Multiple choice questions
Question 1
An operational definition is:
a) One that bears no relation to the underlying concept
b) An abstract, theoretical definition of a concept
c) A definition of a concept in terms of specific, empirical measures
d) One that refers to opera singers and their work
Question 2
The importance of measurement in quantitative research is that:
a) It allows us to delineate fine differences between people or cases
b) It provides a consistent device or yardstick
c) It allows for precise estimates of the degree of relationship between concepts
d) All of the above
Question 3
The difference between measures and indicators is that:
a) Measures are unambiguous quantities, whereas indicators are devised from common sense understandings
b) Indicators have a more direct relationship to the underlying concept than measures
c) Measures are intuitively devised and then applied as if they were direct indicators of a concept
d) Indicators are unambiguous quantities, whereas measures are subjective and value-laden
Question 4
The split-half method is used as a test of:
a) Stability
b) Internal reliability
c) Inter-observer consistency
d) External validity
Question 5
Which of the following is not a form of measurement validity?
a) Concurrent validity
b) Face validity
c) Conductive validity
d) Convergent validity
Question 6
Quantitative social researchers rarely claim to have established causality because:
a) They are more concerned with publishing the results of their reliability tests
b) They do not believe that this is an appropriate goal to be striving for
c) They keep forgetting which of the variables they have manipulated
d) They tend to use cross-sectional designs, which produce only correlations
Question 7
One of the preoccupations of quantitative researchers is with generalization, which is a sign of:
a) External validity
b) Internal reliability
c) External reliability
d) Internal validity
Question 8
Quantitative research has been criticised because:
a) The measurement process suggests a spurious and artificial sense of accuracy
b) The reliance on instruments and procedures makes it high in ecological validity
c) It underestimates the similarities between objects in the natural and social worlds
d) All of the above
Question 9
The term 'reverse operationism' means that:
a) The theories we devise will often hinder our attempts to measure concepts
b) The measurements we devise can sometimes help to develop a theory
c) Techniques such as factor analysis have no place in social research
d) Driving instructors always make you practice the most difficult manoeuvre
Question 10
Written accounts of quantitative research rarely include the results of reliability and validity tests because:
a) Researchers are more interested in reporting their operational definitions
b) Researchers don't really think that these tests are important
c) Journal editors have banned these kinds of articles
d) Researchers are more interested in reporting their substantive findings