Chapter 3

Question 1

Variable

Answer 1

An attribute that varies, having at least two levels, or values.

Question 2

Levels

Answer 2

One of the possible variations, or values, of a variable

Question 3

Constant

Answer 3

An attribute that could potentially vary but that has only one level in the study in question

Question 4

Measured Variable

Answer 4

A variable in a study whose levels (values) are observed and recorded

Question 5

Manipulated Variable

Answer 5

A variable in an experiment that a researcher controls, such as by assigning participants to its different levels (values)

Question 6

Constructs/Conceptual Variables

Answer 6

A variable of interest, stated at an abstract level, usually defined as part of a formal statement of a psychological theory

Question 7

Operational Definition/Operational Variable

Answer 7

The specific way in which a concept of interest is measured or manipulated as a variable in a study

Question 8

Operationalize

Answer 8

To turn a conceptual definition of a variable into a specific measured variable or manipulated variable in order to conduct a research study

Question 9

Claim

Answer 9

The argument a journalist, researcher, or scientist is trying to make

Question 10

Frequency Claim

Answer 10

A claim that describes a particular rate or degree of a single variable

Question 11

Association Claim

Answer 11

A claim about two variables, in which the value (level) of one variable is said to vary systematically with the value of another variable

Question 12

Correlate

Answer 12

To occur or vary together (covary) systematically, as in the case of two variables

Question 13

Correlational Study

Answer 13

A study that includes two or more variables, in which all of the variables are measured; can support an association claim.

Question 14

Positive Association

Answer 14

An association in which high levels of one variable go with high levels of the other variable, and low levels of one variable go with low levels of the other variable

Question 15

Scatterplot

Answer 15

A graphical representation of an association, in which each dot represents one participant in the study measured on two variables

Question 16

Negative Association

Answer 16

An association in which high levels of one variable go with low levels of the other variable, and vice versa

Question 17

Zero Association

Answer 17

A lack of systematic association between two variables

Question 18

Causal Claim

Answer 18

A claim arguing that a specific change in one variable is responsible for influencing that value of another variable

Question 19

Validity

Answer 19

The appropriateness of a conclusion or decision

Question 20

Construct Validity

Answer 20

An indication of how well a variable was measured or manipulated in a study

Question 21

Generalizability

Answer 21

The extent to which the subjects in a study represent the populations they are intended to represent; how well the settings in a study represent other settings or contexts.

Question 22

External Validity

Answer 22

An indication of how well the results of a study generalize to, or represent, individuals or contexts besides those in the study itself

Question 23

Statistical Validity

Answer 23

The extent to which statistical conclusions derived from a study are accurate and reasonable

Question 24

Point Estimate

Answer 24

A single estimate of some population value (such as a percentage, a correlation, or a difference) based on data from a sample

Question 25

Confidence Interval (CI)

Answer 25

A given range indicated by a lower and upper value that is designed to capture the population value for some point estimate (e.g., percentage, difference, or correlation); a high proportion of CIs will capture the true population value.

Question 26

Margin of Error of the Estimate

Answer 26

In the context of a percentage estimate, an inferential statistic providing a range of values that has a high probability of containing the true population value

Question 27

Covariance

Answer 27

The degree to which two variables go together. Also one of three criteria for establishing a causal claim, which states that, in a study’s results, the proposed causal variable must vary systematically with changes in the proposed outcome variable

Question 28

Temporal Precedence

Answer 28

One of three criteria for establishing a causal claim, stating that the proposed causal variable comes first in time, before the proposed outcome variable

Question 29

Internal Validity

Answer 29

One of three criteria for establishing a causal claim; a study’s ability to rule out alternative explanations for a causal relationship between two variables.

Question 30

Experiment

Answer 30

A study in which at least one variable is manipulated and another is measured

Question 31

Independent Variable

Answer 31

In an experiment, a variable that is manipulated.

Question 32

Dependent Variable

Answer 32

In an experiment, the variable that is measured.

Question 33

Random Assignment

Answer 33

The use of a random method (e.g., flipping a coin) to assign participants into different experimental groups