PSYC 406- Measurement Questions and Answers
Measurement
the process of assigning numbers to objects or people (psychology) in such a way that the specific properties of objects or people are faithfully represented by properties of numbers.
Unit
established standard for a physical quantity...
PSYC 406- Measurement Questions and
Answers
Measurement - answer the process of assigning numbers to objects or people
(psychology) in such a way that the specific properties of objects or people are faithfully
represented by properties of numbers.
Unit - answer established standard for a physical quantity against which particular
examples of that physical quantity can be compared
Measurement of a physical quantity - answer the act of comparing a physical
quantity to a unit
Measure of a particular quantity - answer is the ratio of that physical quantity to the
unit
Hierarchy of measurement scales - answer 1. Nominal < 2. ordinal < 3. interval < 4.
ratio
Nominal scales - answer Represents the most elementary level of measurement in
which values are assigned to an object for identification or classification purposes only.
- it can tell you that two individuals are different but cannot quantify the difference
- Categories
Ordinal scales - answer levels represent a ranked order, in which it is unclear
whether the distances between levels are equal.
- placed in order a "more" or "less" but the distance between the two cannot be
quantified
-rank order
- ex ranking hockey teams
Interval scales - answer continuous scale, each point reflects the same difference as
per the point above and below, however the range (data points between each point) is
arbitrary.
-Rank order & equal intervals
- ex grades (A, B, C, D, F)
Ratio scales - answer Represent the highest form of measurement in that they have
all the properties of interval scales with the additional attribute of representing absolute
quantities.; characterized by a meaningful absolute zero.
-Can measure the distance between two measures.
-Can add, subtract, and calculate proportions.
- rank order + equal intervals + absolute 0
, - has in the quantity
Psychological meaures - answer - few have absolute 0 so we do not or rarely deal
with ratio scales. (ex. can someone really have 0 anxiety?)
- we cannot calculate proportions between two individuals (ex. can you really say
someone is twice as depressed as someone else? no. it is not a quantified comparison
that we can make)
- sometimes we can assume equal intervals. in these cases subtraction/ addition can be
possible.
- we can often make "more" or "less" statements (ordinal scales) but rarely can say how
much more or less.
Rosenberg Self-esteem scale (1965) - answer -Has to do with self-worth and positive
self evaluation evaluation of yourself.
- standardized test (everyone gets the same one)
- high reliability and validity (used in thousands of studies)
-ordinal scale ( SA>A>D>SD). but can it be an interval scale? is the distance between
SA and A = to A and D? its debatable. So we'll stick with ordinal scale.
- trait scale. measures how you feel generally, not how you feel in that exact moment
(state scale).
-problems? could be biased and skewed by current mood when taking it.
Reliability - answer Consistency in measurement.
Ability of a test to yield very similar scores for the same individual:
- over time (test-retest reliability): If someone filled out a self-esteem scale every day or
moth etc. would their score remain consistent or would it fluctuate wildly?
-over situations (mirror effect): would you get the same result at home and at school?
Called mirror-effect because when ppl fill out a test in front of a mirror they get different
scores.
- across time (internal consistency, cronbach's alpha): ask multiple questions that are
slightly different but that all tap into the broad universe of the trait. More questions
increase reliability.
Cronbach's alpha: the higher the correlation the more related the questions are,
suggesting that they are measuring the same thing.
Reliability of the Rosenberg self-esteem scale - answer Over time (test-retest): The
Rosenberg scale has consistency over time. Individual differences on self-esteem are
relatively consistent. Therefore it has been labeled as measuring a trait (self-esteem)
and not just a state (ex. mood).
Over situations (mirror-effect): People get similar results when they fill out the
questionnaire in the lab, or at home, etc.
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