Question 1

A relationship between two variables that are no longer related when a third variable is controlled is called a spurious relationship.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Concepts that make up a variable are called attributes of that variable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

In social work studies testing hypotheses involving the variable "level of social functioning" that variable is:

Accepted Answer

A)   always the dependent variable.
B)   always either the dependent or control variable.
C)   always the independent variable.
D)   an independent, dependent, or control variable, depending on what is being conceptualized and postulated in any given study. D

Question 4

Although there are important differences in conceptualization between qualitative and quantitative studies,both approaches are apt to operationally define variables in advance and in the same way.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The same concept can be a variable in one study and a constant in another study.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

A nominal definition:

Accepted Answer

A)   Tells us what indicators to use in observing a concept.
B)   Is a statement detailing what will be involved in measuring some entity.
C)   Is like a dictionary definition.
D)   All of these.

Question 7

Moderating variables influence the strength or direction of relationships between independent and dependent variables.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

If we find that rates of behavioral disorder are lower among children who are more active in sports,then we have found what type of relationship?

Accepted Answer

A)   positive.
B)   negative.
C)   curvilinear.
D)   causal.

Question 9

Develop a properly worded hypothesis that would be relevant to evaluating the effectiveness of some aspect of social work practice.Identify a moderating variable and a mediating variable pertinent to that hypothesis and explain why it would be important to control for them in testing the hypothesis

Accepted Answer

The answer of Develop a properly worded hypothesis that would...

Question 10

Concepts are mental images that summarize collections of seemingly related observations and experiences.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Give an example of a relationship that you think might be spurious,and discuss how you would attempt to ascertain whether it is indeed spurious.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Give an example of a relationship that...

Question 12

At what level of measurement is the variable ethnicity?

Accepted Answer

A)   Nominal.
B)   Ordinal.
C)   Ratio.
D)   Interval.

Question 13

One possible operational definition of patient morale in a nursing home is how happy or optimistic patients feel.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The following is an example of a good hypothesis: "Social work practitioners who work in mental health agencies do not care adequately for the chronically mentally ill."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Construct three hypotheses of interest to social workers.One should predict a positive relationship,another a negative relationship,and a third a curvilinear relationship.Identify the independent and dependent variables in each hypothesis.Discuss your reasoning for predicting the curvilinear relationship.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Construct three hypotheses of interest to social...

Question 16

Discuss how the quantitative and qualitative perspectives on operational definitions differ.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss how the quantitative and qualitative perspectives...

Question 17

If marital discord increases when socio-environmental stress increases,that would be an example of a positive relationship.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which of the following IS NOT an operational definition of marital satisfaction?

Accepted Answer

A)   a score on a scale measuring marital satisfaction.
B)   whether or not identified by a therapist as having marital problems.
C)   amount of marital unhappiness.
D)   number of derogatory statements made by spouses to each other.

Question 19

If we hypothesize that a school social work intervention will prevent students from dropping out of school through the mechanism of increasing their level of self esteem,then level of self esteem would be viewed as a mediating variable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

One operational definition is usually as good as any other operational definition.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 7: Problem Formulation

A relationship between two variables that are no longer related when a third variable is controlled is called a spurious relationship.

Concepts that make up a variable are called attributes of that variable.

In social work studies testing hypotheses involving the variable "level of social functioning" that variable is:

Although there are important differences in conceptualization between qualitative and quantitative studies,both approaches are apt to operationally define variables in advance and in the same way.

The same concept can be a variable in one study and a constant in another study.

A nominal definition:

Moderating variables influence the strength or direction of relationships between independent and dependent variables.

If we find that rates of behavioral disorder are lower among children who are more active in sports,then we have found what type of relationship?

Develop a properly worded hypothesis that would be relevant to evaluating the effectiveness of some aspect of social work practice.Identify a moderating variable and a mediating variable pertinent to that hypothesis and explain why it would be important to control for them in testing the hypothesis

Concepts are mental images that summarize collections of seemingly related observations and experiences.

Give an example of a relationship that you think might be spurious,and discuss how you would attempt to ascertain whether it is indeed spurious.

At what level of measurement is the variable ethnicity?

One possible operational definition of patient morale in a nursing home is how happy or optimistic patients feel.

The following is an example of a good hypothesis: "Social work practitioners who work in mental health agencies do not care adequately for the chronically mentally ill."

Discuss how the quantitative and qualitative perspectives on operational definitions differ.

If marital discord increases when socio-environmental stress increases,that would be an example of a positive relationship.

Which of the following IS NOT an operational definition of marital satisfaction?

If we hypothesize that a school social work intervention will prevent students from dropping out of school through the mechanism of increasing their level of self esteem,then level of self esteem would be viewed as a mediating variable.

One operational definition is usually as good as any other operational definition.