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Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society Second Edition Test Bank

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition , Test Bank Test Bank Chapter 1 : The What and Why of Statistics 1. An organized and elaborate conceptual scheme that serves to explain how social attributes and events are patterned or related is called a a. law. *b. theory. c. hypothesis. d. variable. Answer location: (The Role of Theory) p. 5 Question Type: MC 2. Procedures that help organize or describe data collected from a sample or a population are called *a. descriptive statistics. b. analytical variables. c. inferential statistics. d. dependent variables. Answer location: (Descriptive and Inferential Statistics) p. 17 - 18 Question Type: MC 3. The levels of social life on which social scientists focus are called a. measures of tendency. b. dependent variables. c. independent variables. *d. units of analysis. (Formulating the Hypothesis) p. 7 Answer location: Question Type: MC 4. Researchers use the term __________ to refer to information that is obtained and verified by direct experience. a. variable b. unit of analysis *c. empirical data d. theory Answer location: (Asking Research Question) p. 3 Question Type: MC 5. A(n) __________ is a tentative prediction about how empirical events or attributes will be related or patterned. a. theory b. estimate c. law *d. hypothesis Answer location: (Formulating the Hypothesis) p. 5 Question Type: MC 6. The total set of cases, objects, groups, or events in which the researcher is interested is called the *a. population. b. sample. c. entity. d. variable. Answer location: (Descriptive and Inferential Statistics) p. 17

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition , Test Bank Question Type: MC 7. A subset of cases selected from the total set of cases is referred to as the a. population. *b. sample. c. entity. d. variable. Answer location: (Descriptive and Inferential Statistics) p. 17 Question Type: MC 8. A(n) __________ is a property of people or objects that can take two or more values. a. unit of analysis *b. variable c. level of measurement d. theory Answer location: (Formulating the Hypothesis) p. 6 Question Type: MC 9. Variables must include categories that are __________ and __________. a. nominal; ordinal b. common; empirically rational c. actual; theoretical *d. exhaustive; mutually exclusive Answer location: (Formulating the Hypothesis) p. 6 Question Type: MC 10. The first step in most research involves a. collecting data. *b. selecting an interesting question. c. calculating statistics. d. choosing a theoretical framework. Answer location: (Asking Research Questions) p. 3 Question Type: MC 11. Which of the following terms is considered a level of measurement? *a. Ordinal b. GSS c. Mode d. SPSS Answer location: (Levels of Measurement) p. 11 Question Type: MC 12. Religion is a __________ and __________ variable. a. dichotomous; quantitative b. statistical; quantitative *c. nominal; qualitative d. dependent; qualitative Answer location: (Nominal Level of Measurement) p. 11 Question Type: MC 13. The term __________ variable refers to the variable that the researcher is trying to explain or predict. a. input

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition , Test Bank b. independent *c. dependent d. dichotomous Answer location: (Independent and Dependent Variables: Causality) p. 9 Question Type: MC 14. A research study examining gender composition in the work place is likely using __________ as the unit of analysis. a. gender b. male or female c. employment status *d. the organization Answer location: (Formulating the Hypothesis) p.7 Question Type: MC 15. Which of the following variables is an example of an interval - ratio level of measurement? a. Social class b. Gender c. Political party *d. Income Answer location: (Interval - Ratio Level of Measurement) p. 12 Question Type: MC 16. Which of the following statements illustrates the cumulative property of levels of measurement? a. Nominal level variables can be measured at interval - ratio levels. *b. Interval - ratio level variables can be measured at ordinal levels. c. Ordinal level variables can be measured at interval - ratio levels. d. Nominal level variables can be measured at ordinal levels. Answer location: (Cumulative Property of Levels of Measurement) p. 12 Question Type: MC 17. Which of the following factors is a dichotomous variable? a. Length *b. Marital status c. Income d. SAT score Answer location: (Levels of Measurement of Dichotomous Variables) p. 13 Question Type: MC 18. Why is a dichotomous variable so powerful? *a. It can be measured at three levels b. It can't be ordered c. It has several intervals d. It has myriad values Answer location: ( Levels of Measurement of Dichotomous Variables ) p. 14 Question Type: MC 19. The number of children per family is an example of a __________ variable. a. continuous b. selective *c. discrete d. dichotomous Answer location: (Discrete and Continuous Variables) p. 15

