Understanding Research Results

Directions:
Select the BEST response alternative for each of the questions below.

1. Dr. Dataman collected data on the relationship between class attendance and final course grades. To determine if the results he obtained from his sample represented the population, Dr. Dataman employed ________ statistics.

A) qualitative

B) descriptive

C) inferential

D) ordinal

2. The ________ hypothesis takes the position that the independent variable has no effect.

A) null

B) research

C) primary

D) alternative

3. The hypothesis from the previous question suggests that any observed differences between means in a study should be due to:

A) the manipulation(s).

B) systematic variance.

C) the independent variable(s).

D) random error.

4. If Dr. Dataman proposed that there is a difference in final grades of male vs. female psychology majors, such a proposal would represent ________ hypothesis. If Dr. Dataman proposed that there was no difference in final grades of male vs. female psychology majors, this proposal would represent ________ hypothesis.

A) a null; an alternative

B) a research; a null

C) an inferential; a descriptive

D) a descriptive; an inferential

5. Dr. Dataman was interested in the opinions about student technology use in the classroom (e.g., laptops, cellphones, etc.) and how it might differ between freshmen and seniors. Dr. Dataman predicted that freshmen would have different opinions about technology use than seniors. What would be a good null hypothesis in this study?

A) Freshmen will have more positive opinions about technology use than seniors.

B) Seniors will have more positive opinions about technology use than freshmen.

C) There will be no differences in opinions about technology use between freshmen and seniors.

D) There will be a big difference in opinions about technology use between freshmen and seniors.

6. According to his statistical analysis, Dr. Dataman found a significant difference in average grades between psychology and non-psychology majors. Psychology majors averaged 18 percent higher grades than non-psychology majors. Dr. Dataman should:

A) accept the null hypothesis.

B) reject the null hypothesis.

C) reject the research hypothesis.

D) Both (a) and (c).

7. When researchers identify statistically significant results, it means that the obtained results are:

A) very important.

B) mostly meaningless.

C) probably due to chance differences among the groups.

D) most likely due to true differences among the groups.

8. Before collecting data in a study, researchers should set the probability level they require for an outcome to be considered statistically significant. This is called the:

A) null hypothesis.

B) research hypothesis.

C) statistical test criterion.

D) alpha level.

9. Researchers would recommend using a one-tailed statistical test when:

A) ratio scale data are collected.

B) interval scale data are collected.

C) the researcher predicts a specific direction to the differences between groups.

D) All of the above.

10. When using ANOVA, the larger your F ratio, the more likely your results are:

A) statistically significant.

B) statistically non-significant.

C) uninterpretable.

D) confounded.

11. A homeopathic practitioner claims that people who use his purple crystal juices are cured of their terminal cancers better than individuals who do not drink his purple crystal juices. The truth, however, is that there is no difference in survivorship between the groups. In this case, the homeopathic practitioner's claim represents a ________ error.

A) Type I

B) Type II

C) Type III

D) Type IV

12. A Type II error occurs when one ________ the null hypothesis when the null hypothesis is actually ________.

A) rejects; false

B) rejects; true

C) accepts; true

D) accepts; false

13. Which significance level below would best minimize the likelihood of committing a Type I error?

A) .001

B) .010

C) .050

D) .500

14. Negative (not statistically significant) results are problematic because they:

A) are less important.

B) are difficult to interpret.

C) disprove the theory one was trying to prove.

D) suggest that the researcher does not possess the skills needed to find significance.

E) All of the above.

15. Which test should you use if you have two groups and you collect nominal data from them?

A) t-test

B) Pearson correlation

C) Chi-square test

D) Analysis of variance

End of Quiz!

Your score out of 100%: %

The correct answers are marked by a "C" in the box before each question. The incorrect questions are marked by an "X".

1.	Dr. Dataman collected data on the relationship between class attendance and final course grades. To determine if the results he obtained from his sample represented the population, Dr. Dataman employed ________ statistics.
	A)	qualitative
	B)	descriptive
	C)	inferential
	D)	ordinal
2.	The ________ hypothesis takes the position that the independent variable has no effect.
	A)	null
	B)	research
	C)	primary
	D)	alternative
3.	The hypothesis from the previous question suggests that any observed differences between means in a study should be due to:
	A)	the manipulation(s).
	B)	systematic variance.
	C)	the independent variable(s).
	D)	random error.
4.	If Dr. Dataman proposed that there is a difference in final grades of male vs. female psychology majors, such a proposal would represent ________ hypothesis. If Dr. Dataman proposed that there was no difference in final grades of male vs. female psychology majors, this proposal would represent ________ hypothesis.
	A)	a null; an alternative
	B)	a research; a null
	C)	an inferential; a descriptive
	D)	a descriptive; an inferential
5.	Dr. Dataman was interested in the opinions about student technology use in the classroom (e.g., laptops, cellphones, etc.) and how it might differ between freshmen and seniors. Dr. Dataman predicted that freshmen would have different opinions about technology use than seniors. What would be a good null hypothesis in this study?
	A)	Freshmen will have more positive opinions about technology use than seniors.
	B)	Seniors will have more positive opinions about technology use than freshmen.
	C)	There will be no differences in opinions about technology use between freshmen and seniors.
	D)	There will be a big difference in opinions about technology use between freshmen and seniors.
6.	According to his statistical analysis, Dr. Dataman found a significant difference in average grades between psychology and non-psychology majors. Psychology majors averaged 18 percent higher grades than non-psychology majors. Dr. Dataman should:
	A)	accept the null hypothesis.
	B)	reject the null hypothesis.
	C)	reject the research hypothesis.
	D)	Both (a) and (c).
7.	When researchers identify statistically significant results, it means that the obtained results are:
	A)	very important.
	B)	mostly meaningless.
	C)	probably due to chance differences among the groups.
	D)	most likely due to true differences among the groups.
8.	Before collecting data in a study, researchers should set the probability level they require for an outcome to be considered statistically significant. This is called the:
	A)	null hypothesis.
	B)	research hypothesis.
	C)	statistical test criterion.
	D)	alpha level.
9.	Researchers would recommend using a one-tailed statistical test when:
	A)	ratio scale data are collected.
	B)	interval scale data are collected.
	C)	the researcher predicts a specific direction to the differences between groups.
	D)	All of the above.
10.	When using ANOVA, the larger your F ratio, the more likely your results are:
	A)	statistically significant.
	B)	statistically non-significant.
	C)	uninterpretable.
	D)	confounded.
11.	A homeopathic practitioner claims that people who use his purple crystal juices are cured of their terminal cancers better than individuals who do not drink his purple crystal juices. The truth, however, is that there is no difference in survivorship between the groups. In this case, the homeopathic practitioner's claim represents a ________ error.
	A)	Type I
	B)	Type II
	C)	Type III
	D)	Type IV
12.	A Type II error occurs when one ________ the null hypothesis when the null hypothesis is actually ________.
	A)	rejects; false
	B)	rejects; true
	C)	accepts; true
	D)	accepts; false
13.	Which significance level below would best minimize the likelihood of committing a Type I error?
	A)	.001
	B)	.010
	C)	.050
	D)	.500
14.	Negative (not statistically significant) results are problematic because they:
	A)	are less important.
	B)	are difficult to interpret.
	C)	disprove the theory one was trying to prove.
	D)	suggest that the researcher does not possess the skills needed to find significance.
	E)	All of the above.
15.	Which test should you use if you have two groups and you collect nominal data from them?
	A)	t-test
	B)	Pearson correlation
	C)	Chi-square test
	D)	Analysis of variance