Interpreting and Using Statistics in Psychological Research 1st Edition Christopher Test Bank 1

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Christopher, Interpreting and Using Statistics in Psychological Research

SAGE Publishing, 2017
Test Bank for Interpreting and Using Statistics in

Psychological Research 1st Edition Christopher
1506304168 9781506304168
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psychological-research-1st-edition-christopher-1506304168-9781506304168/
Chapter 4: Making Sense of Data: Measures of Central Tendency and Variability
TEST BANK
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Calculate the three measures of central tendency and three measures of variability.
2. Interpret the information conveyed by each measure of central tendency and variability.
3. Report the three measures of central tendency and variability in APA style.
4. Identify considerations when selecting a measure of central tendency.
5. Describe why variability is an essential part of research.
6. Generate the three measures of central tendency and variability using SPSS.
7. Interpret SPSS output with respect to the three measures of central tendency and variability.
Multiple Choice
1. The arithmetic average of a set of numbers is called the:

a. mean
b. median
c. mode
d. variance
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 2: Interpret the information conveyed by each measure of central tendency
and variability.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Mean
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. The middle score in a dataset that divides the dataset in half so that an equal number of scores
fall above and below that score is called the:
a. mean
b. median
c. mode
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d. variance
Ans: B
and variability.
Answer Location: Median
3. The most frequently occurring score in a dataset is called the:

a. mean
b. median
c. mode
d. variance
Ans: C
and variability.
Answer Location: Mode
4. What is the mode of the following set of scores: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5?

a. 0
b. 1
c. 30
d. 5
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1: Calculate the three measures of central tendency and three measures of
variability.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Difficulty Level: Medium
5. A score that is extremely high or extremely low compared with most other scores in a dataset
is called a(n):
a. mean
b. outlier
c. skewed distribution
d. variance
Ans: B
and variability.
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6. A sample of scores on a measure of conscientiousness is 2, 4, 5, 3, 5, 3, 6, 4, and 81. The score

of 81 is called a(n):
a. outlier
b. median
c. ceiling effect
d. floor effect
Ans: A
and variability.
7. An outlier:
a. is a score that is extremely high or extremely low compared with most other scores in a dataset
b. occurs when most scores in a dataset are extremely high
c. occurs when most scores in a dataset are extremely low
d. is a score that falls between the mean and the median
Ans: A
and variability.
8. You are reading a research article and see the following table:
Descriptive Statistics for Variables in the Study

______________________________________________________________________________
Variable M Mdn Mode
______________________________________________________________________________
Sensation Seeking 35.5 34.0 35.0

Pain Threshold 50.0 55.0 60.0
______________________________________________________________________________
Notes: For sensation seeking, scores could range from 8 to 56. For pain threshold, scores could
range from 1 to 100. For both variables, higher scores indicate greater presence of the construct.
Use this table to answer the following three questions:
a. What is the mean sensation-seeking score in this sample?

a. 35.0
b. 34.0
c. 35.5
d. 50.0
Ans: C
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Learning Objective: 3: Report the three measures of central tendency and variability in APA
style.
Answer Location: Reporting the measures of central tendency in research
b. What is the median pain threshold score in this sample?

a. 60.0
b. 55.0
c. 50.0
d. 35.0
Ans: B
style.
c. What is the modal sensation-seeking score in this sample?

a. 50.0
b. 34.0
c. 60.0
d. 35.0
Ans: D
style.
9. Consider the following set of data:
4, 15, 15, 14, 15, 16, 15, 17, 14, 13, 15, 15
Which measure of central tendency is most appropriate to use?

