Sample Multiple Choice Questions for Methods of Research

• Scientific concepts are: a. abstract b. concrete
• Scientific concepts are usually best if they are: a. clear and unambiguous b. subtle and thought provoking
• Test-retest is a way of measuring: a. reliability b. validity c. precision
• Content, face and construct are measures of: a. reliability b. validity c. precision
• The study of UFO Abductions discussed in class was a test of: a. test-retest reliability b. construct validity c. construct reliability d. precision e. predictive validity
• When a hypothesis is derived from a theory in order to test the theory against specific evidence, this process is considered to be: a. inductive b. deductive c. creative d. valid.
• If a measure is measuring what it purports to measure, it is: a. reliable. b. valid c. reliable and valid d. none of the above.
• Which is a test of statistical significance: a. chi square b. percentage differences c. regression coefficient
• The higher the absolute value of the correlation coefficient the stronger the relationship: a. true b. false
• The larger the "p" value, the more likely the relationship is statistically significant.
• If p = .50 the relationship is: a. strong b. weak c. statistically significant d. not statistically significant.
• If I say that I weight 98.576 pounds instead of 220 pounds, I am being more: a. accurate b. precise c. both d. neither
• Which is the most rigorous method for testing causal hypotheses: a. field research b. experiments c. surveys d. comparative research
• The U.S. Census is an example of: a. description b. explanation
• Which approach is primarily inductive: a. experiments b. field research c. surveys d. content analysis
• Which is the most stringent test: a. face validity b. construct validity c. convergent validity d. criterion validity
• To be statistically significant, a correlation must be: a. positive b. negative c. it can be either one
• Operationalizing means: a. selecting indicators b. testing relationships c. formulating hypotheses d. collecting data e. coding data
• If a study includes a control group it is: a. a survey b. field research c. content analysis d. an experiment e. none of the above
• Which type of measurement is required for crosstabulation: a. nominal b. interval c. ordinal