Communication Research Practice Questions
For each of the following questions, select the best answer
from the given alternative choices. Additional instructions are given as
necessary. Read each question and all alternatives carefully before
selecting an answer. The answer key is available here.
Logic of Quantitative Research
1.1 How are "everyday ways of knowing" (like intuition, tradition, and
authority) different from scholarly ways of knowing (research)?
a. Research is valid; everyday ways of knowing are invalid.
b. Research is formal; everyday ways of knowing are informal.
c. Research examines its assumptions; everyday ways of knowing do not.
d. Research depends upon a historical context; everyday ways of knowing
are ahistorical.
e. All of the above.
1.2 The goal of behavioral (quantitative) approaches to communication research
is best described as which of the following?
a. Explaining, predicting, and controlling communication behavior.
b. Understanding the meaning of communication behavior.
c. Discovering new ways to communicate.
d. Interpreting communication behavior.
e. Integrating communication behaviors and their meanings into a single
theoretical framework.
1.3 Which of the following statements is the most accurate description
of the hypothetico-deductive research method?
a. The researcher observes phenomena in the real world in order to
make generalizations that form the basis of a formal theory about the phenemena.
b. The researcher develops a research report that contains sections
describing the theory, method, evidence, and analysis supporting that report.
c. The researcher investigates a research question that is important,
interesting, rich, theoretically valuable and practically useful.
d. The researcher develops a formal theory from which a specific hypothesis
is formulated and tested by observation and measurement, leading to generalizations
which are then used to refine the formal theory.
e. The researcher tries to identify the causes of a particular phenomenon.
1.4 Assume that a researcher observes a relationship between sunspot activity
and stock market prices; specifically, when sunspot activity is high, stock
market prices fall; when it is low, stock prices rise. Can the researcher
assert that sunspot activity influences stock prices based on this observation
alone?
a. No; it is possible that stock prices influence sunspot activity.
b. No; other explanations have not been ruled out.
c. No; since prices go up when sunspot activity is low, it is clear
that one has no effect on the other.
d. Yes; saying that one influences the other doesn't mean that one
causes the other.
e. Yes; the existence of the relationship is proof that cause and effect
exists.
Definitions
2.1 "A characteristic, attribute, or behavior of an individual that
takes on different values for different individuals and can be measured
or observed" best defines which of the following?
a. hypothesis
b. research question
c. theory
d. concept
e. variable
2.2 "A possible state or level of a variable" best defines which of the
following?
a. belief
b. sample
c. example
d. value
e. measurement
2.3 "A statement of inquiry about a communication-related concept that
asks how to describe it or how it is related to other concepts" best defines
which of the following?
a. hypothesis
b. research question
c. theory
d. concept
e. variable
2.4 "The process of explaining and defining the concepts within a theory"
best defines which of the following?
a. conceptualization
b. operationalization
c. measurement
d. induction
e. deduction
2.5 "The process of defining theoretical concepts so that they can be observed
or measured" best defines which of the following?
a. conceptualization
b. operationalization
c. measurement
d. induction
e. deduction
2.6 "The process of observing phenomena and using those observations to
make generalizations which then serve to help refine a formal theory" best
defines which of the following?
a. explication
b. operationalization
c. measurement
d. induction
e. deduction
2.7 "The set of individuals or objects whose characteristics or behavior
are of interest" best defines which of the following?
a. sample
b. small group
c. variable
d. value
e. population
2.8 "The individuals or objects selected for measurement or observation"
best defines which of the following?
a. sample
b. small group
c. variable
d. value
e. population
Simple Scenario: Theory Building
Read the following paragraph and answer the next three questions
A researcher suspects that television sets emit energy that damages
people's vision. To test her theory, she observes a sample of children
(none of whom wear glasses) and measures how far away they sit from the
television when they watch. Two years later, she observes the children
again, this time seeing how many are wearing glasses. Her data suggest
that young children who sit close to the television set are more often
diagnosed as needing glasses than children who sit further away, and announces
that her theory is supported.
