Chapter 4

Question 1

Observed Score

Answer 1

= True Score + Systematic Error + Random Error

Question 2

Coefficient alpha

Answer 2

estimate is derived from the correlations of each item with each other item and so does not rest on any arbitrary choice of ways to divide the items into two halves. Preferred measure of internal consistency reliability

Question 3

Constructs

Answer 3

the abstractions that social scientists discuss in their theories. They are the rich theoretical concepts that make the science interesting, terms such as social status, power, intelligence, and gender roles. Because we cannot literally put a finger on any of these concepts to measure them, we must find some concrete representations that approximate what we mean when we speak of such concepts.

Question 4

Convergent Validity

Answer 4

Overlap between alternative measures that are intended to tap the same construct but that have different sources of systematic error.

Question 5

Convergent Validity Coefficients

Answer 5

Correlations between scores that reflect the same trait measured by different methods.

Question 6

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 6

a statistical index of the strength of association between 2 variables.

Question 7

Definitional Operationism

Answer 7

the assumption that the operational definition is the construct. (Ex: intelligence is what an intelligence test measures).

Question 8

Discriminant Validity

Answer 8

A validity measure has to show good convergence with other measures of the same thing. It should also fail to correlate with measures that are supposed to tap basically different constructs. (That’s basically the definition of discriminant validity).

Question 9

Discriminant Validity Coefficient

Answer 9

Indicates the correlation between different traits measured by the same method.

Question 10

Face Validity

Answer 10

evaluated by a group of judges, sometimes experts, who read or look at a measuring technique and decide whether in their opinion it measures what its name suggests.

Question 11

Internal consistency reliability

Answer 11

alternative estimate is not subject to these concerns and, therefore, more widely used

Question 12

Kappa

Answer 12

measure of agreement that can be used to estimate inter-rater reliability

Question 13

Methods

Answer 13

mode of measurement.

Question 14

Multitrait-multimethod matrix

Answer 14

table of correlation coefficients that enables us to simultaneously evaluate the convergent and discriminant validity of a construct

Question 15

Nomological Net

Answer 15

the theoretical network of construct-to-construct associations derived from relevant theory and stated at an abstract level (Look at pg. 78 – 79 in book)

Question 16

Nonsense Coefficient

Answer 16

Reflects the correlation between different traits measured by different methods.

Question 17

Operational Definition

Answer 17

specifies how to measure a variable so that we can assign someone a score such as high, medium, or low social power.

Question 18

Random Error

Answer 18

reflects nonsystematic, ever-changing influences on the score

Question 19

Reliability

Answer 19

the extent to which a measure is free from random error.

Question 20

Reliability Coefficients

Answer 20

correlations between scores that reflect the same trait and the same method. Although these coefficients are not themselves indicative of validity, they indicate the limit to the validity of our measure.

Question 21

Social Desirability Response Bias

Answer 21

general tendency to over report one’s desirable behaviors and other characteristics and to under report one’s less admirable qualities.

Question 22

Split-half reliability

Answer 22

set of items in the measure is split into two halves, and the split is usually done by separating the full set of items into odd-numbered and even-numbered sets; a strategy that ensures an equivalent number of items from early and late in the measure appear in the two sets.

Question 23

Systematic Error

Answer 23

reflects influences from other constructs besides the desired one

Question 24

Test – ReTest Correlation

Answer 24

provides an estimate of the measure’s reliability. (Ex: Correlation of several tests averaged together).

Question 25

Traits

Answer 25

the underlying construct the measurement is supposed to tap (Ex: attitudes towards women).

Question 26

True Score

Answer 26

function of the construct we are attempting to measure

Question 27

Validity

Answer 27

the extent to which a measure reflects only the desired construct without contamination from other systematically varying constructs. (Note: Validity requires reliability as a pre-requisite).

Question 28

Variables

Answer 28

representations of constructs. They cannot be synonymous with a construct because any single construct has many different variables. Therefore, variables are partial, fallible representations of constructs, and we work with them because they are measurable. They suggest ways in which we can decide whether someone has more or less of the construct.