SCOPE AND METHODS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE POS 3703 EXAM QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY
LATEST UPDATE 2026
Nominal Variable - Answers Differences between units of analysis on the characteristic being
measured. Has no ranking
Ordinal Variable - Answers RELATIVE differences between units of analysis
Values CAN be ranked
ranking is reflected in numerical codes ~
Interval Variable - Answers EXACT differences between units of analysis
No need to assign numeric codes
some naturally express number
Mode - Answers most common value of a variable
Median - Answers value of variables that divides the cases right down the middle
first number to hit 50% or above in cumulative percentage column
Mean - Answers Arithmetic average
Spuriousness - Answers The relationship between variables that are NOT causally related
correlation ≠ causation
Check spuriousness - Answers Engage a control
Is the explanation strong or weak?
Research design - Answers an overall set of procedures for evaluating the effect of X on Y
A test group - Answers composed of subjects who receive a treatment that the researchers believe
has a causal effect on the dependent variable
A control group - Answers composed of subjects who do not receive that treatment
Experimental design - Answers ensure that test and control groups are the same in every way except
1- the independent variable
General procedure of experiment: - Answers 1) ensure groups are nearly identical
2) Measure Y for both groups
3) Treatment phase: apply different values of X to both groups
4) Measure Y again
Selection bias - Answers When nonrandom processes determine the composition of the test and
control group
Internal Validity - Answers Within the conditions created artificially by the researcher, the effect of X
on Y is isolated from other plausible explanations
External Validity - Answers The results can be generalize and applied to situations in the non-artificial
world
Controlled Comparison - Answers Examines the relationship between X and Y while holding constant
another variable suggested by rival explanations
Additive Relationship - Answers Both Z and X cause Y: Two variable combine to create a result
Has symmetrical quality
Interactive Relationship - Answers Relationship between X and Y depends on the value of Z
On a graph, if lines cross, that indicates: - Answers Interaction
Spurious Basic - Answers b1 = b2 = 0
Additive Basic - Answers b1 = b2
b1 ≠ 0
b2 ≠ 0
Interactive Basic - Answers b1 ≠ b2
Controlled Mean Comparison Table Column - Answers Categories of the control variable (Z)
Controlled Mean Comparison Table Row - Answers Values of the independent variable (X)
Controlled mean comparison reading down each row - Answers Effect of Y at each value of X
Controlled mean comparison reading down each column - Answers What happens to Y as X changes
within each category of Z
Cross Tabulation (Tab) Analysis - Answers Uses dependent variable Y, independent variable X, and a
control variable Z
Controlled Effect - Answers Relationship between X and Y within one value of Z
Rule of Direction for Nominal Relationships - Answers the value of the variable that defines the left-
most column of a cross-tabulation is the base category
LATEST UPDATE 2026
Nominal Variable - Answers Differences between units of analysis on the characteristic being
measured. Has no ranking
Ordinal Variable - Answers RELATIVE differences between units of analysis
Values CAN be ranked
ranking is reflected in numerical codes ~
Interval Variable - Answers EXACT differences between units of analysis
No need to assign numeric codes
some naturally express number
Mode - Answers most common value of a variable
Median - Answers value of variables that divides the cases right down the middle
first number to hit 50% or above in cumulative percentage column
Mean - Answers Arithmetic average
Spuriousness - Answers The relationship between variables that are NOT causally related
correlation ≠ causation
Check spuriousness - Answers Engage a control
Is the explanation strong or weak?
Research design - Answers an overall set of procedures for evaluating the effect of X on Y
A test group - Answers composed of subjects who receive a treatment that the researchers believe
has a causal effect on the dependent variable
A control group - Answers composed of subjects who do not receive that treatment
Experimental design - Answers ensure that test and control groups are the same in every way except
1- the independent variable
General procedure of experiment: - Answers 1) ensure groups are nearly identical
2) Measure Y for both groups
3) Treatment phase: apply different values of X to both groups
4) Measure Y again
Selection bias - Answers When nonrandom processes determine the composition of the test and
control group
Internal Validity - Answers Within the conditions created artificially by the researcher, the effect of X
on Y is isolated from other plausible explanations
External Validity - Answers The results can be generalize and applied to situations in the non-artificial
world
Controlled Comparison - Answers Examines the relationship between X and Y while holding constant
another variable suggested by rival explanations
Additive Relationship - Answers Both Z and X cause Y: Two variable combine to create a result
Has symmetrical quality
Interactive Relationship - Answers Relationship between X and Y depends on the value of Z
On a graph, if lines cross, that indicates: - Answers Interaction
Spurious Basic - Answers b1 = b2 = 0
Additive Basic - Answers b1 = b2
b1 ≠ 0
b2 ≠ 0
Interactive Basic - Answers b1 ≠ b2
Controlled Mean Comparison Table Column - Answers Categories of the control variable (Z)
Controlled Mean Comparison Table Row - Answers Values of the independent variable (X)
Controlled mean comparison reading down each row - Answers Effect of Y at each value of X
Controlled mean comparison reading down each column - Answers What happens to Y as X changes
within each category of Z
Cross Tabulation (Tab) Analysis - Answers Uses dependent variable Y, independent variable X, and a
control variable Z
Controlled Effect - Answers Relationship between X and Y within one value of Z
Rule of Direction for Nominal Relationships - Answers the value of the variable that defines the left-
most column of a cross-tabulation is the base category