3.1 In this situation, "distance from the television while watching"
is what kind of variable?
a. confounding variable
b. independent variable
c. dependent variable
d. antecedent variable
e. moderating variable
3.2 What kind of variable is "whether or not a child wears glasses"?
a. confounding variable
b. independent variable
c. dependent variable
d. antecedent variable
e. moderating variable
3.3 Suppose a critic disagrees with the researcher, saying that it is possible
that previously existing eye problems in the children may result in both
sitting close to the TV and in needing glasses. "Previous existence of
eye problems" is, in this case, an example of what kind of variable?
a. confounding variable
b. independent variable
c. dependent variable
d. antecedent variable
e. moderating variable
3.4 Which of the following is a characteristic of a "good" hypothesis?
a. it is testable
b. it is compatible with current scientific knowledge
c. it is logically consistent
d. it is as "parsimonious" or simple as possible
e. all of the above
3.5 What assertion about the variables being studied does the "null hypothesis"
make?
a. That there is a positive relationship between them.
b. That there is a negative relationship between them.
c. That there is no relationship between them.
d. That one causes the other.
e. That one cancels out the other.
Levels of Measurement
For the next five questions, identify the correct level of measurement
for the variable that is described.
4.1 Cash on hand, measured in dollars.
a. nominal
b. ordinal
c. interval
d. ratio
e. not enough information to tell
4.2 Beauty pageant results, measured as "Miss America," "first runner-up,"
"third runner-up," "fourth runner-up," and "not a finalist."
a. nominal
b. ordinal
c. interval
d. ratio
e. not enough information to tell
4.3 Travel time to work each day, measured in hours and minutes.
a. nominal
b. ordinal
c. interval
d. ratio
e. not enough information to tell
4.4 Communication apprehension, measured using 12 5-point Likert-type scale
items.
a. nominal
b. ordinal
c. interval
d. ratio
e. not enough information to tell
4.5 The answer to the question "Do you live on-campus?" measured as "Yes"
or "No".
a. nominal
b. ordinal
c. interval
d. ratio
e. not enough information to tell
4.6 Which of the following are characteristics of interval data?
a. mutually exclusive categories
b. exhaustive categories
c. ordered or ranked categories
d. all of the above
e. a. and b. only
4.7 Which of the following are characteristics of nominal data?
a. mutually exclusive categories
b. exhaustive categories
c. ordered or ranked categories
d. all of the above
e. a. and b. only
Fill-In-the-Blanks
For the next seven questions, select the answer containing the
word or words that most correctly fill in the blanks.
5.1 "Operationalization" is the process of translating ____________
into _____________ so that they can be measured, manipulated, or observed.
a. concepts; variables
b. concepts; behavioral indices
c. variables; measurements
d. variables; unidimensional structures
e. ideas; actions
5.2 "Aggressiveness is related to age," is an example of a _____________
hypothesis of ______________.
a. directional; association
b. non-directional; association
c. directional; difference
d. non-directional; difference
e. null; gender
5.3 In an _______________, the ______________ variable is always manipulated.
a. observation, dependent
b. observation, independent
c. interview, independent
d. experiment, dependent
e. experiment, independent
5.4 ___________ observation involves the examination of communication artifacts
or archival data.
a. Direct
b. Indirect
c. Behavioral
d. Qualitative
e. Quantitative
5.5 The proportion of a certain value within a population is called a population
____________; the proportion of a certain value within a sample is called
a sample _____________.
a. census; size
b. size; census
c. statistic; parameter
d. parameter; statistic
e. census; statistic
5.6 Evaluating the external validity of a study involves judgments about
the _________________ of the sample, the _____________ of the research
setting, and the ________________ of the research method and results.
a. replicability; representativeness; ecological validity
b. size; appropriateness; truth
c. replicability; ecological validity; representativeness
d. nature; replicability; ecological validity
e. representativeness; ecological validity; replicability
5.7 Methods of random sampling include ________________, ____________,
and ________________ sampling.
