Ch4 Identifying Scientific Variables Flashcards
What is an external factor of a construct?
An observable behavior or event that is presumed to reflect the construct itself
What is a hypothetical construct?
A conceptual variable that is known to exist but cannot be directly observed
What are two criteria that make variable suitable for scientific investigation?
Observable and replicable
What Is a continuous variable?
Variables measured along a continuum at anyplace beyond the decimal point, meaning that can be measured in whole units or functional units
What is a discrete variable?
A variable measured in whole units or categories that are not disputed along a continuum
What is a quantitative variable?
A variable that varies by amount and is measured as a numeric value
What is a qualitative variable?
A variable that varies by class and is often a category or label for the behaviors and events researchers observe
What are the four scales of measurement?
Nominal
ordinal
interval
ratio
What is a nominal scale?
Measurements in which a number is assigned to represent something or someone
What is an ordinal scale?
Measurement that convey order or rank only
What is an interval scale?
Measurements that have no true zero and are distributed in equal units
What is a true zero?
When the value zero truly indicates nothing on the scale of measurement
What is a ratio scale?
Measurements I have a true zero and are equidistant
What Is reliability?
The consistency, stability, or repeatability of one or more measure or observation
What is test and retest reliability?
The extent to which a measure or observation is consistent or stable at two points in time
What Is internal consistency?
A measure of reliability used to determine the extent to which multiple items used to measure the same variable are related
What is inter-rater reliability or inter-observable reliability?
measure for the extent to which two or more raters of the same behavior or event are in agreement with what they observed
What is validity?
A measurement of the extent to which a measurement for a variable or construct measures what it is purported or intended to measure
What is face validity?
A measurement to the extent to which a measure or variable or construct appears to Measure what it is supposed to measure
What is construct validity?
The measurement of the extent to which an operational definition or variable or construct is actually measuring that variable or construct
What is criterion the related validity?
The measurement of the extent to which scores obtained on some measure can be used to obtain or predict a criterion or expected outcome
What is content Validity?
The measurement of the extent to which the items or contents of a measure adequately represents all the features of the construct been measured
What are four strategies used to minimize participant reactivity?
Reassure anonymity
use deception when ethical
measure less obvious variables
and minimize demand characteristics
What are three strategies used to minimize experimenter bias?
Get a second opinion
standardize the research procedures
conduct a double-blind study
