Empirical Research Methods

100487 Empirical Research Methods 2012

Assessment 3 (Part B): Online Quiz

Questions 1 – 4 relate to the following study:

Researchers devised a new scale to measure students’ level of information literacy self efficacy for the purpose of determining whether this construct relates to academic success. The researchers initially devised a 21 item scale (see Appendix) to measure different aspects of self efficacy for information literacy. To assess the reliability of the scale and identify the components that the scale measures, the scale was administered to 90 participants. The data from this study is available in the SPSS data file titled ‘Assessment 3b Questions 1 ‐4’.

Conduct an Internal Consistency Reliability analysis on the data in ‘Assessment 3b Questions 1‐4’. Take the necessary measures to improve the internal consistency reliability of the scale.

1. Which of the following options is the first item that should be removed to improve the internal consistency reliability of the scale?

(a) Q1 Define Information

(b) Q15 Evaluate Internet Resources

(c) Q18 Write Research Paper

(d) Q19 Prepare Reference List

(e) Q20 Prepare Resources for References

2. What is the value of Cronbach’s alpha after all of the items that will be retained in the scale have been determined?

(a) .767 (b) .625 (c) .715 (d) .753 (e) .712

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After the necessary steps have been taken to improve the internal consistency reliability of the scale, analyse the remaining items through a principal components analysis, using the inspection of the scree plot to determine how many factors to extract. Run the principal components analysis with a varimax rotation.

3. On the basis of the scree plot, how many components should be extracted? (a) 2

(b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 (e) 6

4. After the Varimax rotation, which item has the highest loading on component 1? (a) Q9 Use Internet Search Tools

(b) Q1 Define Information

(c) Q20 Prepare Resources for References

(d) Q21 Cite Work of Others (e) Q12 Assess Resources

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Questions 5 ‐ 10 relate to the following study:

Researchers wanted to determine whether laughter therapy would help to decrease anxiety levels in people diagnosed with Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. A study was conducted consisting of one group of participants who were diagnosed with Panic Disorder and one group of participants who were diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Participants’ levels of anxiety before beginning treatment were assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory. After the initial anxiety measurement, participants completed a series of six intensive laughter therapy sessions. Participants’ scores on the Beck Anxiety Inventory were taken at the midpoint of the therapy course. After completing therapy, participants’ levels of anxiety were once again measured on the Beck Anxiety Inventory. It was hypothesised that scores on the Beck Anxiety Inventory would decrease from pre‐ treatment to post‐treatment for both the Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder groups. The SPSS data file for this study is titled ‘Assessment 3b Questions 5‐10’. Run the appropriate analysis in SPSS to analyse the results and answer the following questions.

The factors incorporated in this study were:

Point in Laughter Course: Pre‐treatment vs. During Treatment vs. Post Treatment Disorder: Panic Disorder vs. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The dependent variable measured in this study was: Scores on the Beck Anxiety Inventory

Hypothesis:

Participants’ scores on the Beck Anxiety Inventory would decrease from pre‐ treatment to post‐treatment for both the Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder groups.

Use the SPSS data file ‘Assessment 3b Questions 5‐10’ to run the necessary analyses and answer the following questions.

5. Which of the following options provides the correct statistical notation for this study?

(a) 2 x 3

(b) 1 x 2 x 3 (c) 2 x (3 x S) (d) (2 x 3 x S) (e) 2 x (3 x 6)



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6. Screen the data file for univariate outliers. Which of the following statements is MOST accurate? After screening for univariate outliers make the appropriate transformation to the outlying cases before proceeding to the next stage of the analysis.

(a) There are no univariate outliers in the data file.

(b) Participant 10 is a univariate outlier with a score of 21. (c) Participant 15 is a univariate outlier with a score of 39. (d) Participant 36 is a univariate outlier with a score of 26. (e) Participant 32 is a univariate outlier with a score of 63.

7. Screen the data file for multivariate outliers. Which of the following statements is MOST accurate? Deal with multivariate outliers in the appropriate way before proceeding to the next stage of the analysis.

(a) There are no multivariate outliers in the data file.

(b) Participant 30 is the only multivariate outlier.

(c) Participants 10 and 30 are the only multivariate outlier. (d) Participants 1, 10, and 30 are all multivariate outliers.

(e) Participants 1, 10, 29, and 30 are all multivariate outliers.

8. Has the assumption of Homogeneity of Variance been satisfied? (a) Yes, Levene’s test is not significant.

(b) Yes, the Intercept is significant.

(c) No, Levene’s test is not significant.

(d) No, The F statistic for the Equality test is greater than 1. (e) Yes, the Corrected Model is significant.

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9. Which of the following options provides the most appropriate statistic from which to draw conclusions regarding the outcome of the analysis?

(a) Sphericity Assumed (b) Greenhouse‐Geisser (c) Huynh‐Feldt

(d) Lower‐bound

(e) Pillai’s Trace

10. Which of the following statements is the most accurate?

(a) Participants with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder obtained significantly higher scores on the BAI than participants with Panic Disorder.

