Question 1

Anomie is an example of a 	-------------.
A) statistic
B) sociological concept
C) level of measurement
D) unit of analysis

Accepted Answer

Anomie is a sociological concept that refers to a state of normlessness or a breakdown in social order.

Question 2

A(n)-------------- 	is defined as anything that may vary from one case to the next.
A) variable
B) concept
C) anomaly
D) level of measurement

Accepted Answer

A variable is anything that may vary from one case to the next.

Question 3

A logical set of characteristics for a variable is referred to as:
A) concepts
B) variables
C) attributes
D) units of analysis

Accepted Answer

Attributes are the specific values or characteristics that a variable can have.

Question 4

Suppose a researcher hypothesizes that an increase in education leads to increased income. What is the independent variable?
A) years of education
B) income
C) both a and b
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the one that is manipulated or changed to observe its effect on the dependent variable. In this case, "years of education" is the independent variable as it is hypothesized to affect "income," which is the dependent variable.

Question 5

Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis: If age increases then income increases.
A) age
B) income
C) both a and b
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Income is the dependent variable because it is the variable that is being affected by the independent variable (age).

Question 6

Which of the following criteria must be met in order to effectively argue that two variables are associated?
A) The cause must precede the effect.
B) Changes are not caused by some preceding or intervening variable.
C) The association must be present "often enough."
D) All of the above.

Accepted Answer

All of the criteria listed are necessary to effectively argue that two variables are associated: temporal precedence (A), ruling out confounding variables (B), and a consistent association (C).

Question 7

The process of defining what we mean by a concept is called ----------.
A) conceptualization
B) operationalization
C) alienation
D) variability

Accepted Answer

Conceptualization is the process of defining and clarifying what we mean by a concept.

Question 8

The process of developing a variable that measures a concept is called 	-------------.
A) conceptualization
B) operationalization
C) alienation
D) variability

Accepted Answer

Operationalization is the process of developing a variable that measures a concept by defining how it will be measured or quantified.

Question 9

Properly operationalized variables must have attributes that are 	-----------.
A) mutually exclusive
B) collectively exhaustive
C) independent
D) both a and b

Accepted Answer

Properly operationalized variables must have attributes that are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive to ensure clear and comprehensive categorization.

Question 10

When the attributes of a variable include every possible response the attributes are said to be ------------.
A) mutually exclusive
B) conceptualized
C) collectively exhaustive
D) dependent

Accepted Answer

Collectively exhaustive means that the attributes of a variable include every possible response, covering all potential options.

Question 11

Attributes are -------------- 	when the categories do not overlap.
A) mutually exclusive
B) conceptualized
C) collectively exhaustive
D) dependent

Accepted Answer

Attributes are mutually exclusive when the categories do not overlap, meaning each attribute belongs to only one category without any overlap.

Question 12

Race is measured at the --------------- 	level of measurement.
A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval/ratio
D) organizational

Accepted Answer

Race is measured at the nominal level of measurement because it categorizes individuals into distinct groups without any order or ranking.

Question 13

Age at first marriage is measured at the --------------- 	level of measurement.
A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval/ratio
D) organizational

Accepted Answer

Age at first marriage is measured at the interval/ratio level because it is a numerical value with a true zero point and equal intervals between values.

Question 14

The categories used in the 2006 General Social Survey for the variable Class include the following: lower, working, middle, and upper class. Identify the level of measurement for this variable.
A) nominal
B) ordinal
C) interval
D) ratio

Accepted Answer

The variable "Class" is ordinal because it categorizes individuals into classes with a meaningful order (lower, working, middle, upper) but does not have a consistent scale or true zero point.

Question 15

Which of the following is a nominal variable?
A) years of education
B) political party affiliation
C) highest degree earned
D) age

Accepted Answer

Political party affiliation is a nominal variable because it categorizes individuals into distinct groups without any inherent order or ranking.

Question 16

Pie charts are common ways of presenting data for:
A) nominal variables
B) ordinal variables
C) interval/ratio variables
D) both a and b

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pie charts are common ways of presenting...

Question 17

Bar charts are common ways of presenting data for:
A) nominal variables
B) ordinal variables
C) interval/ratio variables
D) both a and b

Accepted Answer

The answer of Bar charts are common ways of presenting...

Question 18

Which type of chart is used to represent interval/ratio data?
A) pie charts
B) bar charts
C) histograms
D) both a and b

Accepted Answer

Histograms are used to represent interval/ratio data, showing the distribution of numerical data by dividing the data into bins or intervals.

Question 19

Which of the following is most appropriate to present data on years of education?
A) pie charts
B) bar charts
C) histograms
D) both a and b

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is most appropriate...

Question 20

---------- 	 refers to the degree to which a variable measures what we think it is measuring.
A) Validity
B) Reliability
C) Conceptualization
D) Operationalization

Accepted Answer

Validity refers to the extent to which a variable accurately measures the concept it is intended to measure.

Quiz 1: Concepts, Variables, and Measurement

Anomie is an example of a -------------.

A(n) -------------- is defined as anything that may vary from one case to the next.

A logical set of characteristics for a variable is referred to as:

Suppose a researcher hypothesizes that an increase in education leads to increased income. What is the independent variable?

Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis: If age increases then income increases.

Which of the following criteria must be met in order to effectively argue that two variables are associated?

The process of defining what we mean by a concept is called ----------.

The process of developing a variable that measures a concept is called -------------.

Properly operationalized variables must have attributes that are -----------.

When the attributes of a variable include every possible response the attributes are said to be ------------.

Attributes are -------------- when the categories do not overlap.

Race is measured at the --------------- level of measurement.

Age at first marriage is measured at the --------------- level of measurement.

The categories used in the 2006 General Social Survey for the variable Class include the following: lower, working, middle, and upper class. Identify the level of measurement for this variable.

Which of the following is a nominal variable?

Pie charts are common ways of presenting data for:

Bar charts are common ways of presenting data for:

Which type of chart is used to represent interval/ratio data?

Which of the following is most appropriate to present data on years of education?

---------- refers to the degree to which a variable measures what we think it is measuring.