a. simple, quota, network
b. simple, stratified, network
c. simple, cluster, purposive
d. stratified, cluster, systematic
e. stratified, cluster, network
5.8 An experiment with two independent variables is generally referred
to as a _________________.
a. complex experiment
b. multiple observations design
c. factorial design
d. two-way interaction effect
e. main effects experiment
Simple Scenario: Survey Questions
For the next two questions, refer to this example:
Instructions: Indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree
with the following statement:
Communication research is a real barrel of laughs.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree
6.1 What type of question is the example above?
a. a 5-point Likert-type scale
b. a 7-point Likert-type scale
c. a semantic differential scale
d. an open-ended question
e. a leading question
6.2 What level of measurement is the example above?
a. nominal
b. ordinal
c. interval
d. ratio
e. not enough information to tell
Simple Questions: The Research Article
The next five questions ask about the structure of a typical quantitative
research report.
7.1 In a scholarly journal article or research report, where would you
expect to find how the researcher operationalized the variables?
a. abstract
b. literature review
c. methodology
d. discussion
e. references
7.2 Where would you find a short summary of the research and its findings?
a. abstract
b. literature review
c. methodology
d. discussion
e. references
7.3 Where would you find citations to other related articles and reports?
a. abstract
b. literature review
c. methodology
d. discussion
e. references
7.4 Where would you find a discussion of the theory upon which the research
is based?
a. abstract
b. literature review
c. methodology
d. discussion
e. references
7.5 Where would you find the researcher's assessment of possible implications
of the research findings?
a. abstract
b. literature review
c. methodology
d. discussion
e. references
Hypotheses
For the next four questions, read the statement and indicate whether
it is a hypothesis of association or difference and whether it is directional
or non-directional.
8.1 "Individuals who are heavy users of mass media will be better informed
about current political events than will individuals who are moderate or
light users of mass media."
a. association, directional
b. association, non-directional
c. difference, directional
d. difference, non-directional
e. The statement is not a hypothesis.
8.2 "Tolerance for ambiguity decreases with age."
a. association, directional
b. association, non-directional
c. difference, directional
d. difference, non-directional
e. The statement is not a hypothesis.
8.3 "Communication competence is related to self-confidence."
a. association, directional
b. association, non-directional
c. difference, directional
d. difference, non-directional
e. The statement is not a hypothesis.
8.4 "Men will be different from women in terms of communication assertiveness."
a. association, directional
b. association, non-directional
c. difference, directional
d. difference, non-directional
e. The statement is not a hypothesis.
Validity
9.1 A measurement technique is said to have "predictive validity" if
it possesses which of the following characteristics?
a. It can be used to forecast a future state of the individual or object
being measured.
b. It agrees with other measures of the same variable.
c. It accurately reflects the attributes of the concept being measured.
d. It agrees with theoretical predictions about how the variable being
measured is related to other variables.
e. It seems comprehensive and matches the conceptual definition of
the variable.
9.2 A measurement technique is said to have "concurrent validity" if it
possesses which of the following characteristics?
a. It can be used to forecast a future state of the individual or object
being measured.
b. It agrees with other measures of the same variable.
c. It accurately reflects the attributes of the concept being measured.
d. It agrees with theoretical predictions about how the variable being
measured is related to other variables.
e. It seems comprehensive and matches the conceptual definition of
the variable.
9.3 Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between
internal validity and external validity?
a. Improving one tends to improve the other.
b. They are unrelated.
c. Improving one tends to decrease the other.
d. Internal validity is a subset of external validity.
e. External validity is a subset of internal validity.
Scenario: Threats to Validity
Read the following scenario and answer the next four questions.
