Test Bank for Introduction to Research in Education, 9th Edition

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 Chapter 8—Tools of Research

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A researcher needs a measure of intelligence to use in research on children with reading difficulties.
The test must be highly reliable and be given in a manner such that the children who are not used to
taking standardized tests will not be at a disadvantage. Money is no object. The type of test that you
would recommend for this researcher's purpose is one that is
a. individual, nonverbal, and objectively scored.
b. group, nonverbal, and subjectively scored.
c. group, nonverbal, and objectively scored.
d. group, verbal, and objectively scored.
e. individual, verbal, and subjectively scored.
ANS: A PTS: 1

2. Projective techniques, as a group, differ from most other personality measures in their use of
a. situational tests.
b. trait assessment.
c. structured stimuli
d. unstructured stimuli.
e. theories of personality.
ANS: D PTS: 1

3. Which of the following is the best example of a "halo effect"?

a. The extreme values of the scale are extensively used.
b. A student is assigned the highest rating on all traits rated.
c. All individuals in a group are rated low on the scale.
d. A cooperative student is rated high on nearly all traits.
ANS: D PTS: 1

Exhibit 8-1: Inventories, situational tests, ratings, and projective techniques are four approaches to personality
measurement. To which of the four approaches would each of the following questions most directly apply?

4. Refer to Exhibit 8-1. Depend upon the honesty and cooperation of the subject
a. inventories. c. ratings.
b. situational tests. d. projective techniques.
ANS: A PTS: 1

5. Refer to Exhibit 8-1. Give access to motives and feelings which are not realized or verbalized by the
subject
a. inventories. c. ratings.
b. situational tests. d. projective techniques.
ANS: D PTS: 1

6. Refer to Exhibit 8-1. May be biased by the "central tendency error"

a. inventories. c. ratings.
b. situational tests. d. projective techniques.
ANS: C PTS: 1

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 7. Which of the following would provide the most useful information for critically evaluating a published
test?
a. Journal of Educational Measurement
b. Tests in Print
c. Eighteenth Mental Measurements Yearbook
d. The test publisher's catalog
e. The manual accompanying the test
ANS: C PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

8. A criterion-referenced achievement test would be least useful for

a. planning classroom instruction.
b. analyzing individual achievement.
c. comparing individuals' performance in a group.
d. determining minimum competency in a content area.
ANS: C PTS: 1

9. Norms are best defined as

a. goals for low-achieving students.
b. the average scores received by a particular group.
c. standards for which all children should strive.
d. standards for children with the same educational backgrounds.
ANS: B PTS: 1

10. If an individual "strongly disagrees" with a positively stated item on a Likert attitude scale, that person
will receive ____ point(s).
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
ANS: A PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

11. To increase the validity of a rating scale, it is recommended that the points on the scale be identified
by
a. numbers.
b. trait names.
c. descriptive phrases.
d. qualifying terms such as frequently, seldom, never, often.
ANS: C PTS: 1

12. Using the results of an item analysis, a researcher would most likely retain items for a Likert attitude
scale if they
a. are judged to have content validity.
b. yield high split-half reliability.
c. have low correlation with the total scale score.
d. correlate highly with the total scale score.
ANS: D PTS: 1

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13. If a researcher wanted a predictor of how well students would benefit from a proposed special
mathematics instructional program he/she would most likely use
a. a scholastic aptitude test. c. direct observation.
b. a math achievement test. d. teachers' recommendations.
ANS: B PTS: 1

14. Intelligence tests are most valid for measuring

a. innate capacity.
b. creativity.
c. inherited ability.
d. scholastic aptitude.
e. problem-solving approaches.
ANS: D PTS: 1

15. "Standardized" as applied to tests means

a. covering what should be taught.
b. having objective-type items
c. a particular type of aptitude test.
d. uniform administration and established norms.
e. having an established level of expectation.
ANS: D PTS: 1

16. Scholastic aptitude tests are useful in schools because they

a. can be used to predict achievement.
b. measure innate intelligence.
c. provide a measure of academic achievement.
d. provide a measure of ability uninfluenced by academic experience.
e. are not influenced by subject's motivation, home background, etc.
ANS: A PTS: 1

17. Which of the following represents a major source of error in rating scales?
a. The large number of traits to be rated.
b. The variation in the type of traits to be considered.
c. The ambiguity of the trait names to the rater.
d. The familiarity of the rater with the subjects to be rated.
ANS: C PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