a. mean
b. median
c. mode
d. variance
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 4: Identify considerations when selecting a measure of central tendency.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Consideration 1: Outliers in the data
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10. A set of individuals is measured on a nominal scale. To determine the central tendency for
the resulting measurements, a researcher should use the:
a. mean
b. median
c. mode
d. It is impossible to determine central tendency for nominal measurements.
Ans: C
Answer Location: Consideration 3: A variable’s scale of measurement
11. The value of one score in a dataset is changed from 15 to 7. Which measure(s) of central
tendency is (are) certain to change?
a. the mean
b. the median
c. the mean and the median
d. the mode
Ans: A
variability.
Answer Location: Three Measures of Central Tendency
Difficulty Level: Hard
12. A distribution of scores has a mean = 25, median = 25, and a mode = 25. The distribution:
a. has a positive skew
b. has a negative skew
c. is normal
d. is bimodal
Ans: C
Answer Location: Consideration 2: Skewed data distributions
13. A distribution of scores has a mean = 30, median = 50, and a mode = 70. The distribution:
a. has a positive skew
b. has a negative skew
c. is normal
d. is bimodal
Ans: B
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14. A survey asks people which candidate they will vote for in the upcoming election. Which
would be the best measure of central tendency to describe this dataset?
a. mean
b. median
c. mode
d. range
Ans: C
15. A survey asks people how much they like each of the candidates running in an election.
People respond using a 1 (do not like at all) to 7 (like very much) response range. Based only on
this information, which would be the best measure of central tendency to describe this dataset?
a. mean
b. median
c. mode
d. range
Ans: A
16. In a taste preference study, consumers rank five flavors of potato chips from their most
favorite to their least favorite. Which would be the best measure of central tendency to describe
this dataset?
a. mean
b. median
c. mode
d. range
Ans: B
17. A researcher gave a test of reaction speed to a sample of participants. Which of the following
cannot be an accurate description of the distribution of scores?
a. The majority of participants had scores above the mean.
b. The majority of participants had scores above the median.
c. The majority of participants had scores above the mode.
d. The majority of participants had scores equal to at least one measure of central tendency.
Ans: B
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and variability.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
18. For an extremely skewed distribution of scores, the best measure of central tendency would
be:
a. the mean
b. the median
c. the mode
d. Central tendency cannot be determined for a skewed distribution.
Ans: B
19. For any distribution, you can be sure that at least one individual has a score equal to the
______.
a. mean
b. median
c. mode
d. variance
Ans: C
and variability.
20. In a positively skewed distribution, scores with the highest frequencies are ______.
a. on the right side of the distribution
b. on the left side of the distribution
c. in the middle of the distribution
d. represented at two distinct peaks
Ans: B
21. What is the shape of the distribution for the following set of scores: 25, 26, 24, 26, 25, 3, 7, 6,
15, 7, 25, 24, 26?
a. normal
b. positively skewed
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c. negatively skewed
d. cumulative
Ans: C
22. A distribution is positively skewed. Which is the most probable order for the three measures
of central tendency?
a. mean = 40, median = 50, mode = 60
b. mean = 60, median = 50, mode = 40
c. mean = 40, median = 60, mode = 50
d. mean = 50, median = 50, mode = 50
Ans: B
23. The extent to which scores are similar or different in a dataset is called:
a. outliers
b. variability
c. sum of squares
d. range
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 5: Describe why variability is an essential part of research.
Answer Location: What is Variability? Why Should We Care About Variability?
24. A lack of variability in a dataset that occurs because scores are clustered together at the top
end of the range of possible scores is called:
a. nonvariability
b. a ceiling effect
c. a normal distribution
d. a floor effect
Ans: B
25. A lack of variability in a dataset that occurs because scores are clustered together at the low
end of the range of possible scores is called:
a. nonvariability
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b. a ceiling effect
c. a normal distribution
d. a floor effect
Ans: D
26. With a possible range of scores between 10 and 50, Keisha notices that all of the scores in
her dataset are 40 and greater. Keisha’s dataset appears to contain:
a. no range
b. at least one outlier
c. a floor effect
d. a ceiling effect
Ans: D
27. With a possible range of scores between 10 and 50, Keisha notices that all of the scores in
her dataset are 15 and lower. Keisha’s dataset appears to contain:
a. no range
b. a ceiling effect
c. a floor effect
d. at least one outlier
Ans: C
28. The difference between the highest and the lowest score in a dataset is called the:
a. standard deviation
b. variance
c. outlier
d. range
Ans: D
and variability.
Answer Location: Range
29. The average squared deviation from the mean is called the:
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b. variance
c. outlier
d. range
Ans: B
and variability.
30. The sum of each score’s squared deviation from the mean is called the:
b. variance
c. sum of squares
d. floor effect
Ans: C
and variability.
Answer Location: Variance
31. A measure of the extent to which scores in a dataset tend to vary around the mean is called
the:
a. median
b. standard deviation
c. range
d. outlier
Ans: B
and variability.
Answer Location: Standard deviation
32. For any set of data, the sum of the deviation scores will always be:
a. greater than zero
b. equal to zero
c. less than zero
d. the number of scores in the dataset
Ans: B
and variability.
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33. What is the variance of the following set of scores: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5?