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition , Test Bank Question Type: MC 20. The extent to which measures indicate what they are intended to measure is referred to as a. reliability. b. statistical analysis. *c. validity. d. standard error. Answer location: (A Cautionary Note: Measurement Error) p. 16 Question Type: MC 21. Identify the independent variable, the dependent variable, and the unit of analysis in the following hypothesis: Interstate migration in the United States lowers state poverty levels. Correct Answer: Independent variable = interstate migration; dependent variable = state poverty level; unit of analysis = U.S. states Answer location: (Formulating the Hypothesis) p. 7 and (Independent and Dependent Variables: Causality) p. 9 22. Identify the independent variable, the dependent variable, and the unit of analysis in the following hypothesis: Documented immigrants in the United States are less likely than undocumented immigrants to use social welfare programs. Correct Answer: Independent variable = migration type (legal/illegal); dependent variable = use of social services; unit of analysis = individuals Answer location: Formulating the Hypothesis) p. 7 and (Independent and Dependent Variables: Causality) p. 9 23. Identify the independent variable, the dependent variable, and the unit of analysis in the following hypothesis: On average, the annual household income of female headed households is about 25 percent less than the annual household income of married couple households. Correct Answer: Independent variable = household type; dependent variable = annual income; unit of analysis = households Answer location: Formulating the Hypothesis) p. 7 and (Independent and Dependent Variables: Causality) p. 9 24. Identify the independent variable, the dependent variable, and the unit of analysis in the following hypothesis: Geographically contiguous countries should experience higher rates of migration than non - contiguous countries. Correct Answer: Independent variable = geographic contiguity; dependent variable = migration rates; units of analysis = countries Answer location: Formulating the Hypothesis) p. 7 and (Independent and Dependent Variables: Causality) p. 9

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition , Test Bank 25. Identify the independent variable, the dependent variable, and the unit of analysis in the following hypothesis: In the United States, fewer blacks than whites own their home as opposed to rent their home. Correct Answer: Independent variable = race; dependent variable = tenancy; unit of analysis = individuals Answer location: ( Formulating the Hypothesis) p. 7 and (Independent and Dependent Variables: Causality) p. 9 26. According to the following table, what is the variable of interest? Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval - ratio? Person Highest Grade of School Completed Person 1 12 Person 2 14 Person 3 14 Person 4 10 Person 5 14 Person 6 16 Person 7 15 Person 8 12 Person 9 16 Person 10 14 Correct Answer(s): education; interval - ratio level Answer location: (Interval - Ratio Level of Measurement) p. 12 27. Imagine you were interested in constructing a measure of education where education was measured in terms of high, medium, and low. Based on the below information, which level of measurement would you use? Person Highest Grade of School Completed Person 1 12 Person 2 14 Person 3 14 Person 4 10 Person 5 14 Person 6 16 Person 7 15 Person 8 12 Person 9 16 Person 10 14 Correct Answer(s): Ordinal Answer location: (Ordinal Level of Measurement) p. 11 28. Imagine that you were interested in whether or not individuals had a high school education. Based on the below information, which level of measurement would you use? Person Highest Grade of School Completed Person 1 12 Person 2 14 Person 3 14 Person 4 10

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition , Test Bank Person 5 14 Person 6 16 Person 7 15 Person 8 12 Person 9 16 Person 10 14 Correct Answer(s): Nominal Answer location: (Nominal Level of Measurement) p. 11 29. Identify the level of measurement for the following variables from 2010 General Social Survey data: sex, race, highest educational degree earned, hours worked per week, and age at first marriage. Correct Answer: Sex = nominal; Race = nominal; highest educational degree = ordinal; hours worked per week =interval - ratio; age at first marriage = interval - ratio. Answer location: (Levels of Measurement) p. 10 - 12 30. The categories used in the 2010 General Social Survey for the variable highest educational degree include the following: less than high school, high school, junior college, college, graduate school. Identify the level of measurement for this variable. Correct Answer(s): Ordinal Answer location: (Ordinal Level of Measurement) p. 11 31. Imagine you are a researcher who is interested in knowing whether or not a person was married in their twenties. What would be the level of measurement for this variable? Correct Answer(s): Nominal Answer location: (Nominal Level of Measurement) p. 11 32. Suppose that a researcher is interested in knowing whether there is a difference in the age at first marriage between women and men. The researcher hypothesizes that women tend to marry earlier than men. Which variable would be the independent variable? Correct Answer(s): Gender Answer location: (Independent and Dependent Variables: Guidelines) p. 9 33. Suppose that a researcher is interested in studying the work habits of young adults. The researcher hypothesizes that persons first married in their twenties tend to work an average of 5 hours more per week than persons not first married in their twenties. What are the independent and dependent variables? Correct Answer: Independent variable = age at first marriage; dependent variable = hours worked per week Answer location: (Independent and Dependent Variables: Guidelines) p. 9

