Quiz 2

Question 1

When two different variables of a person (e.g., height and weight) change together, these two variables are said to be:

Select one:

a. matching.
b. confounded.
c. correlated.
d. redundant.

Answer 1

c. correlated.

Question 2

A study of existing records is called ____________ research.

Select one:

a. survey
b. naturalistic
c. observational
d. archival

Answer 2

d. archival

Question 3

In a case-study, the researcher:

Select one:

a. generally uses a single, reliable method of data collection.
b. usually establishes the problem and hypothesis in advance.
c. investigates a real-life problem within its real-life context.
d. establishes clear boundaries between the phenomenon and the context in which the phenomenon takes place.

Answer 3

c. investigates a real-life problem within its real-life context.

Question 4

An effective method of increasing the reliability of content analysis is to use:

Select one:

a. a standardized coding scheme.
b. a single coder to interpret the data.
c. two or more coders to interpret the data.
d. both a standardized coding scheme, and two or more coders to interpret the data.

Answer 4

d. both a standardized coding scheme, and two or more coders to interpret the data.

Question 5

Which of the following survey methods is best for getting information about highly personal or embarrassing topics?

Select one:

a. mail survey
b. personal interview
c. telephone survey
d. any of the above

Answer 5

a. mail survey

Question 6

A respondent agrees to both the statements “I like spinach” and “I don’t like spinach.” This is an example of the effect of:

Select one:

a. acquiescence.
b. a respondent bias.
c. demand characteristics.
d. accommodation.

Answer 6

a. acquiescence.

Question 7

It is important that the alternatives to a closed-ended question in a questionnaire be:

Select one:

a. mutually exclusive.
b. exhaustive.
c. mutually exclusive and exhaustive.
d. either mutually exclusive or exhaustive.

Answer 7

c. mutually exclusive and exhaustive.

Question 8

Probability sampling is to ____________ as non-probability sampling is to _____________.

Select one:

a. simple random sampling; purposive sampling
b. stratified random sampling; cluster sampling
c. purposive sampling; haphazard sampling
d. purposive sampling; systematic sampling

Answer 8

a. simple random sampling; purposive sampling

Question 9

Which one of the following is not a basic control strategy in single-subject research?

Select one:

a. withdrawing the treatment
b. repeating treatments
c. using multiple baselines
d. changing more than one variable at a time

Answer 9

d. changing more than one variable at a time

Question 10

The purpose of a baseline measurement is to:

Select one:

a. establish the current level of behaviour.
b. evaluate the reliability of the measure.
c. establish that recording instruments are working properly.
d. demonstrate the treatment effect.

Answer 10

a. establish the current level of behaviour.

Question 11

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using open-ended questions with using closed-ended questions in survey research. (3 points)

Answer 11

Advantages of open-ended questions:

• these kinds of questions make it more probable that the researchers will stumble upon some facet that they hadn’t originally thought of when conceiving the questionnaire
• it is very useful in pilot studies or other preliminary studies that may use smaller samples
• later on these open-ended questions can be refined into closed-ended questions, which would allow for easier date encoding
• useful when there is not too much info to encode
• useful when the subject matter is difficult to narrow into a set of 4 alternatives
• potential to be more satisfying answers providing an overarching sense of completeness
• Disdvantages of open ended questions:
• the nature of answers that are more elaborate and sprawling makes it difficult to code
• researchers may have to break a cardinal rule of deciding in advance what they are looking for in the answers
• some people may find the process more taxing and laborious and have a difficult time articulating their answers
• this may lead to lower participation/respondent rate
• Advantages of closed-ended questions
• they are easier to code and analyze than open-ended questions
• respondents don’t have to think too hard about the answers as all alternatives are presented on the page
• respondents do not need to craft articulate answers
• can be far less time consuming encouraging higher rate of participation as a result
• disadvantages of closed-ended questions:
• might be difficult to reduce subject matter to neatly phrased closed-ended questions, so certain subjects may not be able to be covered by such questions
• tends to suggest alternatives that the participants may never have considered so they tend to do the thinking for the participants in a non-productive way
• may be more difficult to navigate researcher bias in how the questions are worded and also in that there are a set number of answers
• more difficult to assess when a person has not understood the question as there is less information to go on

Question 12

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using mailed-out questionnaire surveys and using telephone surveys. (3 points)

Answer 12

advantages of mailed-out survey

• inexpensive
• no chance that the researcher or interviewer will bias the findings
• reduced chance of role demands affecting results
• useful in cases of acquiring info about intimate, personal or embarrassing subjects

disadvantages of mailed-out survey

• the questions need to be very clear and easy to answer
• no control over what order the questions are answered in
• no ability to explain the questions if they are not understood
• no control as to who truly answers the questions - they may be handed off to the children instead of the adults
• there may be a skew in the types of people who respond: people more likely to respond to surveys may have a particular personality quality which would slant the research data and make it non-representative of the greater population
• low response rate

advantages of telephone survey

• ability to have a rapport with respondents
• instant answers, no need to wait for the answers to return in the mail
• efficient and faster way to get through the questions
• can monitor if the interviewers are doing what they are supposed to be doing
• economically viable
• interviewers may be able to use computers as they ask the questions, which could be useful for things like branching items

disadvantages of telephone survey

• more viable for short and easy to accomplish surveys
• interviewer may bias the participants answer - may influence them in one way or another
• many people don’t like being disturbed to answer a survey, especially at dinner time, when these surveys happen often
• not quite as anonymous, so people may be hesitant to share personal, intimate details with a stranger
• role demands may play a role since there is a rapport and subjects may want to appear helpful
• appropriate sampling is difficult since people on cell-phones can be anywhere