GRE Subject Test: Psychology : Measurement & Methodology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Measurement & Methodology

Which of the following terms is defined as the descriptive statistic that measures the degree of the relationship between two variables?

Possible Answers:

Correlation coefficient

Independent variable

Dependent variable

Mode

Correct answer:

Correlation coefficient

Explanation:

The correct choice is “correlation coefficient.” Independent and dependent variables do not measure anything but are simply components of the study itself. The mode is the value that occurs the most in a set of numbers. 

Example Question #32 : Measurement & Methodology

Which of the following indicates the average amount of variability observed in particular types of scores (e.g. test scores)?

Possible Answers:

Median

Mean

Range

Mode

Standard deviation

Correct answer:

Standard deviation

Explanation:

The “standard deviation” is a measure of variability, or spread of scores. This measure is calculated by subtracting each score from the mean, squaring the result, dividing this result by the total number of scores, and finally taking the square root of the last calculation. The “range” is also a measure of variability but its calculation involves subtracting the highest and lowest scores; therefore, it is not an average. The mean, median, and mode are measures of central tendency. The “mean” is the average of all scores. The “median” is the middle score, or average of the two middle scores. Last, the “mode” is the score that occurs most frequently.

Example Question #33 : Measurement & Methodology

In a negatively skewed distribution, which of the following is true?

Possible Answers:

The mode is the highest score

The mean is the highest score

The mean and median are equal, and are higher than the mode

The mode and median are equal, and are higher than the mean

The median is the highest score

Correct answer:

The mode is the highest score

Explanation:

In a negatively skewed distribution, the tail of the distribution falls on the left or negative side of the distribution. The mode is always the highest score, followed by the median, and lastly the mean. The opposite is true for a positively skewed distribution. In a normal distribution, the mean, median, and mode are all equal. 

Example Question #43 : Other Areas

Karen received a raw score of  on an exam with a mean score of  and a standard deviation of . What is Karen's Z-score?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The exam had a mean of  and a standard deviation of . Karen received a raw score of , which is  points above the mean. In order to calculate her Z-score you must use the Z-score formula:

Karen's Z score is +2. 

You would also be able to guess the correct answer by drawing a picture of a normal curve. You can then see that Karen's score is above the mean, which tells you that her Z-score must be positive.

Example Question #34 : Measurement & Methodology

Carla, Bob, and Jimmy all took the same exam. Carla received a T-score of 65, Bob received a Z-score of 1.25, and Jimmy received a standard score of of 85. Who received the highest Z-score on the exam?

Possible Answers:

Carla

Jimmy

Cannot be determined

Bob

Bob and Jimmy have equal Z scores, and scored higher than Carla

Correct answer:

Carla

Explanation:

In order to determine the answer to this question you must have knowledge of T-scores, standard scores, and Z-scores. T-scores always have a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Carla had a T-score of 65, which is 1.5 standard deviations above the mean, and is equivalent to a Z-score of 1.5. Bob received a Z score of 1.25, which is lower than Carla's Z-score. Standard scores always have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Jimmy received a standard score of 85, which is one standard deviation below the mean and equal to a Z-score of -1. Carla had the highest Z-score. 

Example Question #35 : Measurement & Methodology

Dr. G is conducting a research study looking at whether or not a new drug decreases depression. She falsely concludes that the drug is ineffective at decreasing depression. Dr. G has committed which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Type III error

Type I error

Clinical significance

Power

Type II error

Correct answer:

Type II error

Explanation:

"Type II error" involves failing to reject a null hypothesis when it is false. This occurs when a researcher says that the findings are not significant, when in fact they are. "Type I error" is the opposite, and involves rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true. "Power" is the likelihood of rejecting the null when it is false, and is desirable in a research study. Last, "clinical significance" is similar to power and is what researchers aim for. It is important to note that "type III error" is not a term used in statistics. 

Example Question #36 : Measurement & Methodology

What is the mode of the following set of scores: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The mode is the number that occurs most often in the data set. In this case the mode is:

Example Question #37 : Measurement & Methodology

Which of the following z-scores demonstrates the least significant deviation from the mean?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

z-score represents the distance away from the mean for a particular score, expressed in terms of standard deviations. Thus, a z-score of 0 is equal to the mean, and a z-score of 1.4 is equal to 1.4 standard deviations above a given mean.

Example Question #38 : Measurement & Methodology

A researcher is performing a statistical analysis of data in order to draw conclusions. They are attempting to perform an analysis of variance (ANOVA), but are stymied when all the deviations from the mean sum to zero. The researcher most likely forgot which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Forgot to square each difference before summing

Forgot to calculate one average for the negative values and one for the positive values

Forgot to include adjustments for experimental error (EE)

None of these

Forgot to convert the differences from interval to ratio scale

Correct answer:

Forgot to square each difference before summing

Explanation:

When calculating the sum of squares (SS) as part of an ANOVA, each individual difference from the mean must be squared before summing. This makes intuitive sense when one realizes that the average of all scores which came together to make a mean in the first place must be that mean!

Example Question #39 : Measurement & Methodology

What is the appropriate inferential statistic to use when your data are from two or more groups of scores, with each score a measure of the same interval/ratio variable, and there are two independent variables and one dependent variable present?

Possible Answers:

Multiple regression analysis

MANOVA

Two-factor ANOVA

Chi-squared analysis

T-test

Correct answer:

Two-factor ANOVA

Explanation:

A two-way analysis of variance is the most appropriate tool for determining simultaneously the effects of two (or more) independent variables on a dependent variable and the strength of the interaction (if any) between the independent variables.

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