Chapter 5 - Identifying Good Measurement

Question 1

A definition of a construct.

Answer 1

The conceptual variable.

Question 2

What measure operationalizes a variable by recording biological data, such as brain activity, hormone levels or heart rate. Psychological measures usually require the use of equipment to amplify, record, and analyze biological data.

Answer 2

A psychological measure.

Question 3

Catagorial variables are called ________ ___________

Answer 3

Nominal variables.

Question 4

The levels of __________ ____________ are coded with meaningful numbers.

Answer 4

Quantitative variables.

Question 5

An ________ ________ of measurement applies when the numerals of a quantitative variable represent a ranked order.

Answer 5

Ordinal scale.

Question 6

An _______ ________ of measurement applies to the numerals of a quantitive variable that meets two conditions: First, the numerals represent equal intervals (distances) between levels, and second, there is no “true zero” (a person can get a score of 0, but the does not really mean “nothing).

Answer 6

Interval scale.

Question 7

What does it mean when there is no “true zero” measurement?

Answer 7

A person can get a score of 0, but 0 does not really mean “nothing”.

Question 8

A ______ ________ of measurement applies when the numerals of a quantitative variable have equal intervals and when the value of 0 truly means “none” or “nothing” of the variable being measured.

Answer 8

Ratio scale

Question 9

_______ refers to how consistent the results of a measure are.

Answer 9

Reliability

Question 10

_________ concerns whether the operationalization is measuring what it is supposed to measure.

Answer 10

Validity.

Question 11

With ____-_____ reliability, the researcher gets consistent scores every time he or she uses the measure.

Answer 11

Test-retest

Question 12

With ________ reliability, consistent scores are obtained no matter who measures the variables.

Answer 12

Interrater.

Question 13

With _________ __________ (also called consistency), a study participant gives a consistent pattern of answers, no matter how the researcher has phrased the question.

Answer 13

Internal reliability

Question 14

Researchers may use two statistical devices for data analysis: ___________ and the __________ __________

Answer 14

scatter plots, and the correlation coefficient.

Question 15

Researchers can use a single number, called a __________ __________, or r, to indicate how close the dots, or points, on a scatter plot are to a line drawn through them.

Answer 15

Correlation coefficient

Question 16

The slope direction can be ________, _________ or _________

Answer 16

Positive, negative or zero

Question 17

In general the relationship is strong when the dots are _______ to the line; it is weak when the dots are ________ ___.

Answer 17

Close

Spread out

Question 18

Researchers typically will run a correlation based statistic called __________’s ________

Answer 18

Chronbach’s alpha.

Question 19

The closer Chronbach’s alpha is to 1.0, the better the scale’s _________

Answer 19

Reliability.

Question 20

A measurement has ______ _________ if it is subjectively considered to be a plausible operationalization of the conceptual variable in question.

Answer 20

Face validity.

Question 21

To ensure _______ ______, a measure must capture all parts of a defined construct.

Answer 21

Content validity

Question 22

________ ________ evaluates whether the measure under consideration is associated with a concrete behavioral outcome that it should be associated with.

Answer 22

Criterion validity

Question 23

______-______ __________, in which researchers see whether scores on the measure can discriminate among two or more groups whose behavior is already confirmed.

Answer 23

Known-groups paradigm.

Question 24

The pattern of correlations with measures of theoretically similar and dissimilar constructs is called __________ validity and __________ validity (or divergent validity), respectively.

Answer 24

Convergent

Divergent