STA630 Final Term Paper

STA630 Final Term Paper

Question No: 1 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

An experiment has high _____ if one has confidence that the experimental treatment has been the source of change in the dependent variable.

Internal validity

External validity

 Internal and external validity

 Internal and external reliability

 Ref: We judge various types of experimental research designs by how well they meet the tests of internal and external validity. An experiment has high internal validity if one has confidence that the experimental treatment has been the source of change in the dependent variable.

Question No: 2 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

_________ is the arbitrary and subjective.

Probability sampling

 Non- Probability sampling

 Cluster sampling

 All of the given options

 Ref In non-probability sampling, the sample is selected in such a way that the chance of being selected of each unit within the population or universe is unknown. Indeed, the selection of the subjects is arbitrary or subjective, since the researcher relies on his/her experience and judgment. As a result, there are no statistical techniques that allow for the measurement of sampling error, and therefore it is not appropriate to project the sample characteristics to the population.

Question No: 3 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Which of the following is NOT included in the stages of interviewing?

Asking questions

 Recording the responses

 Probing

Coding the data

Stages of an Interview:

1.    Making Initial Contact and Securing the Interview

2.    Asking the Questions

3.    Probing

4.    Recording the Responses.

Question No: 4 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Critical decision areas in questionnaire construction are____________

Question content

 Question wording

 Response strategy

 All of the given options 

 Ref: Good questionnaire construction is critical to the success of a survey. Inappropriate questions, incorrect ordering of questions, incorrect scaling, or bad questionnaire format can make the survey valueless.  The meaning should be clear. Ambiguous words, equivocal sentence structures and negatives may cause misunderstanding, possibly invalidating questionnaire results. Double negatives should be reworded as positives.

Question No: 5 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

__________ is based on the concept of random sampling.

Non- probability sampling

 Probability sampling

 Random sampling

 Multiple sampling

Lesson 27

 In probability sampling every element in the population has a known nonzero probability of selection. The simple random is the best known probability sample, in which each member of the population has an equal probability of being selected.

Question No: 6 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

A sampling design in which the elements in the population do NOT have a known or predetermined chance of being selected as sample subject is:

Convenience sampling

 Stratified sampling

 Non-Probability sampling

 Probability sampling

Lesson 27

In non-probability sampling the probability of any particular element of the population being chosen is unknown.

 

Question No: 7 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

_________ is the population for which results are required.

Finite population

 Infinite population

 Target population

 None of the given options

Target population: The population about which information is desired. The population that is actually surveyed is the study population.

Question No: 8 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Which of the following technique yields a simple random sample?

Choosing volunteers from an introductory psychology class to participate

 Listing the individuals by ethnic group and choosing a proportion from within each ethnic group at random

 Numbering all the elements of a sampling frame and then using a random

number table to pick cases from the table

 Randomly selecting schools, and then sampling everyone within the school

Question No: 9 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Which of the following designs permits a comparison of pretest scores to determine the initial equivalence of groups on the pretest before the treatment variable is introduced into the research setting.

(a) One-group pretest-posttest design

 (b) Pretest-posttest control group design

 (c) Posttest-only design with nonequivalent groups

 (d) Both b and c

 Pretest and Posttest Experimental and Control Group Design: Two groups, one control group and the other experimental group, are formed randomly. Both the groups are exposed to pretest and posttest. The experimental group is exposed to treatment while the control group is not. Measuring the difference between the differences in the post- and pretests of the two groups would give the net effects of the treatment.

Question No: 10 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Where do you provide a step-by-step account of what the researcher and participants did during the research study?

Introduction

Abstract

 Procedure

 Design

 Procedure: Fixed, step-by-step sequence of activities or course of action (with definite start and end points) that must be followed in the same order to correctly perform a task. Repetitive procedures are called routines. See also method.

 Question No: 11 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Which of the following has high response rate?

Mail interviewing

 Telephone interviewing

 Personal interviewing

 None of the given options

Question No: 12 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Observation studies are also known as ________ research.

Experimental

Field

 Quantitative

 None of the given options

 Lesson 38

OBSERVATION STUDIES/FIELD RESEARCH

Question No: 13 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Open-ended questions provide primarily ______ data.

Unprocessed data

 Qualitative data

 All of the given options

 None of the given options

 Ref: Open-ended: This type of question allows participants to respond in any way they choose. Open-ended questions provide primarily qualitative data, and are frequently used in exploratory research.

Question No: 14 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Which one of the following is NOT a major method of data collection:

Questionnaires

 Interviews

 Focus groups

 All of the given options are methods of data collection

Question No: 15 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Which of the following statement is incorrect?

 In non participant observation the observer is just an observer.

 In participant observation, the data accuracy is high.

 Participant observation is also referred to as field research.

 None of the given options

 Ref: Participant observation is a method in which the observer or researcher participates in the process being observed. For example he/she can be customer, a worker, or a trainee. In non participant observation the observer is just an observer. In participant observation the researcher directly observes and participates in small scale social settings in the present time. Such a study is also referred to as field research, ethnography, or anthropological study.

Question No: 16 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

If the subjects are given a pretest it will not affect their performance in the posttest.

True

 False

Question No: 17 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

In non- reactive research the subjects do not have knowledge that they are being studied.

