Chapter 3 - Interrogation Tools for Consumers of Research Flashcards
define a measured variable
a variable in a study whose levels (values( are observed and recorded
define a manipulated variable
a variable researchers control, usually by assigning study participants to the different levels of that variable. some variables cannot be manipulated due to ethical reasons, examples being childhood trauma or race.
define constructs/conceptual variables
a variable of interest, at an abstract level, defined as part of a formal statement of a psychological theory. cannot be directly observed so we need to operationalize them.
define operational variables/operationalizations
the specific way in which a concept of interest is measured or manipulated as a variable in a study. a definition of a concept in terms of precisely described operations, measures, or procedures.
define the frequency claim
a claim that describes a particular rate or degree of a single variable. (ex. is how frequent or common something is)
variable is always measured and not manipulated and only focuses on a single variable.
- Forty-one Percent of Children Worldwide Experience Moderate Food Insecurity
define association claim
a claim about two variables, in which the value of one variable is said to vary systemically with the value of another variable. Mostly found in correlational studies
variables are always measured and involve at least two variables.
- Study Links Coffee Consumption to Lower Depression in Women
define the difference between a positive and negative association with the association claim
positive: high levels of one go with high levels of another, and same for low (linking exercise to higher pay)
negative: high levels of one go with low levels of another (coffee drinking leading to less depression)
define causal claims
a claim arguing that a specific change in one variables is responsible for influencing the value of another variable. one variable is manipulated, and one is measured and the rest is held constant (an experiment)
- To Appear More Intimidating, Just Tilt Your Head Down, Study Suggests
define a variable
it is anything that varies. it has multiple levels (values).
ex. education can be broken down into different levels such as university, high school, and college.
if examining only a single value of a variable, then it is considered a constant
how do scatterplots work to describe a correlation?
they show the association between two quantitative variables.
they display form, direction and strength (close bounded) of the association.
how to know the difference between a causal and correlational relationship?
causal: X changes first and then causes Y to change too
- leads, results, affects, boost, could increase
correlational: X and Y change together
- related, associated, linked, worse, likely
correlational and causal can not be linked together!
define validity
the appropriateness of a conclusion or decision
define construct validity
an indication of how well a variable was measured or manipulated in a study. researchers must make sure that variables are measured reliably ( to get similar scores of repeated testing) and that the different levels accurately represent difference.
define generalizability
the extent to which subjects in a study represent the population; how well the setting repreesnet other settings or contexts
define external validity
an indication of how well the results generalize to, individuals or contexts beside those in the study itself