18. Which of the following illustrates the "halo effect" in ratings?

a. An individual is rated high on some traits and low on others.
b. There is little variation in the ratings made of individuals in a group.
c. An uncooperative student is rated low on all traits.
d. The extreme values on the scale are rarely used by the rater.
e. All students in a class are rated high on every trait included in the rating scale.
ANS: C PTS: 1

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 19. A counselor has two adult subjects for whom he needs intelligence test scores. Which of the following
tests would you recommend?
a. Wechsler Intelligence Scale c. California Test of Mental Maturity
b. Stanford-Binet Test of Intelligence d. CEEB Scholastic Aptitude Test
ANS: A PTS: 1

20. Consider the following graphic rating scale item:

Completes work on time
never usually does excellent work

How would you evaluate this item?

a. There are too few points on the rating scale.
b. There are too many points on the rating scale.
c. The rating points are not related to the topic.
d. The points are defined in terms of behaviors that require inference on the part of the rater.
e. The points do not represent the relevant extremes of the behavior.
ANS: E PTS: 1

Exhibit 8-2: Indicate to which of the five measuring devices each of the statements applies.

21. Refer to Exhibit 8-2. Depends on the insight and honesty of the subject.
a. self-report inventories
b. rating scales
c. attitude scales
d. direct observation
e. projective techniques
ANS: A PTS: 1

22. Refer to Exhibit 8-2. Are most influenced by errors of leniency.

a. self-report inventories
b. rating scales
c. attitude scales
d. direct observation
e. projective techniques
ANS: B PTS: 1

23. Refer to Exhibit 8-2. Arrangements for administration are complex.

a. self-report inventories
b. rating scales
c. attitude scales
d. direct observation
e. projective techniques
ANS: D PTS: 1

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24. Refer to Exhibit 8-2. Interpretation should be done only by trained individual.
a. self-report inventories
b. rating scales
c. attitude scales
d. direct observation
e. projective techniques
ANS: E PTS: 1

25. The "halo effect" is best illustrated in which example?

a. There is little variation in the ratings made of individuals in a group.
b. A disliked student is rated low on behavior but high on creativity.
c. The extreme values on the scale re rarely used by the rater.
d. All students in the class are rated high on every trait.
e. A popular student is rated high on every trait.
ANS: E PTS: 1

26. Standardized and researcher-made tests share some of the same characteristics. Which of the following
is not usually characteristic of a researcher-made test?
a. The minimal influence of random errors of measurement
b. The use of objective-type items
c. The availability of norms for comparison
d. The availability of raw scores which can be converted to percentile rank
ANS: C PTS: 1

27. In a test "objectivity" refers to

a. the extent to which the test samples the underlying variables.
b. the level of agreement observed among scorers.
c. the extent to which the questions are based on theoretically defined traits.
d. the extent to which multiple choice and true-false items are used.
e. how well the sample represents the population of interest.
ANS: B PTS: 1

28. The most important consideration when selecting an achievement test for use as the dependent variable
measure in classroom research is whether the test
a. has sufficiently high reliability.
b. is easy to administer and score.
c. has sufficiently high criterion-related validity.
d. matches the content and objectives covered during the instructional period.
e. is based on a thorough sample of teaching practices throughout the country.
ANS: D PTS: 1

29. A researcher wants to know what standardized algebra tests are available. The researcher should first
consult the
a. test manuals issued by publishers.
b. Mental Measurements Yearbook.
c. Mathematics Teacher.
d. Journal of Educational Measurement.
e. Encyclopedia of Educational Research
ANS: B PTS: 1

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Exhibit 8-3: Choose the contribution that each of the following men have made to methods of measurement.

30. Refer to Exhibit 8-3. A. Binet

a. devised an attitude scale based on extent of agreement or disagreement with statement.
b. developed a measure of adult intelligence.
c. developed the first intelligence scale for children.
d. studied the honesty of children through observation.
ANS: C PTS: 1

31. Refer to Exhibit 8-3. D. Wechsler

a. devised an attitude scale based on extent of agreement or disagreement with statement.
b. developed a measure of adult intelligence.
c. developed the first intelligence scale for children.
d. studied the honesty of children through observation.
ANS: B PTS: 1

32. Refer to Exhibit 8-3. R. Likert

a. devised an attitude scale based on extent of agreement or disagreement with statement.
b. developed a measure of adult intelligence.
c. developed the first intelligence scale for children.
d. studied the honesty of children through observation.
ANS: A PTS: 1

