption in the formulation of a theory and the simplest test to interpret data?

Using path analysis, which variable is explained by one or more of the other variables in the model?

If you have two sets of multiple variables between which you want to find a relationship, which is the most parsimonious test to conduct?

In statistics, what is the simplest assumption in the formulation of a theory and the simplest test to interpret data?

Which advanced difference test makes sense in the following scenario? Bobby is conducting a study to see if females and males differ in their level of organizational satisfaction. He's worried that one's age may be a factor as well, so he wants to take age out of the picture.

Which advanced relationship test makes sense in the following scenario? Tika is creating a new measure to examine patient communication satisfaction with a physician. She wants to make sure her new measure is a single construct with no subscales.

It is not parsimonious to run a single one-way ANOVA when you could run three Student's t tests.

An interaction effect examines the differences in the combination of the two factors.

A one-way ANOVA is considered a multivariate test.

Path analysis is concerned with observed and latent variables.

Factor analysis is a technique needed in research measures creation.