Chapter 3

Question 1

Variable

Answer 1

Something that changes or varies, so it needs to have at least two levels or values

Question 2

Constant

Answer 2

Does not vary, stays the same

Question 3

Measured variable

Answer 3

Levels that are observed and recorded by the researcher

Height, IQ, gender

Question 4

Manipulated variable

Answer 4

Researcher controls a variable, usually by assigning participants to different levels of that variable

Question 5

Conceptual variable

Answer 5

Abstract, theoretical concepts such as “infant temperament” and “anxiety”

Question 6

Operational variables

Answer 6

In order to test their hypothesis with empirical data

To operationalize is to turn a conceptual definition into a measured or manipulated variable

Question 7

Claim

Answer 7

An argument someone is trying to make

Question 8

Frequency claim

Answer 8

One variable

Question 9

Association claim

Answer 9

Two variables that are related

Question 10

Casual claim

Answer 10

Two variables, one of which causes the other

Question 11

Positive association

Answer 11

High scores on one variable are associated with high scores on another variable or low scores on one variable are associated with low scores on another variable

Question 12

Casual claim

Answer 12

One of the variables is responsible for changing the other
One measured variable and one manipulated variable
The two variables convey
Contains tentative language (could, may, suggest)

Question 13

Construct validity

Answer 13

the degree to which a test measures what it claims, or purports, to be measuring
How well a conceptual variable is operationalized.
The extent to which the operational variables in a study are a good approximation if the conceptual variables.

Question 14

External validity

Answer 14

The extent to which the results of a study generalize to some larger population, as well as to other times or situations.

Question 15

Statistical validity

Answer 15

The extent to which the data support the conclusions. Important to ask about the strength of an association and its statistical significance

Question 16

Internal validity

Answer 16

In a relationship between one variable (A) and another (B), the extent to which A, rather than some other variable (C), is responsible for B

Question 17

Type I error

Answer 17

False positive, a study might mistakenly conclude that there is an association between two variables in their sample when there actually is no association in the population.

Question 18

Type II error

Answer 18

A “miss”
A study might mistakenly conclude from a sample that there is no association between two variables when there actually is an association in the population

Question 19

Covariance

Answer 19

This simply means that two variables are related. Association claims fulfill the criterion

Question 20

Temporal precedence

Answer 20

One variable comes before the other variable in time.

Question 21

Internal validity

Answer 21

Also known as the third-variable criterion

A study would be able to eliminate alternative explanation. In other words, variable A is the only thing that changed.

Question 22

Independent variable

Answer 22

Manipulated or variable (cause) in an experiment

Question 23

Dependent variable

Answer 23

Measured variable (effect) in an experiment
IQ

Question 24

Random assignment

Answer 24

A method of assigning participants to levels of the independent such that each group is similar as possible
Flipping a coin or rolling a dice
Increases internal validity by controlling for potential alternative explanations