33. Which of the following is true of measurement methods based on observation?

a. There is generally high interjudge reliability.
b. It is economical with respect to time and money.
c. No particular skill or training is necessary for the observers.
d. A sample of the individual's actual behavior is selected.
ANS: D PTS: 1

34. It would be preferable to use the Stanford-Binet instead of an intelligence test such as the California
Test of Mental Maturity in which of the following scenarios?
a. A researcher is interested in getting both verbal and nonverbal scores of intelligence from
his sample.
b. The researcher suspects two of the subjects in the sample may be slow learners and would
like to exclude them from the study.
c. A researcher wants intelligence measures for his sample of 100 high school students.
d. The Binet would be preferable in all of these situations.
ANS: B PTS: 1

35. _____ are most subjected to errors of central tendency.

a. Inventories
b. Projective techniques
c. Attitude scales
d. Situational tests
e. Rating scales
ANS: E PTS: 1

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36. Assessing honesty of subjects by recording what they do when given an opportunity to cheat is an
example of
a. inventories.
b. projective techniques.
c. attitude scales.
d. situational tests.
e. rating scales.
ANS: D PTS: 1

37. _____ use deliberately vague or ambiguous stimulus material to which subjects respond.
a. Inventories
b. Projective techniques
c. Attitude scales
d. Situational tests
e. Rating scales
ANS: B PTS: 1

38. By using _____ to analyze an individual's responses to a series of statements, one can assess the
individual's general personal characteristics.
a. inventories
b. projective techniques
c. attitude scales
d. situational tests
e. rating scales
ANS: A PTS: 1

39. Which of the following represents the major difference between aptitude and achievement tests?
a. Aptitude tests are individual tests; achievement tests are group tests.
b. Aptitude tests attempt to measure general skills; achievement tests attempt to measure
specific skills.
c. Aptitude tests measure inherited characteristics, while achievement tests measure acquired
characteristics.
d. Aptitude test results are not influenced by a child's school experiences, while achievement
tests are.
ANS: B PTS: 1

40. The first widely used group test of intelligence was the
a. Army Alpha. c. Wechsler-Bellevue.
b. Binet Test of Intelligence. d. Terman Test of Intelligence.
ANS: A PTS: 1

41. Interpretation of scores on intelligence tests is based on the assumption that all subjects
a. are completely unfamiliar with the kinds of questions asked.
b. have had previous experience with intelligence tests.
c. have had similar backgrounds of experience.
d. None of these is true.
ANS: C PTS: 1

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42. Test norms that appear with standardized achievement tests are best interpreted as
a. the average performance of specified groups.
b. standards of achievement for specified groups.
c. standards of evaluating the adequacy of a school's curriculum.
d. the average levels of achievement that should be attained at various grade levels.
ANS: A PTS: 1

43. One might expect which of the following types of ratings to be most reliable?
a. Ratings of adjustment c. Ratings of attitudes toward an issue
b. Ratings of performance d. Ratings of personality characteristics
ANS: B PTS: 1

44. When rating study skills, communication skills, citizenship, and leadership Mrs. Jones gives Sally, her
favorite student, high marks in all areas. The type of error involved in Mrs. Jones's rating is called the
a. logical error. c. halo effect.
b. generosity error. d. central tendency error.
ANS: C PTS: 1

45. Which of the following methods for defining the positions on a rating scale would involve the least
amount of error in rating?
a. Numbers
b. Descriptions of observable behavior
c. Trait names
d. Ordered categories
e. Descriptions requiring inference on the part of the rater
ANS: B PTS: 1

46. If the subjects indicate the extent to which they agree or disagree with the following statement: "The
electoral college system should be abolished," they are taking which kind of attitude scale?
a. Edwards scale c. Osgood scale
b. Likert scale d. Thurstone scale
ANS: B PTS: 1

47. A child is diagnosed as having a learning disability. A teacher wants both a verbal and nonverbal
intelligence score for this child. The teacher should choose
a. Stanford-Binet-LM. c. a group intelligence test.
b. WISC-R d. Any of these.
ANS: B PTS: 1

48. Consider a Likert scale designed to measure attitude toward capital punishment. If a +5 is assigned the
"strongly agree" position for the statement "I believe capital punishment is the best deterrent to violent
crime in this country" , what value would be assigned to the "strongly disagree" position for the
statement: "The U.S. should abolish capital punishment"?
a. 1 c. -5
b. +5 d. Either +5 or -5; it doesn't matter.
ANS: B PTS: 1

