UNC MEJO 379 FINAL EXAM
How do you calculate sample variance? - ✔️✔️It follows the same process as the
standard deviation but you do not square root the final answer. It tells you how varied
your sample is.
What is range? - ✔️✔️It is the difference between the lowest and highest values.
What is confidence interval and how do you calculate it? - ✔️✔️It is the margin of error
or sampling error (range within the confidence level). For example, 16.5 to 23.5 -- the p
+ or - the sampling error.
What is mean? And how do you calculate it? - ✔️✔️It is the 'average' which is the sum
of the entire list divided by the amount of items on the list.
What is mode? And how do you calculate it? - ✔️✔️It is the most common number.
How do you calculate sampling error? - ✔️✔️SE = Z x the square root of (p(100-p)
divided by N). SE is standard error. P is sample percentage. N is sample size. Z is z-
score (# of standard errors) -- 95% confidence level (1.96 z-value). If you know the
sample mean, you can divide the standard deviation by the square root of n.
How do you calculate standard deviation? - ✔️✔️First, find the mean. Second, subtract
the mean from each number in sample. Third, square each number and add squares
together. Fourth, divide by n-1. Lastly, take the square root.
What is median? And how do you calculate it? - ✔️✔️It is the middle score -- but it is
necessary to first arrange the figures in an ascending or descending order.
What are the purposes of content analysis? - ✔️✔️It is defined by the "systematic,
objective, and quantitative manner for the purpose of measuring variables". It describes
communication content, tests hypotheses of message characteristics, compares media
to "real world", assesses the image of groups in society, establishes the starting point
for media effects/
What are the limitations of content analysis? - ✔️✔️It cannot serve as sole basis for
media effects claims, unless audience perspectives are analyzed, analysis is limited to
the framework used in the study (i.e., measurements you use in that study), lack of
messages (examples) for the research project, can be expensive and time consuming.
, What is the criteria for categories? - ✔️✔️mutually exclusive (can only be in one coding
category), exhaustive (everything is coded in a category and/or miscellaneous), reliable
(consistent across coders).
What is multistage sampling? - ✔️✔️The first level is similar to that of the cluster
sampling, where the clusters are formed out of the population, but further, these clusters
are sub-divided into smaller targeting groups, i.e. sub-clusters and then the subject from
each sub-clusters are chosen randomly.
What is a priori v. emergent coding? - ✔️✔️The first is predetermined coding that may
be based on a previous coding dictionary from another researcher or key concepts in a
theoretical construct. They may derive from the interview guide or list of research
questions. The second is concepts, actions, or meanings, that evolved from the data.
What is intercoder reliability? - ✔️✔️It measures the relationship between coders'
decisions. In other words, it refers to the extent to which two or more independent
coders agree on the coding of the content of interest with an application of the same
coding scheme.
***.90 is most acceptable reliability score, .80 okay in most settings, .70 is okay for
some exploratory research or with more rigorous tests**
What is a unit of analysis? - ✔️✔️It is the major entity that is being analyzed in a study.
It is the 'what' or 'who' that is being studied. In social science research, typical units of
analysis include individuals (most common), groups, social organizations and social
artifacts. Could be a tweet or a Facebook post.
Descriptive vs. Analytical Surveys - ✔️✔️Descriptive: describes or documents current
attitudes, opinions, conditions, etc. Analytical: attempts to describe and explain why
situations exist
What are pros and cons of mail surveys? - ✔️✔️Mail can cover a wide geographic area
for a reasonable cost; however, you cannot control who fills out the survey. It has to be
self-explanatory and it has a low return rate.
What are pros and cons of telephone surveys? - ✔️✔️- It is trained interviewers
- Have more control and higher response rates than mail (and personal interviews)
- More expensive (usually) than mail surveys, but less expensive than personal
interviews
- There are no significant transportation costs
However, it is becoming an increasingly difficult method to use (caller ID, etc.)
What pros and cons of personal interviews? - ✔️✔️Can be structured or unstructured.
They allow for follow-up and flexibility. Structured are easier to tabulate and analyze
data, but not as much depth. Unstructured achieve greater depth, but cannot tabulate
and analyze data as easily.
