EXSC 520 Fundamental Vocabulary Quiz | 2026 Update | Version 2 | 150 Questions with Multiple Choice
Answers, Correct Responses Marked, and Detailed Explanations for Each Question to Support Mastery
of Exercise Science Research Terminology.
Questions 1–150 (Version 2)
1. A research hypothesis is…
a) A prediction based on theory or observation
b) The same as a null hypothesis
c) Always proven
d) Not testable
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: A research hypothesis states expected relationship between variables.
2. A statistical hypothesis…
a) Is always about sample data
b) Is a mathematical statement about a population parameter
c) Cannot be tested
d) Is the same as a theory
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Statistical hypotheses (H₀, H₁) refer to population parameters.
3. A two-tailed test is more conservative because…
a) It splits alpha between both tails
b) It requires a larger effect size
c) It has more power
d) It never rejects H₀
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Two-tailed α/2 per tail makes it harder to reject H₀ than one-tailed.
4. Beta (β) is the probability of…
a) Type I error
b) Type II error
c) Correct rejection
d) Alpha
,Correct Answer: b
Explanation: β = probability of failing to reject a false null.
5. Power = 1 – β. If β = 0.20, power = …
a) 0.80
b) 0.20
c) 0.95
d) 0.50
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Power = 0.80 is conventional target.
6. Which increases power?
a) Smaller sample size
b) Larger effect size
c) Smaller alpha
d) More measurement error
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Larger effect size, larger n, and larger alpha increase power.
7. Which does NOT affect power?
a) Sample size
b) Effect size
c) Alpha level
d) Direction of hypothesis (one- vs two-tailed) — wait, that does affect power
Correct Answer: d trick — actually directional increases power — revised: “Population variance”
Let me restate: Which does NOT affect power? → c) alpha? No, alpha affects power. Correct:
Population mean? No. Better: The sign of the correlation does not affect power. But for simplicity:
Correct Answer: Sign of the relationship (positive vs negative doesn’t change magnitude of effect
size).
Explanation: Only magnitude of effect, n, alpha, and one/two-tailed affect power, not direction.
8. A point estimate is…
a) A range of values
,b) A single best guess for a population parameter
c) Always biased
d) The p-value
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Example: sample mean is point estimate of population mean.
9. A confidence interval provides…
a) Certainty about the parameter
b) A plausible range with a level of confidence
c) The exact parameter value
d) The alpha level
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: 95% CI means 95% of such intervals contain the true parameter.
10. A 99% CI is _____ than a 95% CI.
a) Narrower
b) Wider
c) The same width
d) Not related
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Higher confidence requires wider interval.
11. Which correlation indicates strongest relationship?
a) r = 0.50
b) r = –0.90
c) r = 0.10
d) r = 0.00
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Absolute value matters: |–0.90| > |0.50|.
12. Coefficient of determination for r = 0.60 is…
a) 0.36
b) 0.60
c) 0.77
d) 1.20
, Correct Answer: a
Explanation: R² = r² = 0.36, meaning 36% variance explained.
13. Spearman’s rho is used for…
a) Linear relationships with normality
b) Monotonic relationships or ordinal data
c) Categorical association
d) Mean differences
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Spearman is nonparametric correlation based on ranks.
14. Point-biserial correlation is used when…
a) Both variables continuous
b) One variable dichotomous, one continuous
c) Both categorical
d) Both ordinal
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Example: gender (M/F) and VO2max.
15. Phi coefficient is for…
a) Two continuous variables
b) Two dichotomous variables
c) Two ordinal variables
d) More than two groups
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Phi = Pearson correlation applied to 2×2 tables.
16. Simple linear regression has…
a) One DV, one IV
b) Multiple IVs
c) Categorical DV
d) No intercept
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Simple = one predictor.
Answers, Correct Responses Marked, and Detailed Explanations for Each Question to Support Mastery
of Exercise Science Research Terminology.
Questions 1–150 (Version 2)
1. A research hypothesis is…
a) A prediction based on theory or observation
b) The same as a null hypothesis
c) Always proven
d) Not testable
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: A research hypothesis states expected relationship between variables.
2. A statistical hypothesis…
a) Is always about sample data
b) Is a mathematical statement about a population parameter
c) Cannot be tested
d) Is the same as a theory
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Statistical hypotheses (H₀, H₁) refer to population parameters.
3. A two-tailed test is more conservative because…
a) It splits alpha between both tails
b) It requires a larger effect size
c) It has more power
d) It never rejects H₀
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Two-tailed α/2 per tail makes it harder to reject H₀ than one-tailed.
4. Beta (β) is the probability of…
a) Type I error
b) Type II error
c) Correct rejection
d) Alpha
,Correct Answer: b
Explanation: β = probability of failing to reject a false null.
5. Power = 1 – β. If β = 0.20, power = …
a) 0.80
b) 0.20
c) 0.95
d) 0.50
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Power = 0.80 is conventional target.
6. Which increases power?
a) Smaller sample size
b) Larger effect size
c) Smaller alpha
d) More measurement error
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Larger effect size, larger n, and larger alpha increase power.
7. Which does NOT affect power?
a) Sample size
b) Effect size
c) Alpha level
d) Direction of hypothesis (one- vs two-tailed) — wait, that does affect power
Correct Answer: d trick — actually directional increases power — revised: “Population variance”
Let me restate: Which does NOT affect power? → c) alpha? No, alpha affects power. Correct:
Population mean? No. Better: The sign of the correlation does not affect power. But for simplicity:
Correct Answer: Sign of the relationship (positive vs negative doesn’t change magnitude of effect
size).
Explanation: Only magnitude of effect, n, alpha, and one/two-tailed affect power, not direction.
8. A point estimate is…
a) A range of values
,b) A single best guess for a population parameter
c) Always biased
d) The p-value
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Example: sample mean is point estimate of population mean.
9. A confidence interval provides…
a) Certainty about the parameter
b) A plausible range with a level of confidence
c) The exact parameter value
d) The alpha level
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: 95% CI means 95% of such intervals contain the true parameter.
10. A 99% CI is _____ than a 95% CI.
a) Narrower
b) Wider
c) The same width
d) Not related
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Higher confidence requires wider interval.
11. Which correlation indicates strongest relationship?
a) r = 0.50
b) r = –0.90
c) r = 0.10
d) r = 0.00
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Absolute value matters: |–0.90| > |0.50|.
12. Coefficient of determination for r = 0.60 is…
a) 0.36
b) 0.60
c) 0.77
d) 1.20
, Correct Answer: a
Explanation: R² = r² = 0.36, meaning 36% variance explained.
13. Spearman’s rho is used for…
a) Linear relationships with normality
b) Monotonic relationships or ordinal data
c) Categorical association
d) Mean differences
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Spearman is nonparametric correlation based on ranks.
14. Point-biserial correlation is used when…
a) Both variables continuous
b) One variable dichotomous, one continuous
c) Both categorical
d) Both ordinal
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Example: gender (M/F) and VO2max.
15. Phi coefficient is for…
a) Two continuous variables
b) Two dichotomous variables
c) Two ordinal variables
d) More than two groups
Correct Answer: b
Explanation: Phi = Pearson correlation applied to 2×2 tables.
16. Simple linear regression has…
a) One DV, one IV
b) Multiple IVs
c) Categorical DV
d) No intercept
Correct Answer: a
Explanation: Simple = one predictor.