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49. The basic assumption of the projective technique is that the responses a subject makes to the stimulus
materials depend upon the
a. subject's personality structure.
b. structure of the stimulus presented.
c. subject's self-insight and willingness to give honest answers.
d. subject's prior experiences with the stimulus materials.
ANS: A PTS: 1

50. Probably the most effective way to study honesty among children in middle schools would be to use
a. an attitude scale asking the children's attitudes toward honesty in school.
b. self-report inventories asking middle school children whether they are honest in school.
c. a situational test in which children have the opportunity to be dishonest.
d. ratings by teachers on the extent that middle school children are honest in school
situations.
ANS: C PTS: 1

51. Which of the following is not one of the steps suggested in the text for improving the reliability and
objectivity of direct observations of behavior?
a. Select limited aspects of behavior upon which to focus observations.
b. Train the observers in identifying and classifying the behavior to be observed.
c. Train the observers to remember the significant details of the behavior for recording at the
end of the observation period.
d. Divide the observation into short segments for classifying and quantifying observations.
ANS: C PTS: 1

52. In rating, the "halo effect" refers to the

a. tendency to make ratings too high.
b. influence of one rater's results on another rater.
c. influence of a general impression of a person on the rating of specific characteristics.
d. tendency not to be too hard in rating people one doesn't like.
e. tendency to use the middle points on the scale for rating all characteristics.
ANS: C PTS: 1

53. The _____ uses subjects' responses to a series of items to measure personality traits such as
authoritarianism.
a. Likert scale c. Bipolar adjective scale
b. California F-Scale d. Thematic Apperception Test
ANS: B PTS: 1

54. When using the _____, the subject indicates the extent to which he/she agrees or disagrees with a
series of statements.
a. Likert scale c. Bipolar adjective scale
b. California F-Scale d. Thematic Apperception Test
ANS: A PTS: 1

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55. The _____ assesses a subject's attitude to an object by asking the subject to rate the object on a seven-
point scale.
a. Likert scale c. Bipolar adjective scale
b. California F-Scale d. Thematic Apperception Test
ANS: C PTS: 1

56. Scales that ask the rater to utilize a specific reference group when rating individuals are referred to as
a. graphic. c. other oriented.
b. self-oriented. d. comparative.
ANS: D PTS: 1

57. A researcher would choose a bipolar adjective scale to measure mainly

a. interest.
b. attitudes.
c. values.
d. self-concept.
e. psychological traits.
ANS: B PTS: 1

58. One way to improve the validity of rating scales as measuring instruments is to
a. increase the number of points on each scale.
b. base the scale on carefully standardized situations.
c. have behaviorally anchored points on the scale.
d. have norms based on large, representative samples.
ANS: C PTS: 1

59. Which one of the following statements about the Stanford-Binet is false?
a. It has a heavily verbal orientation.
b. It must be administered to one person at a time.
c. It measures one's innate capacity to learn.
d. It gives a general measure of intelligence.
ANS: C PTS: 1

60. When individuals score "at the norm" on a standardized achievement test, it means that they have
a. performed at the average. c. scored 50 percent correct.
b. scored at the expected level. d. scored at the highest possible level.
ANS: A PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

61. Achievement tests measure ____ knowledge and skills; aptitude tests measure ____ abilities.
a. general, specific b. specific, general
ANS: B PTS: 1

130
62. On a standardized math achievement test, the average for fourth graders is 68 and the average for sixth
graders is 86. The scores 68 and 86 are
a. norms.
b. cutoff scores.
c. standard scores.
d. normalized raw scores.
e. ideal scores for fourth and sixth graders.
ANS: A PTS: 1

63. Aptitude tests, as distinguished from achievement tests, are used mainly for
a. diagnosis. c. classification.
b. description. d. prediction.
ANS: D PTS: 1

64. Jane is an excellent student, but does not take part in school activities. If the teacher rates Jane highly
on the dimension of "leadership," the teacher is probably being influenced by
a. response set. c. halo effect.
b. logical error. d. generosity error.
ANS: C PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

65. "Standardization" of a test refers to

a. meeting standards of test developers. c. uniformity of testing procedures.
b. use of standard score norms. d. establishing validity and reliability.
ANS: C PTS: 1

