PSYC 354 HOMEWORK 1

PSYC 354 HOMEWORK 1 (65 POINTS)
Introduction to Statistics
When submitting this file, be sure the filename includes your full name, course and section.
Example: HW1_JohnDoe_354B01
Be sure you have reviewed this module/week’s lesson and presentations before proceeding to the
homework exercises. Fill in the blanks within this homework document. Review the “Homework
Instructions: General” document for an example of how homework assignments must look. All Questions Part I: Concepts These questions are based on the Nolan and Heinzen text as well
as any presentations in the course content during the current
module.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate word or words.
1. A variable that has categorical values, such as “political party” or “shape,” is a ________
variable.
2. A health psychologist gathers data from 50 people on the number of miles run in one
week. This variable (number of miles run) is at the ________ level of measurement.
3. A farmer divides his sheep into 3 different groups: small, medium, and large. The
resulting variable “animal size” is a variable at the ________ level of measurement.
4. A scale-level variable typically includes which two other levels of measurement?
_______
and
_
5. A(n) ________ is a set of observations drawn from a larger group of interest.
6. A statistic that uses sample data to make general estimates about the larger population is
a(n) ________ statistic.
7. A(n) ________ statistic is one which summarizes a group of numbers.
8. The ____________ includes all possible observations about which a researcher would
like to know something.
9. An observation that can take on a full range of values, with an infinite number of
potential values, is a ______ observation.
10. An association between two or more variables is known as a ________. Page 1 of 4 PSYC 354 11. A(n) ________ variable makes it impossible to determine whether the independent
variable is the cause of changes in the dependent variable.
12. A clinical psychologist develops a questionnaire to measure generalized anxiety in
adolescents. However, after using the measure for 2 months and comparing it to other
metrics, she realizes that the questionnaire is not in fact a good measure of anxiety. In this
case, the questionnaire is not a ________ measure because it does not measure what it
was intended to measure.
13. A patient with Traumatic Brain Injury takes the same neuropsychological test 4 times and
receives the same results each time. The test is an example of a ___________ measure
because it produces consistent results.
14. Volunteers in an exercise study are divided into three groups (levels): running,
swimming, and biking. Each participant only experiences the level to which they are
assigned. This is an example of a(n) ________-groups design.
15. In another exercise study, participants experience all three exercise conditions over time.
This is an example of a(n) ________-groups design.
16. Briefly a) explain what a “level” is in relation to an independent variable, and b) give an
example of an independent variable and its levels:
________
___
Answer the following questions pertaining to research scenarios: Question 17a-17c
A school psychologist wants to study the effect of different types of counseling on retention rates
for at-risk students. She divides a sample of at-risk students into 2 groups, one that receives
individual counseling and one that receives group counseling. 17-a) What would the dependent variable be in this study?
Answer
17-b) What would the independent variable be in this study?
Answer
17-c) How many levels would the independent variable have? Page 2 of 4 PSYC 354 Answer Question 18 (a-d)
An economist reported the results of a study in which 30 local recent college graduates were
surveyed. One of the questions asked for the starting annual income of their first job. The jobs
were generally in the human services and technology sectors. The median annual salary of the
graduates was $46,721.15. Identify each of the following for this hypothetical study.
Answer
18-a) Sample
18-b) Population Answer 18-c) Dependent
variable Answer 18-d) Descriptive
statistic Answer Questions 19-22
Answer these general SPSS questions using the presentation and SPSS text as your source.
19) In the SPSS data
editor, which “view”
screen allows you to
name and edit variables? Answer 20) Which window
displays the results of
your analysis in SPSS? Answer 21) In the Data View,
each ___ represents one
participant’s
information. Answer 22) In the Data View,
each ____ represents a
variable. Answer Page 3 of 4 PSYC 354 Question 23a-23b
Suppose you have a data set in which the variable “Gender” is coded in the file as numbers (1
and 2). However, you want the words “male” and “female” to show up in the output when you
run your test. This week’s SPSS tutorial presentation is especially helpful for this question.
23a) If you want to define the level of measurement for the variable “Gender,” which column
within Variable View allows you to do this?
Answer
23b) Based on what you have learned so far, which level of measurement would be the correct
choice for the variable “Gender” ?
Answer
Submit Homework 1 by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 1. Remember to name file
appropriately. Done! Page 4 of 4