The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Quantitative Research Methods: New Doctoral Student Self-Assessment
 
Introduction
Instructions
Resources
Assessment
1. Algebraic Notation and Operations
2. Descriptive Statistics
3. Tabular Displays of Data
4. Graphical Displays of Data
5. Research Topics, Theory, Constructs, Questions, and Hypothesis
6. Research Designs
7. Measurement
8. Sampling
9. Probability
10. Basics of Inferential Statistics
11. One-Group Inferential Statistics
12. Two-Group Inferential Statistics
13. Critiquing Education and Social Science Research
Answer Key
Module 2:
Descriptive Statistics
This section assesses understanding of basic descriptive statistics that are often used to summarize data.

Table 2.1
Class List
StudentRace/EthnicityAge
Lakisha BatesAfrican-American25
Kathy EdwardsCaucasian32
Colette FelderCaucasian29
Julie GodwinCaucasian41
John LewisAfrican-American41
Emily RiveraHispanic33
Ronald TakaiAsian37
Michele WoodsCaucasian28
(Note: This is fabricated data.)

Question 1:  In Table 2.1, what fraction of the students are African American?
A.  1/2
B.  1/4
C.  2/6
D.  2/10
E. None of the above

Question 2:  In Table 2.1, what proportion of the students are Caucasian?
A.  50%
B.  .5
C.  1/5
D.  1/1
E.  None of the above

Question 3:  In Table 2.1, what is the ratio of Caucasian students to the other students?
A.  50%
B.  .5
C.  1/5
D.  1/1
E.  None of the above

Question 4:  In Table 2.1, what percentage of the students are under the age of 30?
A.  3/8
B.  8/3
C.  37.5%
D.  .375%
E. None of the above


Table 2.2
Employee Salaries and Job Satisfaction Scores
EmployeeAnnual SalaryJob Satisfaction Score
Joe Blow34,0005
Mary Dogooder34,0006
Harry Haplass47,0003
Judy Greenacres49,0007
Bill Bigwig50,0004
(Note: This is fabricated data.)

Question 5:  In Table 2.2, what is the mean annual salary of the five people listed?
A.  $34,000
B.  $47,000
C.  $42,800
D.  $50,000
E.  None of the above

Question 6:  In Table 2.2, what is the median annual salary of the five people listed?
A.  $34,000
B.  $47,000
C.  $42,800
D.  $50,000
E.  None of the above

Question 7:  In Table 2.2, what is the modal annual salary of the five people listed?
A.  $34,000
B.  $47,000
C.  $42,800
D.  $50,000
E.  None of the above

Question 8:  In Table 2.2, what is the range of the job satisfaction ratings?
A.  5 to 4
B.  7 to 5
C.  3 to 7
D.  4 to 5
E.  None of the above

Question 9  In Table 2.2, what value(s) are in the top two deciles of the job satisfaction ratings?
A.  4 and 5
B.  6
C.  4
D.  7
E.  None of the above

Question 10:  In Table 2.2, what kind of association (or correlation) is there between annual salary and job satisfaction?
A.  Substantial negative correlation
B.  Little or no correlation
C.  Substantial positive correlation
D.  Insufficient information
E.  None of the above

Question 11:  Which correlation coefficient represents the strongest association?
A.  .534
B.  .75
C.  -.8
D.  .0092
E.  None of the above