66. Which of the following is the best definition of a test as used in educational research?
a. A controlled observation of behavior
b. An objective/standardized measure of a representative behavior sample
c. A reliable measure of a trait in which individuals differ
d. A standardized set of stimuli eliciting qualitative responses.
ANS: B PTS: 1

67. Intelligence tests can best be described as tests measuring

a. learning aptitude. c. inherited capacity.
b. innate ability. d. scholastic aptitude.
ANS: D PTS: 1

68. An advantage of the present revision of the Stanford-Binet is that an individual's performance may be
reported as
a. a standard score. c. simple number of correct responses.
b. mental age divided by chronological age. d. a profile of separate abilities.
ANS: A PTS: 1

131
69. Interpretation of scores from criterion-referenced tests is described as
a. a relative interpretation.
b. an absolute interpretation.
c. an interpretation in terms of percentile ranks.
d. an interpretation in terms of stanines.
ANS: B PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

70. If a researcher wishes to determine the connotative meaning of words, he/she could have the
respondents rate the words on a series of seven-point scales. This method is called the
a. Q-Sort. c. Guttman technique.
b. scalogram method. d. Bipolar adjective procedure.
ANS: D PTS: 1

71. An observer using a sign coding system would categorize behavior according to
a. critical incidents. c. occurrences during a specified time.
b. individual occurrences of the behavior. d. All of these are true.
ANS: B PTS: 1

72. A rating procedure that requires raters to check the point on a continuum that best describes a person
as, for example, Cooperation: Very cooperative . Very uncooperative, is called a
a. category scale. c. checklist.
b. forced-choice scale. d. graphic scale.
ANS: D PTS: 1

73. If individuals were asked to indicate whether school is "good" or "bad," "Pleasant" or "unpleasant,"
etc., they would be taking a
a. Thurstone attitude scale. c. bipolar adjective scale.
b. Likert attitude scale. d. forced-choice rating scale.
ANS: C PTS: 1

74. "Objectivity" as it refers to measuring instruments means

a. adequacy of sampling.
b. relationship to a criterion.
c. freedom from scorer opinions.
d. accuracy of prediction.
e. availability of norms.
ANS: C PTS: 1

75. A major problem with observational research is that

a. it cannot be used with young children.
b. only the simplest type of behavior can be observed.
c. the presence of the observer may change the subject's behavior.
d. no standardized instruments are available for use with observation.
ANS: C PTS: 1

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76. The single characteristic that all rating scales have in common is that
a. the rater assigns a numerical value to the object, person, or thing being rated.
b. the rater places that which is being rated somewhere on a continuum.
c. the interval between any two points on the scale is always equal.
ANS: B PTS: 1

77. Which of the following is likely to increase a scale's reliability?

a. Well-trained raters
b. Several raters making independent ratings
c. Clearly defined categories
d. Adequate time to observe individual(s)
e. All of these are true.
ANS: E PTS: 1

78. When considering the use of the norms accompanying a published test, the most important question
the researcher should ask is
a. are the norms based on a large and representative sample?
b. what population does the norm group represent?
c. what kinds of scores are used to report the norms?
d. how reliable are the norms?
ANS: B PTS: 1

79. The most important question a researcher should ask when evaluating a standardized achievement test
is:
a. how much does the test cost?
b. what skills and knowledge are measured by the test?
c. how reliable are the scores from the test?
d. what kinds of norms are reported for the test?
e. how much time does the test take to administer?
ANS: B PTS: 1

80. Consider two statements from a Likert attitude scale measuring attitudes toward medical use of
marijuana: (1) Marijuana should be legal for medical use; (2) Marijuana should not be legalized even
for medical use . A student marked "SA" to the first statement, and "SD" to the second statement.
What is this student's score based on these two statements?
a. 2 c. 8
b. 6 d. 10
ANS: D PTS: 1

81. To select the most discriminating items for a Likert-type attitude scale, one would administer the items
to a pilot group and then calculate the correlations between
a. item scores and total scores.
b. scores on the odd and even items.
c. scores on the positively stated and the negatively stated items.
d. scores on the scale and scores on criterion measuring the same attitudes.
ANS: A PTS: 1

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Exhibit 8-4: Select the type of problem likely to be made in the situations listed.