An education researcher is interested in the effectiveness of a new
method of teaching reading to 1st graders. She divides the students into
two groups and gives each of them a reading test. She trains several teachers
in how to teach reading using the new method. Over the course of the school
year, one group is taught using the new method; the other group is taught
using the old method. At the end of the school year, she tests both groups
again and compares their scores to see if the new method is more effective
than the old.
10.1 Suppose the researcher divided the 1st graders into groups based
on their scores on the first test, with high scorers placed in the "old
method" group and low scorers placed in the "new method" group. What threat
to internal validity might occur?
a. maturation
b. mortality
c. statistical regression
d. treatment validity
e. Hawthorne effect
10.2 Suppose that, on the day of the second test, several students are
absent because their parents are told that the test is "optional". What
threat to internal validity might occur?
a. maturation
b. mortality
c. statistical regression
d. treatment validity
e. Hawthorne effect
10.3 Suppose that the researcher regularly visits the "new method" classrooms
in order to observe the teachers and the children. What threat to internal
validity might occur?
a. maturation
b. mortality
c. statistical regression
d. treatment validity
e. Hawthorne effect
10.4 Suppose that the "new method" is supposed to be used by three of the
school's first grade teachers, but that one of those teachers decides to
incorporate different methods that he thinks will work better. What threat
to internal validity might occur?
a. maturation
b. mortality
c. statistical regression
d. treatment validity
e. Hawthorne effect
Scenario: Experimental Designs
Read the following paragraph and answer the next three questions.
A researcher decides to investigate the relationship between public
speaking experience and self-confidence. She obtains subjects from a pool
of volunteers and randomly assigns them to one of two conditions.
In the first condition, subjects receive a one-week public speaking
course consisting of two hours each day practicing various types of speeches,
receiving critiques, and evaluating each other's work. In the second condition,
subjects do not attend this class.
All subjects fill out a questionnaire at the end of the week. The
questionnaire includes three items measured on a 7-point Likert-type scale
which asks subjects about their confidence in their own abilities to meet
challenges, overcome obstacles, and solve problems which they may encounter.
These items are then added together to create a "self-confidence scale".
11.1 What kind of design has the researcher used?
a. pretest/posttest control group design
b. posttest only control group design
c. quasi-equivalent control group design
d. static group comparison design
e. Solomon four-group design
11.2 Which of the following is the treatment group?
a. The group that received the public speaking class
b. The group that didn't get the public speaking class
c. The group that scored high on the self-confidence scale
d. The group that scored low on the self-confidence scale
e. None of the above
11.3 The fact that the subjects were volunteers can be used to support
which of the following statements?
a. The experiment has external validity (or generalizability) flaws
b. The experiment has internal validity flaws
c. The experiment is not replicable
d. The experiment does not have equivalent control and treatment groups
e. None of the above
Data Analysis: Describe a Sample
To answer the next five questions, refer to the set of numbers
below:
1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 7
12.1 What is the mean?
a. 3.0
b. 3.5
c. 4.0
d. 4.5
e. none of the above
12.2 What is the mode?
a. 3.0
b. 3.5
c. 4.0
d. 4.5
e. none of the above
12.3 What is the median?
a. 3.0
b. 3.5
c. 4.0
d. 4.5
e. none of the above
Hypothesis Testing
13.1 Suppose a researcher wishes to compare the scores of two groups
on some variable, called Y. Group 1 has a mean of 3.9; Group 2 has a mean
of 4.2. What one piece of additional information would tell her the most
about the differences between the two groups?
a. the mode of each group
b. the median of each group
c. the range of each group
d. the standard deviation of each group
e. the interquartile range of each group
13.2 Suppose the same researcher conducts a t-test on the data she has
available and discovers that the value of t is 4.33, p < .05. What is
the appropriate conclusion for her to draw?
a. The difference is not significant; the null hypothesis should be
rejected.
b. The difference is not significant; the null hypothesis should be
accepted.
c. The difference is significant; the null hypothesis should be rejected.
d. The difference is significant; the null hypothesis should be accepted.
e. There is not enough information to draw a conclusion.