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition , Test Bank 34. Imagine that you are interested in studying the working habits of young adults. You hypothesize that persons first married in their twenties tend to work an average of 5 hours more per week than persons not first married in their twenties. You find a link between age at first marriage and hours worked per week. What three conditions must be satisfied in order for you to have established a causal connection? Correct Answer: The cause has to precede the effect in time, there has to be an empirical relationship between the cause and the effect, and this relationship cannot be explained by other factors Answer location: (Independent and Dependent Variables: Causality) p. 9 35. Provide an example of a research question. Identify the hypothesis, independent, and dependent variables for this question. Correct Answer: Answers will vary but must be able to be tested and verified empirically. Variables must be able to take on two or more values. Answer location: (Formulating the Hypothesis) p. 5 - 9

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition, Test Bank Test Bank Chapter 2: The Organization and Graphic Presentation of Data 1. The sum of all proportions in a frequency distribution should sum to a. 0. *b. 1. c. 100. d. N. Answer location: (Proportions and Percentages) p. 26 Question Type: MC 2. Frequency distributions for __________ variables are often difficult to read. a. nominal b. ordinal *c. interval - ratio d. dichotomous Answer location: (Frequency Distributions for Interval - Ratio Variables) p. 36 Question Type: MC 3. When constructing a rate, the denominator refers to the a. number of events or occurrences. *b. number of persons at risk of experiencing an event or occurrence. c. ratio of events or occurrences to the number of persons at risk of experiencing the event or occurrence. d. product of the events or occurrences and the number of persons at risk of experiencing the event or occurrence. Answer location: (Rates) p. 41 Question Type: MC 4. In a sample of 250 respondents, females account for three - fifths of all observations in the sample. What is the total number of males in the sample? *a. 100 b. 150 c. 2/5 d. 3/5 Answer location: (Proportions and Percentages) p. 25 Question Type: MC 5. Which of the following is not a proportion? a. 0.0 b. 0.5 c. 1.0 *d. 1.5 Answer location: (Proportions and Percentages) p. 25 - 26 Question Type: MC 6. A relative frequency obtained by dividing the frequency in each category by the total number of cases and multiplying by 100 is a … a. count b. frequency c. proportion *d. percentage Answer location: (Proportions and Percentages) p. 26 - 27

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition, Test Bank Question Type: MC 7. A rate based on the total population is referred to as a(n)__________ rate. a. actual b. determinant c. whole *d. crude Answer location: (Rates) p. 41 Question Type: MC 8. Which of the following is not a rate? a. The number of female births per 1,000 women ages 25 - 29 b. The number of deaths to infants between the ages of 0 and 1 per 100,000 population *c. The number of violent crimes committed in urban U.S. cities in between 2005 and 2007 d. The number of second marriages per 100,000 adults of marriageable age Answer location: Question Type: MC (Rates) p. 41 9. The sum of all frequencies in a frequency distribution should sum to a. 0. b. 1. c. 100. *d. N. Answer location: (Frequency Distributions) p. 24 Question Type: MC 10. Which of the following variables is best suited for organization and description using a frequency distribution? a. The monthly totals for the number of immigrants to the U.S. for the period 1958 - 2013. b. Number of votes for Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election by U.S. county. *c. Whether or not a person received a telemarketing call during the month of September, 2013. d. The proportion of households living in poverty for a sample of 198 U.S. neighborhoods. Answer location: (Frequency Distributions) p. 24 Question Type: MC 11. A proportion is a a. relative frequency obtained by dividing the total number of cases by the frequency in each category. *b. relative frequency obtained by dividing the frequency in each category by the total number of cases. c. number representing the total number of cases in a population. d. distribution showing the frequency at or below each category of the variable. Answer location: (Proportions and Percentages) p. 25 Question Type: MC 12. Inspecting the title and checking the sources are basic principles of a. studying for an exam.