82. Refer to Exhibit 8-4. A researcher strongly opposed to inclusion must make frequency counts of
various interactions in a classroom with a number of disabled students.
a. Observer bias
b. Error of leniency
c. Error of central tendency
d. Halo effect
e. Contamination
ANS: A PTS: 1

83. Refer to Exhibit 8-4. A researcher who observes a student speaking rudely to her teacher rates that
student very low on a number of behavioral traits.
a. Observer bias
b. Error of leniency
c. Error of central tendency
d. Halo effect
e. Contamination
ANS: D PTS: 1

84. Refer to Exhibit 8-4. A researcher using a five-point rating scale to assess kindergartners' creativeness
in their drawing gives only ratings of 4 or 5.
a. Observer bias
b. Error of leniency
c. Error of central tendency
d. Halo effect
e. Contamination
ANS: B PTS: 1

85. For the items listed, select the one that best represents the order form abstract to concrete.
a. Construct, scale, operation definition, variable
b. Variable, construct, operational definition, scale
c. Construct, variable, operational definition, scale
d. Construct, variable, scale, operational definition
ANS: C PTS: 1

86. A researcher wants to reduce observer bias and rating errors in a systematic classroom observational
study. Which of the following would not be a recommended procedure?
a. Make the observational task as objective as possible.
b. Train the observers to a high level of reliability.
c. Give the observers as much information as possible about the research problem,
hypotheses, and subject characteristics.
d. Do not give the observers information about the research problem, hypotheses, and subject
characteristics.
ANS: C PTS: 1

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 87. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a group-administered standardized achievement test?
a. Uniform directions for administration are provided.
b. Scores can be interpreted by comparing them with group norms.
c. It must be administered by persons with specialized training.
d. Scores are relatively unaffected by administrators' biases.
e. Reliability and validity data are provided.
ANS: C PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

88. A researcher investigating a teacher's use of positive reinforcement in the classroom observed the
classroom in five-minute cycles and recorded the number of instances of positive reinforcement during
the cycle. The researcher was using
a. time coding.
b. sign coding.
c. a situational test.
d. contrived observation.
e. case sampling.
ANS: A PTS: 1

Exhibit 8-5: Indicate the type of test that would be most appropriate for the purposes listed.

89. Refer to Exhibit 8-5. Measures individuals' knowledge and/or mastery of chemistry.
a. Aptitude test c. Achievement test
b. Personality test d. Performance test
ANS: C PTS: 1

90. Refer to Exhibit 8-5. Predicts individuals' later performance on academic tasks.
a. Aptitude test c. Achievement test
b. Personality test d. Performance test
ANS: A PTS: 1

91. Refer to Exhibit 8-5. Used to measure students' ability to weigh chemicals and mix solutions correctly
a. Aptitude test c. Achievement test
b. Personality test d. Performance test
ANS: D PTS: 1

92. Refer to Exhibit 8-5. Measures individual differences in students' academic self-concept
a. Aptitude test c. Achievement test
b. Personality test d. Performance test
ANS: B PTS: 1

Exhibit 8-6. Indicate the type of instrument that would be used for the purposes listed.

93. Refer to Exhibit 8-6. To determine how teachers feel about a new attendance policy recently instituted
in their school.
a. Rating scale c. Attitude scale
b. Inventory d. Direct observation
ANS: C PTS: 1

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 94. Refer to Exhibit 8-6. To determine the extent to which elementary teachers used positive
reinforcement in the classroom.
a. Rating scale c. Attitude scale
b. Inventory d. Direct observation
ANS: D PTS: 1

95. Refer to Exhibit 8-6. To obtain teachers' assessment of the leadership ability of the senior class
officers.
a. Rating scale c. Attitude scale
b. Inventory d. Direct observation
ANS: A PTS: 1

96. Ursula is an excellent salesperson, but does not get along well with other employees. Her supervisor,
however, rates her highly on the dimension of "works well with others." The supervisor is most likely
guilty of a
a. halo effect. c. contrast effect.
b. generosity error. d. logical error.
ANS: A PTS: 1

97. The points on a rating scale will be least ambiguous when they are identified by
a. constant alternatives (never, seldom, often, etc.).
b. numbers.
c. descriptive phrases.
d. trait names.
ANS: C PTS: 1

98. Which one of the following statements would be most suitable for a Likert-type scale measuring
students' attitudes toward math?
a. Math is easy for some students and difficult for others.
b. Math is fun.
c. Math is one of the basic skills.
d. Some students like math.
ANS: B PTS: 1