a. 30
b. 0
c. 55
d. 5
Ans: B
variability.
34. What is the range of the following set of scores: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5?

a. 0
b. 30
c. 5
d. 6
Ans: A
variability.
35. What is the standard deviation of the following set of scores: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5?

a. 30
b. 5
c. 55
d. 0
Ans: D
variability.
36. A dataset has a mean of 40 and a variance of 16. If a value of 2 is added to each score in the
dataset, the variance will be:
a. 40
b. 16
c. 42
d. 18
Ans: B
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Instructor Resource
Learning Objective: 1: Calculate the three measures of central tendency and the three measures
of variability.
Answer Location: Variance; Standard deviation
37. A dataset has a mean of 40 and a variance of 16. If a value of 2 is added to each score in the
dataset, the standard deviation will be:
a. 4
b. 6
c. 16
d. 18
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1: Calculate the three measures of central tendency and the three measures
of variability.
Answer Location: Variance; Standard deviation
38. The college hockey team wants to give an award for “most consistent goal scorer” of the
year. As a statistics expert, you tell the team to give the award to the person who:
a. has the highest number of mean goals scored per game
b. has the lowest number of mean goals scored per game
c. has the highest standard deviation of goals scored per game
d. has the lowest standard deviation of goals scored per game
Ans: D
and variability.
SHORT ANSWERS
1. What is the general purpose of the three measures of central tendency?

Ans: To provide one number that describes a large set of data.
and variability.
2. You read a research article that reports the following information:
“Scores on the conscientiousness measure (M = 45.50, Mdn = 45.0, mode = 43.0) were higher
than scores on the measure of agreeableness (M = 39.75, Mdn = 39.0, mode = 41.0).”
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Use this information to answer the following questions:
a. What is the mean of the conscientiousness measure?

Ans: 45.50
b. What is the mean of the agreeableness measure?

Ans: 39.75
c. What is the median of the conscientiousness measure?

Ans: 45.0
d. What is the median of the agreeableness measure?

Ans: 39.00
e. What is the mode of the conscientiousness measure?

Ans: 43.0
f. What is the mode of the agreeableness measure?

Ans: 41.0
style.
3. You are reading a research article and see the following table:
Descriptive Statistics for Variables in the Study

______________________________________________________________________________
Variable M Mdn Mode
______________________________________________________________________________
Sensation Seeking 35.5 34.0 35.0
Pain Threshold 50.0 55.0 60.0

______________________________________________________________________________
Notes: For sensation seeking, scores could range from 8 to 56. For pain threshold, scores could
range from 1 to 100. For both variables, higher scores indicate greater presence of the construct.
Use this table to answer the following three questions:
a. What is the mean pain threshold score in this sample?

Ans: 50.0
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Instructor Resource
b. What is the median sensation-seeking score in this sample?

Ans: 34.0
c. What is the modal pain threshold score in this sample?

