Quiz 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Why is measurement necessary

A

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

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2
Q

Measure

A

Quantitative representation of a concept

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3
Q

Operationalization

A

The process of transforming concepts into measurable indicators

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4
Q

Nominal Measures

A

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

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5
Q

Ordinal Measures

A

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

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6
Q

Interval Measures

A

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

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7
Q

Ratio level Measures

A

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

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8
Q

Validity

A

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

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9
Q

Reliability

A

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

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10
Q

Measurement Error

A

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

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11
Q

Random Error

A

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

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12
Q

Systematic Measurement Error

A

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

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13
Q

Measures of Central Tendency

A

Mean, median, and mode

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14
Q

Dispersion (measures of spread)

A

St. Dev, interquartile range, range

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15
Q

Frequencies

A

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

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16
Q

Range

A

Works best for ordinal and interval variables

17
Q

Mean works best for

A

Interval/ratio

18
Q

Median works better for

A

Ordinal variables

19
Q

Mode works best for

A

Nominal and ordinal variables

20
Q

IQR works best for

A

Ordinal and interval variables

21
Q

Variance

A

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

22
Q

Standard Deviation

A

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

23
Q

Steps to specify and test relationships between variables

A

Propose relationship
Develop a causal theory
Frame hypothesis
Collect data

24
Q

What makes a good theory

A
  • Causal
    General
    Consistent with existing knowledge
    Internally consistent
    Explains multiple outcomes
    Makes falsifiable claims
25
Bolet et al main finding
Just Transition Agreement for phasing out coal was electorally successful, driven by unions’ support of the JTA
26
Tai Li Desmarais Main Findings
Republican legislators share misinformation at higher rates, with certain states emerging as misinformation hotspots. Legislators in professional legislatures are less likely to spread misinformation