test 1 Unit 2: Variables and Measurement

Question 1

Variable

Answer 1

a characteristic of something, which can be measured and varies

Question 2

Measurement

Answer 2

a means of assigning values (usually numbers) to a variable’s response possibilities (the response possibilities are typically called outcomes)

Question 3

Varies

Answer 3

measurements that differ; are not the same

Question 4

Constant

Answer 4

measurements that do not vary

Question 5

Quantitative Measurement

Answer 5

numbers are used to express quantity (here the number express amount of something)

Question 6

Qualitative Measurement

Answer 6

numbers are used to express quality (here numbers are replacements for names of something)

Question 7

Categorical

Answer 7

Level of Measurement (AKA, nominal) - the commonly used name for a variable that is measured qualitatively; the outcomes have no numerical value. The outcomes are typically expressed in words, but can be expressed as numbers (which have no numerical value and are simply used as substitutes for words or names).

Question 8

“Categorical”

Answer 8

Level of Measurement – a special case of ordinal measurement where there are 4 or fewer possible outcomes.

Question 9

Ordinal

Answer 9

Level of Measurement - the measurement associated with a variable where the outcomes only express the concepts such as more, less, greater, smaller; the outcomes can be expressed in words (more, less, etc.) or as numbers (which do not have specific numerical value).

Question 10

Ratio

Answer 10

Level of Measurement - the measurement associated with a variable where the numbers express precise amounts; the outcomes can only be expressed as numbers.

Question 11

“Ratio”

Answer 11

Level of Measurement - a special case of ordinal measurement where there are 5 or more possible outcomes.

Question 12

Validity

Answer 12

the quality of the measurement of a variable that indicates that the variable is measuring what it is supposed to measure

Question 13

Reliability

Answer 13

the quality of the measurement of a variable that indicates that the variable when measured results in repeatable (consistent) responses

Question 14

A measurement system

Answer 14

is a systematic means of assigning values to a variable

Question 15

three general types (levels of measurement

Answer 15

categorical, ordinal, and ratio

Question 16

Quantitative

Answer 16

means to be able to express something in a numerical fashion. According to the American College Dictionary, quantitative means the describing or measuring of quantity. Questions such as how big, how many, how much, lead to quantitative measurement systems.

Question 17

Qualitative

Answer 17

means not quantitative. qualitative means the consideration of quality. Questions such as what type, what color, what nationality, lead to qualitative measurement systems.