Question 1

Which is not a likely threat to the internal validity of a correlational study?

Accepted Answer

A)  Regression 
B)  Subject characteristics 
C)  Data collector bias 
D)  Location 
A)  Regression 
B)  Subject characteristics 
C)  Data collector bias 
D)  Location A

Question 2

In order to eliminate age as an explanation for a .55 correlation between oral vocabulary and reading proficiency, a researcher must determine:

Accepted Answer

A)  the age of each subject 
B)  the correlation between age and oral vocabulary 
C)  the correlation between age and reading proficiency 
D)  all of the above 
A)  the age of each subject 
B)  the correlation between age and oral vocabulary 
C)  the correlation between age and reading proficiency 
D)  all of the above D

Question 3

Correlational research differs from experimental research in that:

Accepted Answer

A)  there is no manipulation of variables 
B)  random sampling is not used 
C)  there is no concern regarding internal validity 
D)  researcher bias is not a problem 
A)  there is no manipulation of variables 
B)  random sampling is not used 
C)  there is no concern regarding internal validity 
D)  researcher bias is not a problem A

Question 4

In correlational research, the predictor variable is the variable about which the prediction is made.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The rationale on which partial correlation is based includes:

Accepted Answer

A)  determining the correlation between each original variable and the extraneous variable 
B)  adjusting each original variable by using its correlation with the extraneous variable 
C)  determining the correlation between the adjusted scores of each subject 
D)  all of the above 
A)  determining the correlation between each original variable and the extraneous variable 
B)  adjusting each original variable by using its correlation with the extraneous variable 
C)  determining the correlation between the adjusted scores of each subject 
D)  all of the above

Question 6

Path analysis is a technique for:

Accepted Answer

A)  exploring theoretical cause-effect relationships 
B)  determining a regression line 
C)  estimating the amount of error associated with a predicted score 
D)  reducing the effects of an extraneous variable 
A)  exploring theoretical cause-effect relationships 
B)  determining a regression line 
C)  estimating the amount of error associated with a predicted score 
D)  reducing the effects of an extraneous variable

Question 7

In which of the following would one be most likely to find a correlation coefficient of zero or close to zero?

Accepted Answer

A)  Shoe sizes of adult males correlated with their salaries 
B)  Age correlated with the cost of life insurance 
C)  Age of car correlated with trade-in value 
D)  Intelligence correlated with grades in arithmetic 
A)  Shoe sizes of adult males correlated with their salaries 
B)  Age correlated with the cost of life insurance 
C)  Age of car correlated with trade-in value 
D)  Intelligence correlated with grades in arithmetic

Question 8

Partial correlation is a procedure for:

Accepted Answer

A)  simplifying the determination of a regression line 
B)  reducing the number of variables to a more manageable level 
C)  controlling a subject characteristics threat 
D)  exploring theoretical cause-effect relationships 
A)  simplifying the determination of a regression line 
B)  reducing the number of variables to a more manageable level 
C)  controlling a subject characteristics threat 
D)  exploring theoretical cause-effect relationships

Question 9

Which is a probable threat to the internal validity of a correlational study?

Accepted Answer

A)  History 
B)  Maturation 
C)  Instrument decay 
D)  Implementation 
A)  History 
B)  Maturation 
C)  Instrument decay 
D)  Implementation

Question 10

A correlation coefficient of .50 is considered satisfactory for:

Accepted Answer

A)  test-retest reliability 
B)  observer agreement 
C)  validity 
D)  individual prediction 
A)  test-retest reliability 
B)  observer agreement 
C)  validity 
D)  individual prediction

Question 11

A regression line is used to:

Accepted Answer

A)  estimate the score on one variable from the score on another variable 
B)  correct data for the regression threat to internal validity 
C)  estimate the extent to which material has been forgotten 
D)  connect the points in a scatterplot 
A)  estimate the score on one variable from the score on another variable 
B)  correct data for the regression threat to internal validity 
C)  estimate the extent to which material has been forgotten 
D)  connect the points in a scatterplot

Question 12

Matching
-Correlation coefficient

Accepted Answer

A)  2 or more predictor variables 
B)  Causal connection among 3+ variables 
C)  "Clusters of correlated variables 
D)  Criterion variable is categorical 
E)  A decimal from -1.00 to +1.01 
A)  2 or more predictor variables 
B)  Causal connection among 3+ variables 
C)  "Clusters of correlated variables 
D)  Criterion variable is categorical 
E)  A decimal from -1.00 to +1.01

Question 13

What do multiple regression, path analysis, and factor analysis all have in common?

Accepted Answer

A)  They all result in a prediction equation. 
B)  They all are techniques for controlling threats to internal validity. 
C)  They all use the same basic equation. 
D)  They all begin with the correlations among all pairs of variables. 
A)  They all result in a prediction equation. 
B)  They all are techniques for controlling threats to internal validity. 
C)  They all use the same basic equation. 
D)  They all begin with the correlations among all pairs of variables.

