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Psy 315 Statistics practice problems Chapter2

Psy 315 Statistics practice problems Chapter2

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Statistics practice problems

PSY/315

04/26/2011

Katherine Sainz

University of Phoenix

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Week 2 Individual Assignment

Chapter 1, Practice Problems: 12, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

12. Explain and give an example for each of the following types of variables:

a) Equal-interval,

An equal-interval variable is a variable in which the numbers stand for approximately equal

amounts of what is being measured. For example, grade point average (GPA) is a roughly

equal-interval variable, since the difference between a GPA of 2.5 and 2.8 means about as

much as the difference between a GPA of 3.0 and 3.3 (each is a difference of 0.3 of a GPA).

Most psychologists also consider scales like the 0-to-10 stress ratings as roughly equal

interval. For example, temperature measured with Fahrenheit has equal intervals; that is, the

difference between temperatures of 30 and 31 degrees is 1 degree, and the difference between

100 and 101 degrees is 1 degree. No matter where on the scale that 1 degree is located, that 1

degree represents the same amount of heat.

b) Rank-order :

Psychologists use rank-order variables because they are the only information available. Also,

when people are being asked to rate something, it is sometimes easier and less subjective for

them to make rank-order ratings. A Rank Order scale gives the respondent a set of items and

asks them to put the items in some form of order. The measure of 'order' can include such as

preference importance, liking, effectiveness and so on. The order is often a simple ordinal

structure (A is higher than B). It can also be done by relative position (A scores 10 whilst B

scores 6).

C) Nominal: variable with values that are categories (that is, they are names rather than

numbers) also called categorical variable. Where the subject falls into a category, but one

category is not considered to be higher or lower than another

For example, if you buy a $900 bond and are paid $1,000 for it a year later, your rate of

return is 11.1%. This is the nominal rate of return; it is unadjusted and reflects the return on

your bond. However, to get a more accurate picture of the actual return, the rate needs to be

adjusted for inflation because the purchasing power of your money has likely changed over

the one-year period. Therefore, if inflation for that year is 5%, the real rate of return is only

6.1% (11.1%-5%).

D) Ratio scale

An equal-interval variable is measured on a ratio scale if it has an absolute zero point,

meaning that the value of zero on the variable indicates a complete absence of the variable.

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Statistics practice problems PSY/315 04/26/2011 Katherine Sainz University of Phoenix Week 2 Individual Assignment Chapter 1, Practice Problems: 12, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 22. 12. Explain and give an example for each of the following types of variables: a) Equal-interval, An equal-interval variable is a variable in which the numbers stand for approximately equal amounts of what is being measured. For example, grade point average (GPA) is a roughly equal-interval variable, since the difference between a GPA of 2.5 and 2.8 means about as much as the difference between a GPA of 3.0 and 3.3 (each is a difference of 0.3 of a GPA). Most psychologists also consider scales like the 0-to-10 stress ratings as roughly equal interval. For example, temperature measured with Fahrenheit has equal intervals; that is, the difference between temperatures of 30 and 31 degrees is 1 degree, and the difference between 100 and 101 degrees is 1 degree. No matter where on the scale that 1 degree is located, that 1 degree represents the same amount of heat. b) Rank-order : Psychologists use rank-order variables because they are the only information available. Also, when people are being asked to rate something, it is sometimes easier and less subjective for them to make rank-order ratings. A Rank Order scale gives the respondent a set of items and asks them to put the items in some form of order. The measure of 'order' can include such as preference importance, liking, effectiveness and so on. ...
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