99. The most distinctive characteristic of a situational test is its

a. lifelike atmosphere. c. assumption of prior training.
b. use of laboratory equipment. d. relatively ambiguous test items.
ANS: A PTS: 1

100. The main threat(s) to the validity of direct observation is (are)

a. observer effect.
b. observer bias.
c. instrumentation.
d. a and b
e. a and c
ANS: D PTS: 1

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101. Which of the following measurements is the best example of a performance test?
a. A student's performance on a classroom math test.
b. A student's portfolio in English class.
c. A student's performance on a standardized science test.
d. A student's take-home exam in history.
ANS: B PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

102. "Voter apathy in the last election was greater among white-collar workers than among blue-collar
workers." To differentiate the occupations of workers as "white-collar" and "blue-collar", a researcher
would most likely use a(n)
a. interest inventory. c. situational test.
b. rating scale. d. performance test.
ANS: B PTS: 1

103. A researcher found that the performance range of a test he wanted to use was restricted at the upper
end so that subjects could not show their maximum ability. This limitation is called the ____ effect.
a. projective c. baseline
b. floor d. ceiling
ANS: D PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

104. Consider the following data from a 40-item math skills test administered to three groups of elementary
school students.
Age Group Mean Score
3rd 32.1
4th 37.5
5th 39.3

Interpretation of these data for 5th graders may be limited by the test's
a. baseline effect. c. ceiling effect.
b. discrimination effect. d. floor effect.
ANS: C PTS: 1

105. A teacher wishes to compare the effectiveness of two reading instructional programs for third graders.
She carries out an experimental study in which one group receives one program and the second group
receives the other program. What kind of measurement tool would you recommend to measure the
outcome of this study?
a. Verbal aptitude test c. Reading achievement test
b. Reading readiness test d. Rating scale
ANS: C PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

106. A floor effect on a test occurs when the test

a. is too easy.
b. is too difficult.
c. is restricted at the high end of the score range.
d. has a negatively skewed score distribution.
ANS: B PTS: 1

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107. A teacher reports having a kindergarten child who is withdrawn and does not interact with other
students. What measurement tool would a researcher use to get a better grasp of the problem before
suggesting behavior modification therapy?
a. Attitude scale c. Personality inventory
b. Direct observation d. Semantic differential
ANS: B PTS: 1

108. A researcher wishes to conduct a general personality assessment of 50 high school students who may
be selected to participate in a special program. Low cost and ease of administration are important
considerations. Which of the following instruments would you recommend in this situation?
a. Inkblot technique c. Inventory
b. Cognitive abilities test d. Observation schedule
ANS: C PTS: 1

109. Procedures for recording data in direct observation studies include

a. checklists.
b. rating scales.
c. coding sheets.
d. a and b
e. a, b, and c
ANS: E PTS: 1

110. A researcher wants to measure students' attitudes toward having school uniforms. He used the
following format:

Interesting : : : : : : : Boring

Useless : : : : : : : Helpful

This procedure is called a(n)

a. check list. c. sign coding system.
b. bipolar adjective scale. d. inventory check.
ANS: B PTS: 1

111. One advantage of projective techniques over self-report inventories is that they are
a. less expensive. c. easier to score.
b. easier to administer. d. less subject to faking.
ANS: D PTS: 1

112. An observer using a sign coding system would categorize behavior according to
a. critical incidents.
b. individual occurrences of the behavior.
c. occurrences during a specified time period.
d. All of these are true.
ANS: B PTS: 1

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113. Situational tests in observational studies have the advantage of
a. increasing the probability that the behavior one wants to study will occur.
b. ease of obtaining comparable data.
c. ease of training observers.
d. All of these are true.
ANS: A PTS: 1

114. A researcher found significantly different mean scores on an attitude scale for two groups known to be
on different sides of the gun control issue. The researcher reported that this finding was evidence of
the scale's
a. validity. c. objectivity.
b. reliability. d. divergent index.
ANS: A PTS: 1 OBJ: WWW

Choose the type of instrument that corresponds with the major concern about its use.