Question 14

Socioeconomic status would be considered an alternative explanation for a correlation of .60 between interest and achievement if:

Accepted Answer

A)  the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .10 and .20 
B)  the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .90 and .10 
C)  the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .50 and .40 
D)  the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .10 and .80 
A)  the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .10 and .20 
B)  the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .90 and .10 
C)  the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .50 and .40 
D)  the correlations between socioeconomic status and the other variables were .10 and .80

Question 15

Correlational research is used to:

Accepted Answer

A)  explore possible cause-and-effect sequences 
B)  predict future behavior 
C)  suggest experimental studies 
D)  all of the above 
A)  explore possible cause-and-effect sequences 
B)  predict future behavior 
C)  suggest experimental studies 
D)  all of the above

Question 16

A correlation coefficient of -0.79 between time spent in typing practice and the number of typing errors means that:

Accepted Answer

A)  there is a positive correlation between the number of hours spent in typing practice and the number of typing errors 
B)  there is a cause-and-effect relationship between typing practice and typing errors 
C)  as time spent in practice increased, errors tended to decrease 
D)  the correlation coefficient has no meaning because it is negative 
A)  there is a positive correlation between the number of hours spent in typing practice and the number of typing errors 
B)  there is a cause-and-effect relationship between typing practice and typing errors 
C)  as time spent in practice increased, errors tended to decrease 
D)  the correlation coefficient has no meaning because it is negative

Question 17

Matching
-Discriminant function analysis

Accepted Answer

A)  2 or more predictor variables 
B)  Causal connection among 3+ variables 
C)  "Clusters of correlated variables 
D)  Criterion variable is categorical 
E)  A decimal from -1.00 to +1.02 
A)  2 or more predictor variables 
B)  Causal connection among 3+ variables 
C)  "Clusters of correlated variables 
D)  Criterion variable is categorical 
E)  A decimal from -1.00 to +1.02

Question 18

Factor analysis has as its primary goal:

Accepted Answer

A)  generalization 
B)  prediction 
C)  simplification 
D)  replication 
A)  generalization 
B)  prediction 
C)  simplification 
D)  replication

Question 19

The coefficient of multiple correlations is symbolized by r.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following procedures would yield the most appropriate data for studying the relationship between intelligence and achievement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Administering an achievement test and an intelligence test to one sample of subjects 
B)  Administering an achievement test to one sample of subjects and an intelligence test to another sample of subjects 
C)  Administering an achievement test to one sample of subjects, all of whom have an I.Q. of 100 
D)  Administering an achievement test to two samples of subjects and an intelligence test to two different samples of subjects 
A)  Administering an achievement test and an intelligence test to one sample of subjects 
B)  Administering an achievement test to one sample of subjects and an intelligence test to another sample of subjects 
C)  Administering an achievement test to one sample of subjects, all of whom have an I.Q. of 100 
D)  Administering an achievement test to two samples of subjects and an intelligence test to two different samples of subjects

Exam 15: Correlational Research

Which is not a likely threat to the internal validity of a correlational study?

In order to eliminate age as an explanation for a .55 correlation between oral vocabulary and reading proficiency, a researcher must determine:

Correlational research differs from experimental research in that:

In correlational research, the predictor variable is the variable about which the prediction is made.

The rationale on which partial correlation is based includes:

Path analysis is a technique for:

In which of the following would one be most likely to find a correlation coefficient of zero or close to zero?

Partial correlation is a procedure for:

Which is a probable threat to the internal validity of a correlational study?

A correlation coefficient of .50 is considered satisfactory for:

A regression line is used to:

Matching -Correlation coefficient

What do multiple regression, path analysis, and factor analysis all have in common?

Socioeconomic status would be considered an alternative explanation for a correlation of .60 between interest and achievement if:

Correlational research is used to:

A correlation coefficient of -0.79 between time spent in typing practice and the number of typing errors means that:

Matching -Discriminant function analysis

Factor analysis has as its primary goal:

The coefficient of multiple correlations is symbolized by r.

Which of the following procedures would yield the most appropriate data for studying the relationship between intelligence and achievement?

The Nature of Research

The Research Problem

Locating and Reviewing the Literature

Ethics and Research

Variables and Hypotheses

Sampling

Instrumentation

Validity and Reliability

Internal Validity

Descriptive Statistics

Inferential Statistics

Statistics in Perspective

Experimental Research

Single-Subject Research

Causal-Comparative Research

Survey Research

The Nature of Qualitative Research

Observation and Interviewing

Content Analysis

Ethnographic Research

Historical Research

Mixed-Methods Research

Action Research

Preparing Research Proposals and Reports

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