CH 5

Question 1

Conceptual Definition

Review: Describing Variables

Answer 1

Tells you what the concept means

• is based on theroy
• Abstract

Question 2

Operational Definition

Answer 2

Tells you how the concept is being measured or manipulated

• What method is being used
• More detailed/specific

Question 3

What are the 3 Types of measures?

Answer 3

1. Self-report
2. Observational
3. Physiological

Question 4

Self-Report

Answer 4

The responses people give to questionnaires and interviews

• Most widely used method to capture peoples emotions
• Answers will be based on their perceived experiences

Question 5

• Research question: do people experience in increase in fear during public speaking?
• Rating scale: How fearful were you while giving the speech? (1 = extremely; 5 = not at all)
• Open ended: How did you feel while giving the speech?

Answer 5

Examples of Self-Report

Question 6

Observational

Answer 6

Involves the direct observation of a participants behaviour

• Can be used to measure anything an animal or person does that researchers can observe
• Observers will be trained individuals that make observations about the behaviour of interest

Question 7

• Research question: do people experience in increase in fear during public speaking?
• Observes watch the speaker and look for pre-determined markers of anxiety/fear
• Would have multiple observers

Behaviour examples:
* Stuttering
* Redness/flushed
* lack of eye contact
* Shaky voice

Answer 7

Example of Observational

Question 8

Physiological

Answer 8

Involves measuring bodily processes

• Often used to assess processes within the nervous system
• I.e., heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow to the brain etc.

Question 9

Research question: do people experience in increase in fear during public speaking?

Record physiological responses that reflect the internal state of anxiety/fear

• EEG (Electroencephalogram) - measure the brain cell activity
• EMG (Electromyography) - measure muscle tension
• GSR (Galvanic skin response) - measure emotional arousal via changes in sweat
  gland activity

Answer 9

Example of Physiological

Question 10

Reason for choosing type(s) of Measures

Answer 10

1. Theoretical Interests
2. Methodological Pluralism

Question 11

1. Theoretical Interests

Answer 11

Are you interested in people’s actual abilities or the perceptions of their abilities

Question 12

2. Methodological Pluralism

Answer 12

• 1. Using a variety of measurement
     types is encouraged
• Keep in mind, the results may
  not always align

Question 13

What is Measurement?

Answer 13

The process of assigning values meaningfully to behaviour, people, attributes, etc.

• The goal is to assign numbers to the variable of interest

Four types of measurement scales:
1. Categorical
2. Ratio
3. Interval
4. Ordinal

Question 14

What are the Four types of measurement scales:

Answer 14

1. Categorical (or Nominal)
2. Ratio
3. Interval
4. Ordinal

Question 15

Categorical (or Nominal) Scale

Answer 15

Consists of a set of categories that have different names.

• Levels are qualitatively distinct categories
• Have no true quantitative/numerical property but numbers can be assigned to represent the different categories
• Cannot be ordered

Example: I.e., gender, culture, major, country

Question 16

Ordinal Scale

Answer 16

Consists of a set of categories that are organized in an ordered sequence.

• Numbers represent rank ordering (2 is “more than” 1)
• Higher numbers present more of the quality being measured
• Distance between the values are NOT equal

Example: I.e., tase preference (1 = Cola, 2 = Pepsi, 3 = root beer)

Question 17

Interval Scale

Answer 17

Consists of ordered categories that are all intervals of exactly the same size.

• Distance between the values ARE equal
• Difference between 1 and 2 is equal to the difference between 3 an 4
• Zero is arbitrary, it does not mean nothing and therefore there is no true zero

Example: I.e., thermometers, IQ