115. Refer to Exhibit 8-7. Do I have the skill to administer and interpret the instrument?
a. achievement test c. rating scale
b. projective personality test d. aptitude test
ANS: B PTS: 1

116. Refer to Exhibit 8-7. Does the content of the instrument correspond to the content covered in the
schools that will use it?
a. achievement test c. rating scale
b. projective personality test d. aptitude test
ANS: A PTS: 1

117. Refer to Exhibit 8-7. When two different people use this instrument in a particular setting, will the
results agree?
a. achievement test c. rating scale
b. projective personality test d. aptitude test
ANS: C PTS: 1

118. Which one of the following items would NOT be suitable for a Likert type scale measuring attitudes
toward church?
a. Church services are comforting and inspiring.
b. The church contributes to the quality of one's life.
c. Church membership has been declining in recent years.
d. The church is irrelevant in modern society.
ANS: C PTS: 1

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 119. One of the best ways for an observer to record the occurrence of specific behaviors as they happen is
to use a
a. rating scale.
b. duration recording scale.
c. sign coding system.
d. incident coding system.
e. time coding system.
ANS: C PTS: 1

Exhibit 8-8: Choose the appropriate type of measuring instrument for the given purpose.

120. Refer to Exhibit 8-8. To select students for admission to law school
a. achievement test
b. aptitude test
c. rating scale
d. attitude scale
e. inventory
ANS: B PTS: 1

121. Refer to Exhibit 8-8. To determine how a group of college students feel about environmental issues.
a. achievement test
b. aptitude test
c. rating scale
d. attitude scale
e. inventory
ANS: D PTS: 1

122. Refer to Exhibit 8-8. To determine how college students evaluate their professors' instructional skills.
a. achievement test
b. aptitude test
c. rating scale
d. attitude scale
e. inventory
ANS: C PTS: 1

123. Refer to Exhibit 8-8. To identify the major problems that high school students report they are facing
today.
a. achievement test
b. aptitude test
c. rating scale
d. attitude scale
e. inventory
ANS: E PTS: 1

124. The ratings that three teachers made of the leadership ability of a particular high school senior agreed
closely. This agreement among raters is referred to as inter-rater
a. validity. c. objectivity.
b. reliability. d. convergence.
ANS: B PTS: 1

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SHORT ANSWER

1. Based on the type of interpretation to be made, achievement tests are classified as __________ and
_____________.

ANS:
norm-referenced, criterion-referenced

2. What is ceiling effect and why is it important in tests used for research?

ANS:
It is a restriction in range at the upper end of a score distribution that prevents individuals from
performing to their maximum ability. It is important to consider in research because the effect of a
treatment could be underestimated simply because the test does not measure achievement accurately at
the upper end of the range.

3. Distinguish achievement and aptitude tests.

ANS:
Achievement tests measure skills and knowledge in specific areas. They are used to measure learning
that has occurred. Aptitude tests measure general abilities such as reasoning, perceiving relationships,
analogies, etc. They are used to predict success, especially school success.

4. Define inventory as a personality measure.

ANS:
It is an objective tool in which individuals are presented with a collection of statements describing
behavior patterns and are asked to indicate whether or not each statement is characteristic of his/her
behavior.

5. Write an item suitable for a Likert scale measuring community attitudes toward full-day kindergarten
and indicate how the responses would be scored.

ANS:
Children benefit greatly from full-day kindergarten. SA (strongly agree) to this statement would be
scored a 5; A= 4, U=3, D=2, SD=1

6. List three types of rating scales used in research.

ANS:
Graphic, category, and comparative

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 7. Define interrater reliability.

ANS:
An index which shows the correlation between the ratings of two separate raters. The larger the size of
the correlation the greater the agreement between the raters and the greater the reliability of the ratings.

8. Name three types of errors associated with the use of rating scales.

ANS:
Halo effect, generosity error and the error of central tendency

9. Distinguish between sign coding and time coding as used in observational studies.

ANS:
Responses will vary.

ESSAY

1. Distinguish between norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests. For what purpose is each most
appropriate in educational research.

ANS: Responses will vary.

2. List the strengths and weaknesses of personality measures used in educational research.

ANS: Responses will vary.

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Test Bank for Introduction to Research in Education, 9th Edition

3. ANS:
In sign coding, behavior is categorized according to individual occurrences of specific behaviors; in
time coding, behavior is categorized according to the number of occurrences during a specified time
period.

10. Distinguish between observer bias and observer effect in observational research. How do we deal with
these problems?

ANS:
Observer bias occurs when the observer's own perceptions, beliefs and attitudes influence the way he
or she observes and interprets the observed behavior. Having more than one observer make
independent observations will help detect this bias. Observer effect occurs when people being
observed behave differently because they know they are being observed. The observer should be
inconspicuous or use a one-way vision screen.

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