Create an operational definition for "12 pound bar" that results in attribute data. Answer: Criteria: Select a bar from inventory. Place it on a digital scale. If the digital readout is between…

Question

Options

• ACriteria: Select a bar from inventory. Place it on a digital scale. If the digital readout is between 11.999 and 12.001, inclusive, then the bar is classified as 12 pounds. If the digital readout is not between 11.999 and 12.001, inclusive, then the bar is classified as not 12 pounds. Test: Select a particular bar and put it on the scale. Record the digital readout. Decision: If 11.999 digital readout 12.001, then bar = 12 pounds. If digital readout < 11.999 or digital readout > 12.001, then bar 12 pounds.

• A
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Explanation

Option A is correct because it satisfies both requirements simultaneously: it follows the three-part structure of a valid operational definition (Criteria, Test, Decision) and produces attribute data - a binary pass/fail classification (bar either "is" or "is not" 12 pounds) rather than a continuous measurement. The key insight is that even though a digital scale produces variable (continuous) data, the decision rule converts it into attribute data by forcing the outcome into one of two categories. No distractors are presented here because this is a constructed-response question - the challenge is recognizing that the proposed definition is correct, not choosing between alternatives.

Memory tip: Think "ATTRibute = ATTRibute of conformance" - attribute data always answers a yes/no question. Whenever an operational definition ends with a binary judgment ("it IS X" or "it is NOT X"), you're dealing with attribute data, regardless of what instrument you used to measure it.

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