True

 False

In non-reactive research, those being studied are not aware that they are part of a research project. 

Question No: 18 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

In experimental group the subjects do not under go any treatment; however in control group the subjects are given the treatment.

True

 False

The experimental group is the group that receives the treatment or in which the treatment is present. The group that does not receive the treatment is called the “control group.” 

Question No: 19 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

When multiple questions are asked in one question, it leads to ambiguous answers provided by the respondents.

True

 False

Avoid Double-Barreled Questions: Make each question about one and only one. A double barreled question consists of two or more questions joined together. It makes the respondent’s answer ambiguous. 

Question No: 20 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

An advantage of communication analysis is that it provides access to the inaccessible subjects.

True

 False

 Question No: 21 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one

Pretest is the phase when the __ dependent _____variable is measured prior to the introduction of treatment.

 The pretest is the measurement of the dependent variable prior to the introduction of the treatment.

Question No: 22 ( Marks: 1 )

If the percentages are calculated column wise in a table, then we will make comparison between the variables in a____frequency____.

Question No: 23 ( Marks: 1 )

In order to make two identical groups for experiment, the procedures to be undertaken are randomization and ____matching_____.

Question No: 24 ( Marks: 1 )

The main advantage of ____mail ____questionnaire is that a wide geographical area can be covered in the survey.

 Geographic Flexibility: Mail questionnaires can reach a geographically dispersed sample simultaneously and at a relatively low cost because interviewers are not required.

Question No: 25 ( Marks: 1 )

A type of bias in questions occurs when they are phrased in an emotionally charged manner, they are described as _____Loaded_____questions.

Avoid Loaded Questions: Loaded questions suggest a socially desirable answer or are emotionally charged. 

Question No: 26 ( Marks: 5 )

Make one hypothesis for each of the following types of hypotheses. (1 mark each)

i. If-then hypothesis

ii. Directional hypothesis

iii. Non directional hypothesis

iv. Null hypothesis

v. Alternative hypothesis

Answer:

i-  If-then hypothesis:

If  there is increase in cost there is  decrease in   profit.

ii. Directional hypothesis:

Increase in absentieesm causes a decrease in productivity level of employees.

iii. Non directional hypothesis:

Productivity level of employees is associated with rate of  absenteeism.

iv. Null hypothesis:

There is no association between level of productivity and  absenteeism.

v. Alternative hypothesis :

There is a relationship between level of  job commitment of officers and their level of efficiency.

Question No: 27 ( Marks: 5 )

Which is the most powerful scale among Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio scale, and why?

Answer:

The highest level of measurement is a ratio scale. This has the properties of an interval scale together with a fixed origin or zero point. Examples of variables which are ratio scaled include weights, lengths and times. Ratio scales permit the researcher to compare both differences in scores and the relative magnitude of scores. For instance the difference between 5 and 10 minutes is the same as that between 10 and 15 minutes, and 10 minutes is twice as long as 5 minutes. Suffice it to say that virtually all statistical operations can be performed on ratio scales.

Question No: 28 ( Marks: 5 )

A manager finds that off-the-job classroom training has a great impact on the productivity of the employees in her department. However, she also observes that employees over 60 years of age do not seem to derive much benefit and do not improve with such training.

i. Identify the independent, dependent and moderating variables in the given scenario. (3)

Answer:

Inependent Variable: Off-the-job classroom training

Dependent Variable: Employees performance

Moedrating Variable: Employees age over 60 years

ii. How the moderating variable you identified in part (i) is affecting the independent-dependent variable relationship in the scenario? (2)

Answer:

The moderating variable is one that has a strong contingent effect on the independent variable and dependent variable relationship. That is the presence of a third variable modifies the original relationship between the independent and the dependent variable

In the scenario above employees age over 60 years is acting as moderating variable because it is the variable which affects the relationship of employees performance (dependent variable) and off-the-job classroom training (independent variable).which was positive in above case but age over 60 years reduces the positivity .

Question No: 29 ( Marks: 5 )

The accounts executive has established a new accounting system that utilizes maximum computer technology. Before making further changes, he would like to get a feel for how the accounting clerks react to the new system by acting as if he has no doubts about their acceptability of the new system. He may then casually talk to the first five accounting personnel that walk into his office, trying to gauge their reactions.

i.                     Describe the type of sampling the director should use in the given scenario, probability or non probability? (1)

Answer:

Director should use probability sampling as probability sampling is the technique in which some known elements of population participated in order to provide useful descriptions.

ii.                   What type of sampling technique is being used and why? Explain. (2)

Answer:

Director should use probability sampling as probability sampling is the technique in which some known elements of population participated in order to provide useful descriptions.

iii.                  Give two characteristics of the type of sampling technique that you selected in part (ii).

Answer:

Two characteristics of probability sampling:

1-      Random sampling lets a researcher statistically calculate the relationship between the sample and the population – that is the size of sampling error

2-      All possible samples have a known and specified probability of being drawn.

Question No: 30 ( Marks: 5 )

You are doing research on “how to increase the efficiency level of labor”. For the research purpose you have conducted an interview with the supervisor.

Give two structured and two unstructured questions that you may ask related to your research. (2.5+2.5)

Question No: 31 ( Marks: 10 )

What is meant by validity and reliability? Describe the situations in which validity and reliability problems occur.