PSYC 333 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026

PSYC 333 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026 What is the semantic differential method? - Answers A method to measure the multidimensional subjective meaning of things using bipolar anchors and graphic scales. What are the three primary dimensions measured by the semantic differential method? - Answers Evaluation, potency, and activity. What are some lesser dimensions measured in the semantic differential method? - Answers Stability, tautness, novelty, and receptivity. What is Likert's method of summated ratings used for? - Answers To construct a one-dimensional numerical attitude scale. What is an example of a scale constructed using Likert's method? - Answers The Likert attitude scale measuring attitudes for and against a compulsory health program. What is Thurstone's method of equal-appearing intervals used for? - Answers To construct one-dimensional attitude scales. What is the purpose of pilot-testing a questionnaire or interview schedule? - Answers To fine-tune the data collection instrument and procedures. What are the four steps in developing an interview schedule? - Answers 1) Working out the objective, 2) formulating a general strategy, 3) writing questions and establishing sequence, 4) pilot-testing. What is the critical incident technique? - Answers A method focusing on open-ended responses by concentrating on an actual incident and asking specific questions. Why did telephone interviews become popular? - Answers They were more cost-efficient than face-to-face interviews and could be easily implemented. What challenge do researchers face with telephone interviews today? - Answers Many people use mobile phones instead of land-line telephones, making it difficult to obtain representative samples. What does a behavioral diary do? - Answers Records events as they happen, eliminating reliance on longer-term recall. Validity - Answers Degree to which a measure does what it claims to do. Reliability - Answers Consistency, stability, or dependability of a measure. Random error - Answers Chance fluctuations in measurement that average out over repeated tests. Systematic error (bias) - Answers Error that consistently pushes scores in one direction. Classical test theory - Answers Observed score = true score + random error. Test-retest reliability - Answers Correlation of scores from the same test given twice to the same people. Alternate‑form reliability - Answers Correlation between two equivalent versions of a test given around the same time. Internal‑consistency reliability - Answers Degree to which items or judges are related; measured with Spearman‑Brown, KR‑20, or Cronbach's alpha. Acceptable reliability (tests) - Answers Benchmarks inferred from widely used tests like the MMPI, Rorschach, and WAIS. External validity - Answers Generalizability of findings across people, settings, treatments, and outcomes. Successful replication - Answers Procedure modeled on original study, similar pattern of results, and comparable effect sizes. Content‑related validity - Answers Evidence that test items represent the construct's domain. Criterion‑related validity - Answers Predictive or concurrent correlation with relevant outcomes. Construct validity - Answers Evidence from convergent and discriminant patterns showing the test measures the intended construct. Statistical‑conclusion validity - Answers Whether statistical inferences (effect size, p‑value) are justified. Internal validity - Answers Whether rival explanations for the results can be ruled out. Opportunity samples - Answers Use whoever is easiest to recruit; not randomly selected. Probability samples - Answers Use random selection to approximate representativeness of the target population. Biased sample - Answers Overestimates or underestimates the true population value. Unstable sample - Answers Contains units that vary greatly from one another; more homogeneity requires fewer units. Simple random sampling - Answers Every unit has an equal chance of selection; can be done with or without replacement. Area probability sampling - Answers Stratified random sampling where strata are geographic clusters. Literary Digest lesson - Answers Sampling must use true random selection; large samples alone don't guarantee accuracy; polls closer to Election Day are better; turnout matters; push polls are manipulative pseudo‑polls. Point estimate - Answers Single best guess of a population value. Interval estimate - Answers Range expressing how much the point estimate may be in error; confidence intervals give probability the true value lies within that range. Stratified vs. simple random sampling - Answers Stratified sampling reduces error and lowers the chance of large sampling mistakes. Nonresponse bias - Answers Decreases with each wave of respondents; reduced by reminders, personalization, and incentives. Opportunity samples in experiments - Answers Used for practical, ethical, and theoretical reasons; volunteers are typically similar enough for many behavioral studies. Volunteer characteristics - Answers More educated, higher social class, higher IQ, higher need for approval, more sociable, more arousal‑seeking, more unconventional, more often female, less authoritarian. Volunteer bias - Answers Predictable when volunteer traits relate to the variable being studied. Stimulating participation - Answers Explaining research significance and avoiding stressful procedures encourages ethical, humane treatment and higher participation. Pilot‑testing materials - Answers Identifies problems early and prevents costly, irreversible mistakes. area probability sampling - Answers Stratified random sampling in which strata are defined as geographic clusters. bias - Answers Systematic error that pushes measurements consistently in one direction. confidence interval - Answers Range around a point estimate expressing the uncertainty of that estimate. effective sample size - Answers The number of independent observations a sample is equivalent to after accounting for design effects. error of estimate - Answers The amount by which a sample statistic is expected to differ from the true population value. interval estimates - Answers Estimates expressed as ranges rather than single values. margin of error - Answers The radius of a confidence interval around a point estimate. nonresponse bias - Answers Systematic difference between respondents and nonrespondents that distorts results.