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition, Test Bank *b. reading a statistical table. c. determining research question. d. calculating a rate. Answer location: (Reading the Reaserch Literature: Statistical Tables: Basic Principles) p. 42 Question Type: MC 13. What is the formula for a percentage? a. p=f/n b. p=n/f *c. p=(f/n)100 d. p=(n/f)100 Answer location: (Proportions and Percentages) p. 26 Question Type: MC 14. A graph showing the differences in frequencies or percentages among the categories of a nominal or an ordinal variable where the "pieces" add up to 100% of the total frequencies is referred to as a a. bar graph. *b. pie chart. c. frequency polygon. d. histogram. Answer location: (The Pie Chart: Race and Ethnicity of the Elderly) p. 45 Question Type: MC 15 . A graph showing the difference in frequencies or percentages among the categories of a nominal or an ordinal variable where the categories are displayed as rectangles of equal width with their height proportional to the frequency or percentage of the category is referred to as a *a. bar graph. b. pie chart. c. frequency polygon. d. histogram. Answer location: (The Bar Graph: Martical Status of the Elderly) p. 47 Question Type: MC 16 . A graph showing the differences in the frequencies or percentages among the categories of an interval - ratio variable where points are used to represent the frequencies of each category and placed above the midpoint of the category and then joined by a straight line is referred to as a a. bar graph. b. pie chart. *c. line graph. d. histogram. Answer location: (The Line Graph) p. 51 Question Type: MC 17 . Which of the following graphic devices is most appropriate for displaying interval - ratio level data? *a. A histogram b. A frequency polygon c. A bar graph d. A pie chart Answer location: (The Histogram) p. 49 Question Type: MC

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition, Test Bank 18 . In a __________the bars which represent the categories of a variable are spaced so that one bar is not directly next to another; whereas, in a __________ the bars actually touch one another. *a. bar graph; histogram b. histogram; bar graph c. frequency polygon; bar graph d. bar graph; frequency polygon Answer location: (The Bar Graph: Marital Status of the Elderly) p. 47 and (The Histogram) p. 49 Question Type: MC 19 . A survey of 3,055 respondents asked whether or not anyone had been widowed. Eighty persons responded yes. Which of the following graphic devices would best display this information? a. Time series chart b. Frequency distribution *c. Bar graph d. Histogram Answer location: (The Bar Graph: Marital Status of the Elderly) p. 47 Question Type: MC 20 . Imagine one of your colleagues is constructing a histogram to graph results of the survey question "Which state do you live in?" What is the concern with your colleague's approach? a. It's unlikely that the slices of the pie sum to 100% *b. The colleague used an inappropriate graphic device c. The colleague hasn't ensured that the frequencies at each time point summed to N d. The bars representing the categories were likely not as contiguous as they should be Answer location: (The Histogram) p. 49 Question Type: MC 21 . Imagine one of your colleagues is constructing a histogram to graph results of data collected on respondent's occupational prestige score, a score which can take on any non - zero value. What should be your first response upon reviewing the work? a. To note whether the "slices" of the pie summed to 100% b. To suggest that your colleague had in fact used an inappropriate graphic device c. To ensure that the frequencies at each time point summed to N *d. To check whether the bars representing the categories were contiguous as they should be Answer location: (The Histogram) p. 49 Question Type: MC 22 . Imagine one of your colleagues is constructing a pie - chart to graph results of data collected on respondent's occupational prestige score, a score which can take on any non - zero value. What should be your first response upon reviewing the work? *a. To note whether the "slices" of the pie summed to 100% b. To suggest that your colleague had used an inappropriate graphic device c. To ensure that the frequencies at each time point summed to N d. To check whether the bars representing the categories were contiguous as they should be Answer location: (The Pie Chart: Race and Ethnicity of the Elderly) p. 45