Ans: 60.0
style.
4. Why is the mean the measure of central tendency that researchers prefer to use?
Ans: Unlike the median and mode, the mean uses all scores in the dataset in its calculation.
Answer Location: Choosing a Measure of Central Tendency
5. Why would some argue that the mean is a better measure of central tendency than the median?
Ans: Unlike the median, the mean uses all scores in the dataset in its calculation.
6. Name two different scenarios that would lead you to choose the median as a measure of
central tendency rather than the mean.
Ans: Answers will vary among students; many possible correct responses.
7. Name one situation in which you would use the mode as your measure of central tendency
instead of either the mean or median.
Ans: Answers will vary among students; many possible correct responses.
8. What makes a distribution of scores not normal? Stated differently, what makes a distribution
of scores skewed?
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Ans: A distribution is normal when the mean, median, and mode are all approximately equal and
the distribution forms a symmetrical bell curve. Stated differently, a distribution of scores is
skewed when there are outliers in the dataset, causing the mean to be greater than or less than the
median and mode.
9. A sample of scores on a measure of conscientiousness is 2, 4, 5, 3, 5, 3, 6, 4, and 81. Which

measure of central tendency should be used to describe this dataset? Explain your choice.
Ans: Use the median because we have an outlier (score of 81) in the dataset.
and variability.
10. Seven friends have a mean income of $400 per week, and their median income is $300 per
week. Michael, the lowest paid, gets fired from his $200 a week job and now has an income of
$0 per week. What is the median weekly income of the seven friends after Michael lost his job?
Ans: It is still $400 per week.
and variability.
11. Explain how the floor effect and the ceiling effect are similar.
Ans: They both refer to a problematic situation in which there is a lack of variability in a dataset.
12. Explain how the floor effect and the ceiling effect are different.
Ans: The floor effect refers to a situation in which most scores in a dataset are on the low end of
the possible range of scores. The ceiling effect refers to a situation in which most scores in a
dataset are on the high end of the possible range of scores.
13. Why are floor effects and ceiling effects problematic in research?
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Ans: Both concepts involve a lack of variability of scores in a dataset; without variability, it is
impossible to learn about relationships between variables.
14. Why is “n-1” used when calculating the sample variance?

Ans: Because there is more variability in a population than in a sample, when working with
sample data, we need to obtain an unbiased estimate of the population variance in the sample
data.
and variability.
FILL IN THE BLANKS
1. The arithmetic average of a dataset is called the ______.

Ans: mean
and variability.
Answer Location: Mean
2. The middle score in a dataset that divides the dataset in half so that an equal number of scores
fall above and below that score is called the ______.
Ans: median
and variability.
3. A score that is extremely high or extremely low compared with most other scores in a dataset
is called a(n) ______.
Ans: outlier
and variability.
4. The most frequently occurring score in a dataset is called the ______.

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Ans: mode
and variability.
5. A dataset in which the measures of central tendency are approximately equal to each other,
thus creating a symmetrical, bell-shaped distribution of scores, is called a(n) ______.
Ans: normal distribution
6. A dataset in which there are a few unusually high scores but most scores tend to be toward the
low end of the distribution is called a(n) ______.
Ans: positively skewed distribution
7. A dataset in which there are a few unusually low scores but most scores tend to be toward the
high end of the distribution is called a(n) ______.
Ans: negatively skewed distribution
8. The extent to which scores are similar (or different) in a dataset is called ______.
Ans: Variability
9. A lack of variability in a dataset that occurs because scores are clustered together at the top
end of the range of possible scores is called a(n) ______.
Ans: ceiling effect
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10. A lack of variability in a dataset that occurs because scores are clustered together at the low
end of the range of possible scores is called a(n) ______.
Ans: floor effect
11. The difference between the highest and the lowest score in a dataset is called the ______.
Ans: range
variability.
12. The average squared deviation from the mean is called the ______.
Ans: variance
variability.
13. The sum of each score’s squared deviation from the mean is called the ______.
Ans: sum of squares
variability.
14. A measure of the extent to which scores in a dataset tend to vary around the mean is the
______.
Ans: standard deviation
variability.
CALCULATIONS
For each dataset, answers appear after each subquestion.

variability.
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Answer Location: Three Measures of Central Tendency; Three Measures of Variability
1. A researcher sampled 10 undergraduate psychology majors about their study behaviors. The
following is a list of the number of hours they spent studying on the weekend:
5 8 2 0 4
6 3 4 7 1
a. Calculate the mean.

