Chapter 4

Question 0

Variable

Answer 0

any event, situation, behavior, or individual characteristic that varies. It must have two or more levels or values.

Question 1

3 key types of Validity

Answer 1

Construct validity: methods of studying variables are accurate.
Internal validity: accuracy of conclusions about cause and effect.
External validity: can we generalize the findings of a study to other settings.

Question 2

Operational Definition

Answer 2

Concrete terms that can be measured or explains how the variable will be manipulated.

EX: a persons bowling skill is the variable. The bowling skill is operationalized as a persons average bowling score, or as the number of pins knocked down in a single roll.

Question 3

Positive Linear Relationship

Answer 3

Increases in the values of one variable are accompanied by increases in the values of the second variable.

EX: the more time parents spend reading to their preschool kids, the more the kids will enjoy reading when they are in elementary school.

Question 4

Negative Linear Relationship

Answer 4

Increase in one variable are accompanied by a decrease in the values of the other variable.

EX: The more children watch TV the less time they spend with their parents.

Question 5

Curvilinear Relationship

Answer 5

The increase of one variable are accompanied by a systematic increase and decrease in the values of the other variable. This is also called a nonmonotonic function

Question 6

No Relationship

Answer 6

When their is no relationship between the two variables, the graph is simply a flat line.

Question 7

Levels

Answer 7

If the variable has categories (gender, ethnicity)

Question 8

Value

Answer 8

Value is if the variable has quantities (weight, age, height)

Question 9

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 9

index of the degree of relationship between variables. (-1.0 to +1.0)

Question 10

Nonexperimental method

Answer 10

relationships are studied by making observations or measures of the variables of interest. Variables are observed naturally.
EX: ask person to describe their behavior, directly observing behavior, recording physiologicial responses or even examining various public records such as sensus data.

Question 11

Experimental Method

Answer 11

Involves direct manipulation and control of variables.

EX: This first area of interest is manipulated and then records the response.

Question 12

Experimental Vs. Correlation Method

Answer 12

Experimental you are manipulating the variable in order to record the response.

Correlation method you are taking two variables and observing if they line up. No manipulation of either variable EX: anxiety and exercise. What happens to anxiety when you exercise? If you exercise anxiety levels are lowered.

Question 13

Third variable problem

Answer 13

any variable that is extraneous to the two variables being studied.

EX: anxiety and exercise third variable could be income.

Question 14

Confounding Variable

Answer 14

When the uncontrolled third variable is operating.

EX: amount of coffee consumed and likelihood of a heart attack. Third variable usually not mentioned in media is genetics, occupation, or personality.

Question 15

Experimental Control

Answer 15

All extraneous variables are kept constant. If it is held constant it cannot be responsible for the results of the experiment.

EX: all participants are treated identically, the only difference between groups is the manipulated variable.

Question 16

Randomization

Answer 16

Controlling for the effects of extraneous variables by ensuring that the variables operate in a manner determined entirely by chance.

EX: take 50 baseball cards mix them in a hat and pick them out in no order.

Question 17

Independent variable

Answer 17

The variable that is the cause.

EX: The exposure to a situation.

Question 18

Dependent variable

Answer 18

The variable that is the effect.

EX: The response to what happened to him or her.

Question 19

Internal Valididty

Answer 19

The ability to draw conclusions about casual relationships from the results of a study.

EX: experiment for anxiety, exercise relieved anxiety. No exercise did not relieve anxiety.

Question 20

External Validity

Answer 20

The extent to which the results can be generalized to other populations and settings.

EX: An apology experiment between men and women can be done in Canada or anywhere in the world and the outcome will be the same.

Question 21

Artificiality of Experiements

Answer 21

laboratory experiments with unambiguous infrences reduce the possibility of external interferences. The experiment has strong internal validity.

Question 22

Field Experiment

Answer 22

The independent variable is manipulated in a natural setting. Trying to conduct an experiment in a field setting.

EX: an accomplice is in a public place sneezing. The participants are stopped and asked questions about if they feel they will catch the flu. Commercials were ran in the public setting about swine flu.

Question 23

Ethics

Answer 23

Experimental treatment is not ethical for certain practices. Non experimental study should be observed and performed.

Question 24

Participant Variables

AKA Subject Variables and Personal Attributes

Answer 24

Characteristics of individuals, such as age, gender, ethnic group, nationality, birth order, personality, or marital status. These are non experimental and must be measured

Question 25

Horizontal Axis

Answer 25

• IV or predictor (explanatory variable)
• Cause
• Manipulated (in experiment)

Question 26

Vertical Axis

Answer 26

• DV or criterion
• Effect
• Measured

Question 27

Correlation

Answer 27

The degree of relation between variables.