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition, Test Bank Question Type: MC 23 . Which of the following statements is true about time series charts? a. Time, usually measured in months or years, is placed on the vertical axis b. The height of the bars is proportional to the frequency or percentage of observations *c. Frequencies or percentages are usually placed along the vertical axis d. The changes in the variable must always increase over time. Answer location: (Time Series Charts) p. 53 Question Type: MC 24 . Fill in the empty cells in the following table Education level f p % Completed High School 18 7 Completed College 11 9 Completed Graduate School 62 Correct Answer: Education level f p % Completed High School 187 .508 50.8 Completed College 119 .323 32.3 Completed Graduate School 62 .168 16.8 Answer location : (Proportions and Percentages) p. 25 - 27 25 . Fill in the empty cells in the following table Number of Marriages f cf p % 0 165 1 60 2+ 250 10.0 Correct Answer: Number of Marriages f cf p % 0 165 165 .660 66.0 1 60 225 .240 24.0 2+ 25 250 .100 10.0 Answer location : (Proportions and Percentages) p. 25 - 27 26 . Using the following information from the U.S. Census Bureau, calculate both the number and percentage of non - white military reserve personnel. Military Reserve Personnel by Race,

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition, Test Bank 2002 White 73.2% Black 15.9% Latino 7.9% Asian 2.3% Native American 0.7% The total number of military reserve personnel is 129,047. Correct Answer: 34,585; 26.8% Answer location : (Proportions and Percentages) p. 25 - 27 27 . Construct a cumulative frequency distribution using the following information. Begin with whites and work through the table in the order of the racial categories listed. Military Reserve Personnel by Race, 2002 White 73.2% Black 15.9% Latino 7.9% Asian 2.3% Native American 0.7% The total number of military reserve personnel is 129,047. Correct Answer: Military Reserve Personnel by Race, 2002 White 94,462 Black 114,981 Latino 125,176 Asian 128,144 Native American 129,047 Answer location : (Cumulative Distributions) p. 38 - 41 28 . According to Table 1, what proportion of responde nts neither agree nor disagree? Table 1 Homosexuals Should Have the Right to Marry, 2006 f cum % Strongly Agree 307 15.5 Agree 391 35.2 Neither Agree Nor Disagree 260 48.3 Disagree 329 64.9 Strongly Disagree 695 100.0 Correct Answer: .131 Answer location : (Proportions and Percentages) p. 25

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition, Test Bank 29 . Table 1 Refer to Table 1 and construct a cumulative frequency distribution. Start with those who strongly disagree and work your way down through the remaining categories. Table 1 Homosexuals Should Have the Right to Marry, 2006 f cum % Strongly Agree 307 15.5 Agree 391 35.2 Neither Agree Nor Disagree 260 48.3 Disagree 329 64.9 Strongly Disagree 695 100.0 Correct Answer: Homosexuals Should Have the Right to Marry, 2006 cf Strongly Agree 307 Agree 698 Neither Agree Nor Disagree 958 Disagree 1287 Strongly Disagree 1982 Answer location:(Cumulative Distributions) p. 38 - 41 30 . Explain how cumulative frequency distributions are obtained. What do they allow us to do? Correct Answer: They are obtained by adding to the frequency in each category the frequencies of all the categories below it. They allow us to locate the relative position of a given score in a distribution. Answer location: (Cumulative Distributions) p. 38 - 41 31 . Consider the information in Table 1. Construct a pie chart for blacks in the sample. Table 1 Number of Children Whites Blacks 0 903 151 1 513 126 2 872 136 3 531 105 4 282 45

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    Leon - Guerrero and Frankfort - Nachmias : Essentials of Social Statistics for a Diverse Society , Second Edition, Test Bank 5 83 25 6 51 18 7 25 13 8+ 16 11 Correct Answer: Answer location: (The Pie Chart) p. 45 32 . Would a bar chart or a histogram be more appropriate for displaying the data presented in Table 1? Why? Table 1 Number of Children Whites Blacks 0 903 151 1 513 126 2 872 136 3 531 105 4 282 45 5 83 25 6 51 18 7 25 13 8+ 16 11 Correct Answer: The number of children can be considered an interval - ratio level variable, therefore a histogram would be more appropriate. Answer location: (The Histogram) p. 49 - 50 33 . Construct either a bar chart or a histogram, depending on which is more appropriate in this case, for displaying the data presented in Table 1 Number of Children Whites Blacks 0 903 151 1 513 126

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