(b) Participants with Panic Disorder obtained significantly higher scores on the BAI than participants with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

(c) There were no significant differences between the BAI scores at pre‐ treatment, during treatment, and post‐treatment.

(d) The only significant difference between participants with Panic Disorder and participants with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be seen at pre‐ treatment.

(e) The only significant difference between participants with Panic Disorder and participants with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be seen at post‐ treatment.

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Questions 11 ‐ 12 relate to the following study:

A company wanted to determine the work conditions that influence employee satisfaction. The company was interested in whether enabling participants to set their own work hours, and providing flexibility in the location in which they worked would lead to greater work satisfaction. A group of employees from the company agreed to take part in the study who were assigned to one of six conditions which varied according to the flexibility of starting time (fixed or flexible) and flexibility of location (home, office, or mixed). The SPSS data file for this study is titled ‘Assessment 3b Questions 11‐12’. Run the appropriate analysis in SPSS to analyse the results and answer the following questions.

The factors incorporated in this study were: Starting time: Fixed vs. Flexible

Location: Home vs. Work vs. Mixed

The dependent variable measured in this study was:

Scores on Satisfaction Scale (higher scores = greater satisfaction).

Use the SPSS data file ‘Assessment 3b Questions 11‐12’ to run the necessary analyses and answer the following questions.

11. Which of the following conclusions is most accurate?

(a) The significant result for start time indicates that location interacts with start

time.

(b) The significant result for Location indicates that location interacts with level

of satisfaction.

(c) Participants who received the flexible start time reported significantly higher

scores on the satisfaction scale than participants who had a fixed start time. (d) Participants who worked from home reported significantly higher scores on

the satisfaction scale than participants who worked from the office.

(e) Participants who had a mixed work location reported significantly higher scores on the satisfaction scale than participants who worked from home.



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12. Conduct the necessary analytical comparisons to determine which of the following conclusions are possible to draw on the basis of this study?

(a) Among participants who received the fixed start time, those who had a mixed work location reported significantly higher scores on the satisfaction scale than those worked from the office.

(b) Among participants who received the fixed start time, those who worked from home reported significantly higher scores on the satisfaction scale than those who worked from the office.

(c) There were no significant differences between the three work locations for participants who received the fixed start time.

(d) Among participants who received the flexible start time, those who worked from the office reported significantly higher scores on the satisfaction scale than those who worked from home.

(e) Among participants who received the flexible start time, those who had a mixed work location reported significantly higher scores on the satisfaction scale than those who worked from home.

100487 Empirical Research Methods 2012 Assessment 3b 8

Questions 13 ‐ 16 relate to the following study:

Researchers wanted to examine the differences between online compared to face‐ to‐face lectures. A study was conducted in which students from and introductory psychology unit or an introductory business unit received lectures in electronic form on the internet or in a live face‐to‐face format. The study was run as a between subjects design with half of the business students receiving the live lectures and the other half receiving the electronic lectures. Likewise, half of the psychology students received the live lectures and the other half received the electronic lectures. The dependent variable was participants’ mark on the final exam for the unit. Because it was thought that participants’ scores would be influenced by their academic proficiency, participants’ grade point average (GPA) was also incorporated in the study as a covariate. The SPSS data file for this study is titled ‘Assessment 3b Questions 13‐16’. Run the appropriate analyses in SPSS to analyse the results and answer the following questions.

The factors incorporated in this study were: Course: Psychology vs. Business

Lecture type: Live vs. Electronic

The covariate measured was: Participants’ GPA

The dependent variable measured in this study was: Mark on final exam for the unit.

Use the SPSS data file ‘Assessment 3b Question 13‐16’ to run the necessary analysis and answer the following question.

13. Which of the following options is true?

(a) The dependent variable satisfies the assumption of normality. (b) The covariate violates the assumption of normality.

(c) There are two univariate outliers.

(d) The assumption of homogeneity of regression has been violated. (e) The number of participants in each group is unsatisfactory.



100487 Empirical Research Methods 2012 Assessment 3b 9

14. Which of the following statements is true based on the results of the ANCOVA? Select the response that is MOST accurate.

(a) Participants who received the live lecture with a mean of 65.45 scored significantly higher on the final exam than participants who received the electronic lecture who obtained a mean score of 63.00.

(b) The relationship between participants’ GPA scores and their final mark on the exam differed across test conditions.

(c) The main effect for ‘Lecture type’ is not significant.

(d) Participants who received the electronic lecture with a mean of 66.13 scored significantly higher on the final exam than participants who received the live lecture who obtained a mean of 62.32.

(e) Psychology students who received the live lecture with a mean of 69.20 scored significantly higher than Business students who received the live lecture with a mean of 61.70.

15. Did the covariate make a significant contribution to scores on the dependent variable?

(a) No, the intercept is not significant.

