Quantitative Research & Statistics Flashcards

A researcher studying income inequality uses the Gini coefficient. A value of 0 represents:

Answer: Perfect equality

A Gini coefficient of 0 represents perfect equality where everyone has the same income, while 1 represents maximum inequality.

When using logistic regression, the outcome variable must be:

Answer: Dichotomous or categorical

Logistic regression is used when the dependent variable is dichotomous (binary) or categorical, such as employed/unemployed or voting choices.

Cronbach's alpha is a measure of:

Answer: Internal consistency reliability

Cronbach's alpha measures internal consistency reliability, assessing the degree to which items on a scale consistently measure the same underlying construct.

In a normal distribution, approximately what percentage of scores fall within one standard deviation of the mean?

Answer: 68%

In a normal distribution, approximately 68% of scores fall within one standard deviation of the mean (the empirical rule).

A sociologist uses path analysis to study the relationship between education, income, and health. Path analysis is best described as:

Answer: An extension of regression that tests directional causal models

Path analysis is an extension of regression that tests hypothesized directional relationships among variables in a theoretically specified causal model.

Which of the following best describes a longitudinal panel study?

Answer: Collecting data from the same individuals at multiple time points

A panel study follows the same individuals over time, collecting repeated measurements that allow researchers to observe change within individuals.

When data are positively skewed, which relationship among measures of central tendency is typically observed?

Answer: Mode < Median < Mean

In a positively skewed distribution, extreme high values pull the mean upward, so typically Mode < Median < Mean.