How do you calculate sample variance? - ✔️✔️It follows the same process as the
standard deviation but you do not square root the final answer. It tells you how varied
your sample is.
What is range? - ✔️✔️It is the difference between the lowest and highest values.
What is confidence interval and how do you calculate it? - ✔️✔️It is the margin of error
or sampling error (range within the confidence level). For example, 16.5 to 23.5 -- the p
+ or - the sampling error.
What is mean? And how do you calculate it? - ✔️✔️It is the 'average' which is the sum
of the entire list divided by the amount of items on the list.
What is mode? And how do you calculate it? - ✔️✔️It is the most common number.
How do you calculate sampling error? - ✔️✔️SE = Z x the square root of (p(100-p)
divided by N). SE is standard error. P is sample percentage. N is sample size. Z is z-
score (# of standard errors) -- 95% confidence level (1.96 z-value). If you know the
sample mean, you can divide the standard deviation by the square root of n.
How do you calculate standard deviation? - ✔️✔️First, find the mean. Second, subtract
the mean from each number in sample. Third, square each number and add squares
together. Fourth, divide by n-1. Lastly, take the square root.
What is median? And how do you calculate it? - ✔️✔️It is the middle score -- but it is
necessary to first arrange the figures in an ascending or descending order.
What are the purposes of content analysis? - ✔️✔️It is defined by the "systematic,
objective, and quantitative manner for the purpose of measuring variables". It describes
communication content, tests hypotheses of message characteristics, compares media
to "real world", assesses the image of groups in society, establishes the starting point
for media effects/
What are the limitations of content analysis? - ✔️✔️It cannot serve as sole basis for
media effects claims, unless audience perspectives are analyzed, analysis is limited to
the framework used in the study (i.e., measurements you use in that study), lack of
messages (examples) for the research project, can be expensive and time consuming.
, What is the criteria for categories? - ✔️✔️mutually exclusive (can only be in one coding
category), exhaustive (everything is coded in a category and/or miscellaneous), reliable
(consistent across coders).
What is multistage sampling? - ✔️✔️The first level is similar to that of the cluster
sampling, where the clusters are formed out of the population, but further, these clusters
are sub-divided into smaller targeting groups, i.e. sub-clusters and then the subject from
each sub-clusters are chosen randomly.
What is a priori v. emergent coding? - ✔️✔️The first is predetermined coding that may
be based on a previous coding dictionary from another researcher or key concepts in a
theoretical construct. They may derive from the interview guide or list of research
questions. The second is concepts, actions, or meanings, that evolved from the data.
What is intercoder reliability? - ✔️✔️It measures the relationship between coders'
decisions. In other words, it refers to the extent to which two or more independent
coders agree on the coding of the content of interest with an application of the same
coding scheme.
***.90 is most acceptable reliability score, .80 okay in most settings, .70 is okay for
some exploratory research or with more rigorous tests**
What is a unit of analysis? - ✔️✔️It is the major entity that is being analyzed in a study.
It is the 'what' or 'who' that is being studied. In social science research, typical units of
analysis include individuals (most common), groups, social organizations and social
artifacts. Could be a tweet or a Facebook post.
Descriptive vs. Analytical Surveys - ✔️✔️Descriptive: describes or documents current
attitudes, opinions, conditions, etc. Analytical: attempts to describe and explain why
situations exist
What are pros and cons of mail surveys? - ✔️✔️Mail can cover a wide geographic area
for a reasonable cost; however, you cannot control who fills out the survey. It has to be
self-explanatory and it has a low return rate.
What are pros and cons of telephone surveys? - ✔️✔️- It is trained interviewers
- Have more control and higher response rates than mail (and personal interviews)
- More expensive (usually) than mail surveys, but less expensive than personal
interviews
- There are no significant transportation costs
However, it is becoming an increasingly difficult method to use (caller ID, etc.)
What pros and cons of personal interviews? - ✔️✔️Can be structured or unstructured.
They allow for follow-up and flexibility. Structured are easier to tabulate and analyze
data, but not as much depth. Unstructured achieve greater depth, but cannot tabulate
and analyze data as easily.
