Chapter 3: 3 claims, 4 validities

Question 1

variable

Answer 1

something that varies and must have at least 2 levels or values

Question 2

constant

Answer 2

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

Question 3

measured variable (dependent variable)

Answer 3

a variable whose levels are observed and recorded

Question 4

manipulated variable (independent variable)

Answer 4

a variable the researcher controls

Question 5

construct/conceptual variables

Answer 5

the name of the concept being studied

Question 6

operational definition

Answer 6

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

Question 7

operationalization

Answer 7

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

Question 8

frequency claims

Answer 8

describe a particular rate or degree of a single variable
- how common or frequent something is

Question 9

association claims

Answer 9

argues that one level of a variable is likely to be associated with a particular level of another variable
- states a relationship between 2+ variables
- correlation

Question 10

causal claims

Answer 10

argues that one of the variables is responsible for the change in the other variable

Question 11

3 criteria to support a causal claim

Answer 11

• the 2 variables must be correlated
• the cause variable must come first and outcome variable must come after
• the study must establish that no other explanation exists for the relationship

Question 12

validity

Answer 12

refers to the appropriateness of a conclusion or decision and in general a valid claim is reasonable, accurate, and justifiable

Question 13

construct validity

Answer 13

refers to how well a conceptual variable is operationalized, measured, and manipulated

Question 14

generalizability

Answer 14

how well the results of a study can be generalized to a different population or situation

Question 15

external validity

Answer 15

the extent to which a studies findings can be applied outside the context of that study

Question 16

statistical validity

Answer 16

the extent to which a study’s statistical conclusions are precise, reasonable, and replicable

Question 17

covariance

Answer 17

the extent to which the 2 variables in a causal claim are observed to go together

Question 18

temporal precedence

Answer 18

the causal variable clearly comes first in time, before the effect variable

Question 19

internal validity

Answer 19

a study’s ability to eliminate alternative explanations for the association

Question 20

interrogating frequency claims

Answer 20

• construct validity
• external validity
• statistical validity

Question 21

interrogating association claims

Answer 21

• construct validity
• external validity
• statistical validity

Question 22

interrogating causal claims

Answer 22

• covariance
• temporal precedence
• internal validity