Chapter 4: Fundamental Research Issues

Question 1

What are variables?

Answer 1

Any event, situation, behavior, or characteristic that changes and has at least 2 values

Question 2

What is a quantitative or numeric variable?

Answer 2

Variables whose value ranges from 0 to an actual value. For example, the number of free throws made, and the number of symptoms of major depression

Question 3

What is a qualitative or categorical variable?

Answer 3

Variables identified into different categories. For example, gender, eye color, major, etc.

Question 4

What are the two ways of defining variables?

Answer 4

Conceptual definition- aka dictionary definition
Operational Definition- Redefines a variable in terms of physical steps in order to allow for future replication

Question 5

What are four types of validity?

Answer 5

Construct validity
internal validity
external validity
Statistical validity

Question 6

What is construct validity?

Answer 6

Refers to the accuracy of the operational definition of variables

Question 7

What is external validity?

Answer 7

Evaluates the extent that the results can apply to other populations and settings

Question 8

What is statistical validity?

Answer 8

The accuracy or the statistical conclusions drawn from the results of a research investigation

Question 9

What are the 4 common relationships between variables?

Answer 9

1. Positive Linear Relationship- values of both variables increase
2. Negative Linear Relationship – Value of one variable increases, value of the other decreases
3. Curvilinear Relationship- Value of one variable increases while the value of the other increases and decreases
4. No relationship- flat line

Question 10

What type of relationship is shown?

Answer 10

Positive Linear Relationship

Question 11

What type of relationship is shown?

Answer 11

Curvilinear Relationship

Question 12

How can we determine if variables are related?

Answer 12

By studying them using non-experimental or experimental methods

Question 13

What is the non-experimental method? What are its weaknesses?

Answer 13

Method in which variables are studied by observing.

Weaknesses: Weakness determining cause and effect

Third variable problem (An extraneous variable may be interfering with the 2 variables being studied)

Question 14

What is the experimental method?

Answer 14

Method using direct manipulation and control of the variables.

Question 15

What is internal validity? What three elements are required for strong internal validity?

Answer 15

The ability to draw conclusions about cause and effect relationships from the results of a study

3 elements:

1. Alternative explanations for the relationship must be eliminated
2. Covariation or change in both variables
3. Temporal order of events

Question 16

What is an independent variable? A dependent variable?

Answer 16

IV- the cause/manipulator

DV- the effect/outcome

Question 17

What is a situational variable?

Answer 17

A variable in a situation or environment that unintentionally affects the outcome of a study

Question 18

What is a response variable?

Answer 18

A variable that describes the responses or behaviors of individuals

Question 19

What are individual difference variables?

Answer 19

Variables that describe the characteristics of individuals and are examined to see if they affect the performance of the individual (does gender affect ___)

Question 20

What are mediating variables?

Answer 20

Variables that connect/explain the relationship between the independent and dependent variables

Question 21

What are subject variables?

Answer 21

Characteristics of research participants that are studied as if they were independent variables (ex. if gender causes ____). They cannot be manipulated.

Question 22

What are the weaknesses of the nonexperimental method?

Answer 22

1. Weakness with determining order of cause and effect/ temporal precedence
2. The third-variable problem (there may be a relationship between two variables because some other variable causes both)