Ans: 4.0
b. Calculate the median.

Ans: 4.0
c. Calculate the mode.

Ans: 4.0
d. Calculate the range.

Ans: 8
e. Calculate the variance.

Ans: 6.67
f. Calculate the standard deviation.

Ans: 2.58
2. Use the following data for the questions below:
7, 9, 0, 1, 7, 4, 5, 7, 6
Assume the data to be a sample:

Ans: 5.11

Ans: 6.0

Ans: 7.0

Ans: 9
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Ans: 8.86

Ans: 2.98
3. A marketing researcher for a toothpaste company wants to know how often on average people
brush their teeth per day. He obtains a sample of 25 adults. Their responses to his question are
summarized in the following simple frequency distribution:
X f
10 1
9 0
8 0
7 3
6 3
5 0
4 4
3 3
2 8
1 2
0 1

Ans: 3.68

Ans: 3.0

Ans: 2

Ans: 10

Ans: 5.89

Ans: 2.43
g. Would you estimate that this distribution is normally distributed, positively skewed, or
negatively skewed? Explain your choice
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Ans: The data appear to have a positive skew because most people tend to brush their teeth
relatively few times (mode = 2, with a median of 3, but a mean of 3.68, which is being pulled
higher by a few high scores).
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Instructor Resource

Christopher, Interpreting and Using Statistics in Psychological Research

Test Bank for Interpreting and Using Statistics in

Chapter 4: Making Sense of Data: Measures of Central Tendency and Variability

1. The arithmetic average of a set of numbers is called the:

3. The most frequently occurring score in a dataset is called the:

4. What is the mode of the following set of scores: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5?

6. A sample of scores on a measure of conscientiousness is 2, 4, 5, 3, 5, 3, 6, 4, and 81. The score

Descriptive Statistics for Variables in the Study

Sensation Seeking 35.5 34.0 35.0

Use this table to answer the following three questions:

a. What is the mean sensation-seeking score in this sample?

b. What is the median pain threshold score in this sample?

c. What is the modal sensation-seeking score in this sample?

9. Consider the following set of data:

Which measure of central tendency is most appropriate to use?

Difficulty Level: Medium

33. What is the variance of the following set of scores: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5?

34. What is the range of the following set of scores: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5?

35. What is the standard deviation of the following set of scores: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5?

1. What is the general purpose of the three measures of central tendency?

2. You read a research article that reports the following information:

Use this information to answer the following questions:

a. What is the mean of the conscientiousness measure?

b. What is the mean of the agreeableness measure?

c. What is the median of the conscientiousness measure?

d. What is the median of the agreeableness measure?

e. What is the mode of the conscientiousness measure?

f. What is the mode of the agreeableness measure?

Descriptive Statistics for Variables in the Study

Sensation Seeking 35.5 34.0 35.0

Pain Threshold 50.0 55.0 60.0

Use this table to answer the following three questions:

a. What is the mean pain threshold score in this sample?

b. What is the median sensation-seeking score in this sample?

c. What is the modal pain threshold score in this sample?

9. A sample of scores on a measure of conscientiousness is 2, 4, 5, 3, 5, 3, 6, 4, and 81. Which

14. Why is “n-1” used when calculating the sample variance?

FILL IN THE BLANKS

1. The arithmetic average of a dataset is called the ______.

4. The most frequently occurring score in a dataset is called the ______.

For each dataset, answers appear after each subquestion.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

a. Calculate the mean.

b. Calculate the median.

c. Calculate the mode.

d. Calculate the range.

e. Calculate the variance.

f. Calculate the standard deviation.

2. Use the following data for the questions below:

Assume the data to be a sample:

a. Calculate the mean.

b. Calculate the median.

c. Calculate the mode.

d. Calculate the range.

e. Calculate the variance.

f. Calculate the standard deviation.

a. Calculate the mean.

b. Calculate the median.

c. Calculate the mode.

d. Calculate the range.

e. Calculate the variance.

f. Calculate the standard deviation.

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