Final answer:
The factors mentioned - situational contaminants, response-set bias, transitory personal factors, administration variations, instrument clarity, and item sampling - are contributors to measurement error in research. These encompass diverse human and environmental elements that introduce inaccuracies during data collection, necessitating consideration to ensure the reliability of research.So, the correct answer is b) Sources of measurement error.
Step-by-step explanation:
The items listed in the question – situational contaminants, response-set bias, transitory personal factors, administration variations, instrument clarity, and item sampling – are b) Sources of measurement error.
Measurement error is a broad term used to describe any factors that may lead to inaccuracies in the data collection process of a study.
Sources of measurement error can significantly impact the reliability and validity of research outcomes.
For example, situational contaminants refer to the external environmental factors that can affect the responses or measurements during data collection.
Response-set bias, such as social desirability bias, occurs when respondents answer in a way that they believe will be viewed favorably by others.
Transitory personal factors are temporary characteristics of the participants, such as mood or health, that may affect their responses.
Administration variations involve inconsistencies in the way a study is conducted, like differences in how survey questions are presented to participants.
Instrument clarity pertains to how well the measurement tools or questionnaires are understood by respondents.
Finally, item sampling involves the selection of specific items that are to be measured or questions to be asked, which can affect the data collected.
So, the correct answer is b) Sources of measurement error.