Quiz 2

Question 1

Why is measurement necessary

Answer 1

to empirically test utility of a scientific explanation. (Note that different measurements can yield different conclusions)

Question 2

Measure

Answer 2

Quantitative representation of a concept

Question 3

Operationalization

Answer 3

The process of transforming concepts into measurable indicators

Question 4

Nominal Measures

Answer 4

Values assigned represent different categories, without order or hierarchy
Ex: ethnicity, religion, place of birth

Question 5

Ordinal Measures

Answer 5

An order among the categories (possible values)
Distance between the categories is not necessary equal
Ex: income categories in surveys

Question 6

Interval Measures

Answer 6

Values are continuous (any value in a range)
The distance between values is real, known, and meaningful
Ex: age, rainfall (in inches), income

Question 7

Ratio level Measures

Answer 7

Includes the values of categories, the order of the categories, and the intervals between them
Also includes the relative amounts of
Have a defined absolute 0 value, so fractions/ratios

Question 8

Validity

Answer 8

Degree to which the measure matches the concept it is thought to measure

Question 9

Reliability

Answer 9

The extent to which a procedure or measure in repeated test produces consistent results

Question 10

Measurement Error

Answer 10

Difference between the true value of an object and the observed value

Question 11

Random Error

Answer 11

Has no systematic direction or cause.
Doesn’t affect the average, only the variability around the average

Question 12

Systematic Measurement Error

Answer 12

Results in systematically over or under-measuring the value if a concept
DOES affect the average and is therefore much more problematic

Question 13

Measures of Central Tendency

Answer 13

Mean, median, and mode

Question 14

Dispersion (measures of spread)

Answer 14

St. Dev, interquartile range, range

Question 15

Frequencies

Answer 15

How often a value occurs in the data. Can be a raw count or a proportion

Question 16

Range

Answer 16

Works best for ordinal and interval variables

Question 17

Mean works best for

Answer 17

Interval/ratio

Question 18

Median works better for

Answer 18

Ordinal variables

Question 19

Mode works best for

Answer 19

Nominal and ordinal variables

Question 20

IQR works best for

Answer 20

Ordinal and interval variables

Question 21

Variance

Answer 21

The average squared differences between values and the mean. Works for interval variables

Question 22

Standard Deviation

Answer 22

The square root of the variance. Works best for interval variables

Question 23

Steps to specify and test relationships between variables

Answer 23

Propose relationship
Develop a causal theory
Frame hypothesis
Collect data

Question 24

What makes a good theory

Answer 24

• Causal
  General
  Consistent with existing knowledge
  Internally consistent
  Explains multiple outcomes
  Makes falsifiable claims

Question 25

Bolet et al main finding

Answer 25

Just Transition Agreement for phasing out coal was electorally successful, driven by unions’ support of the JTA

Question 26

Tai Li Desmarais Main Findings

Answer 26

Republican legislators share misinformation at higher rates, with certain states emerging as misinformation hotspots.
Legislators in professional legislatures are less likely to spread misinformation