302 COMM Final Exam Spring 2009 Quick Guide 1. The final consists of 50 multiple-choice items and is computer scored. 2. You need to bring in your lucky #2 pencils. -- OPSCAN sheets are on me. 3. The exam covers: Merrigan & Huston chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, & 13 and levels of measurement Class Power Point Slides APA reference style 4. Suggestions: Review Vocabulary. Be able to define and explain the key terms from the readings and the slides. This is a critical aspect of all examinations that students often neglect. Use the glossary in the back of the book for definitions. Review Levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio). Be sure to fully understand each and be able to give examples. Review how to write a reference for a journal article using proper APA style. Sample test items: 1. Political polling research is best classified as what kind of research? a. Basic survey research b. Applied survey research (p. 107) c. Basic experimental research d. Applied ethnographic research 2. A communication researcher wants to estimate the reliability of the items of a survey instrument by assessing its homogeneity. Which of the following is the best option for the researcher to select to handle this task? a. T-test b. F-test c. Cronbach's Alpha (p. 121) d. Split-half
For the item 3 (below) refer to the following example of a hypothetical questionnaire created by a student and handed out to undergraduates in a mass-lecture class:
Survey Title: Having Sex on the Net Please be honest when you fill out my questionnaire! I need a good grade--so complete it all. know I where you live! Question #1: Sex: ________ Question #2: When was the last time you had virtual sex with an animal on the internet? Question #3: Do you never avoid invitations to have virtual sex on the internet? Question #4: Do you like to have virtual sex and check sports scores on the internet? Question #5: Does size matter when having virtual sex on the internet? Thanks for helping me--See you on the net! I. M. Kinky Student
3. Which survey question from the student's survey (above) best represents a violation of the questionnaire guideline--"Avoid leading questions"? a. Question #1 (p. 117, Question is worded unclearly) b. Question #2 (p. 116-117 Question is leading--It assumes a particular answer in the question itself) c. Question #3 (p. 117, Question uses a double negative) d. Question #4 (p. 117, Question uses double-barreled wording) 4. To establish a causal argument the three criteria include the manipulation of th...