(b) No, the interaction between ‘Lecture type’ and ‘course’ is not significant. (c) Yes, there is a significant interaction between ‘Lecture type’ and ‘course’. (d) Yes, the effect for GPA is significant.

(e) Yes, the effect for course is significant.

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16. Which of the following statements is most accurate concerning ANCOVA?

(a) ANOVA is generally more powerful than ANCOVA.

(b) The power of the F test increases as more covariates are added to the analysis.

(c) The power of the F test is not influenced by the number of covariates that are included.

(d) Including multiple covariates can decrease the power of the F test.

(e) The power of the F test decreases with the inclusion of multiple covariates.

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Questions 17 ‐ 20 relate to the following study:

Researchers wanted to investigate the usefulness of different types of therapy for reducing levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in both males and females. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions which specified the type of therapy that they received: None vs. Mindfulness Therapy vs. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Males’ and Females’ levels of depression, anxiety and stress where measured as separate dependent variables by using each of the depression, anxiety, and stress subscales of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). High scores on the scale indicate higher levels of the measured dimension. The SPSS data file for this study is titled ‘Assessment 3b Questions 17‐20’. Run a multivariate analysis of variance in SPSS to analyse the results and answer the following questions. Use multiple ANOVAs to interpret significant multivariate effects.

The factors incorporated in this study were:

Sex: Male vs. Female.

Type of therapy: None vs. Mindfulness Therapy vs. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

The dependent variables measured in this study were:

1. Scores on the Depression subscale of the DASS

2. Scores on the Anxiety subscale of the DASS

3. Scores on the Stress subscale of the DASS

Use the SPSS data file ‘Assessment 3b Questions 17‐20’ to run the necessary analyses and answer the following questions.

17. Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the multivariate statistic that should be used to interpret the analysis?

(a) Pillai’s Trace because the assumption of homogeneity of covariance matrices has been violated.

(b) Wilks’‐Lambda, because the assumption of homogeneity of covariance matrices has been satisfied.

(c) Wilks’‐Lambda because the assumption of homogeneity of variance has been violated.

(d) The Intercept because multiple test assumptions have been violated.

(e) Hostelling’s Trace because the assumption of homogeneity of covariance matrices has been satisfied.



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18. Univariate analyses are needed to interpret the multivariate results. Which of the following accurately portrays the relevant statistics pertaining to a significant univariate effect?

(a) F(6, 166) = 9.15, p = .00, partial ŋ2= .21 (b) F(1, 90) = 2.83, p = .06, partial ŋ2= .06 (c) F(1, 89) = 17.08, p = .02, partial ŋ2= .29 (d) F(2, 90) = 17.08, p = .00, partial ŋ2= .29 (e) F(2, 84) = 5.79, p = .00, partial ŋ2= .12

19. Which of the following is an appropriate alpha level that could be used to interpret the pairwise comparisons between the three different types of therapy on the anxiety dependent variable?

(a) .001 (b) .006 (c) .010 (d) .017 (e) .050

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20. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn based on the effect of the type of therapy on scores on the depression, anxiety, and stress subscales of the DASS?

(a) Those who received Mindfulness Therapy scored significantly lower on the Depression subscale of the DASS than those who received Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

(b) Those who received Mindfulness Therapy scored significantly lower on the Stress subscale of the DASS than those who received no therapy or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

(c) Those who received Cognitive Behavioural Therapy scored significantly lower on the Anxiety subscale of the DASS than those who received No Therapy.

(d) Those who received the Mindfulness Therapy scored significantly lower on the Anxiety subscale of the DASS than those who received the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

(e) Females who received Cognitive Behavioural Therapy scored significantly lower on the Depression subscale of the DASS than Males who received Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Self Efficacy for Information Literacy Scale

Use the rating scale below to indicate your level of confidence that you can perform the following tasks when completing an assignment.

7 = almost always true

6 = Usually True

5 = Often True

4 = Occasionally True

3 = Sometimes but infrequently true 2 = Usually not true

1 = Almost never true

When completing an assignment, I am confident that I can……

1. Define the information that I need

2. Identify a variety of potential sources of information

3. Limit search by subject, language, and date

4. Initiate search by using keywords

5. Decide where and how to find information I need

6. Use different kinds of print sources (e.g. books, encyclopaedias)

7. Use electronic information sources

8. Locate resources in the library using the library catalogue

9. Use internet search tools (such as search engines)

10. Use different types of libraries

11. Use many resources at the same time

12. Assess resources according to how appropriate, current, and reliable that they are 13. Select the information that is most appropriate to my goal

14. Identify points of agreement and disagreement among sources

15. Evaluate internet resources

16. Synthesise new gathered information with previous information

17. Visually interpret data (e.g. graphs and figures)

18. Write a research paper

19. Prepare a reference List

20. Prepare resources for reference list

21. Appropriately cite the work of other authors

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