Definitions midterm 1

Question 1

Factor Analysis

Answer 1

a statistical method that searches for joint variations in response to observed latent variables.

Question 2

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA)

Answer 2

is used to uncover the underlying structure of a relatively large set of variables

Question 3

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA):

Answer 3

seeks to determine if the number of factors and the loading of measured variables on them conform to what is expected on the basis of pre-established theories.

Question 4

Factor extraction

Answer 4

the aim of factor extraction is the expression of the greatest amount of the total variance of the variables (coverage) with the smallest amount of components/factors (parsimony)

Following to principles; parsimony = the least number of factors and coverage = yielding the most information concerning all the variables)

Question 5

Factor loading

Answer 5

is the correlation coefficient between the variable and the factor (.56*)

Question 6

Eigenvalue

Answer 6

the eigenvalue for a given factor measures the variance in all the variables that the factor accounts for (Self-direction = 2.89*)

Question 7

Interpersonal Functioning

Answer 7

d

Question 8

Physiognomy

Answer 8

the assessment of a person`s character or personality from his outer appearance, especially the face.

Question 9

Phrenology

Answer 9

A psychological theory or analytical method based on the belief that certain mental faculties and character traits are indicated by the configuration of the skull

Question 10

Metatheories

Answer 10

A set of assumptions about reality, which provides guidelines for what kind of ideas to use to create theories

Question 11

Parsimony

Answer 11

a principle of factor extraction that accounts for a set of observed variables in terms of a small number of latent, underlying constructs /factors.

Question 12

Personality

Answer 12

A dynamic organization, inside a person, of psychophysical systems that create the person`s characteristic patterns of behavior, thoughts and feelings.

Question 13

Theory

Answer 13

An abstract theory that summarizes a set of principles pertaining to a class of events.

Question 14

Case-study

Answer 14

An indept study of only one individual

Question 15

Causality

Answer 15

A relationship between variables, where one variable produces a change in another variable.

Question 16

Correlation

Answer 16

is a statistical measure that indicates a mutual relationship between one or more variables and the extent to which two or more variables fluctuate each other.

Question 17

Correlation coefficient

Answer 17

a numeric index of the degree of correlation between two variables (.45)

Question 18

Dependent variable

Answer 18

The variable measured as the outcome, the effect in the cause-effect relation.

Question 19

Independent variable

Answer 19

the variable manipulated in the experiment, tested as the effect in the cause-effect relation.

Question 20

Main effect

Answer 20

A finding in which the effect of one predictor variable is independent of other variables.

Question 21

Personology

Answer 21

Theory of personality advanced by henry murray that emphasize person as a whole, opposed to only one aspect of the person

Question 22

Random assignment

Answer 22

The process of putting people randomly in groups in an experiment, so that their characteristics balance out across groups

Question 23

Statistical significance

Answer 23

a number that expresses the probability that the result of a give experiment or study could have occurred purely by chance

Question 24

Variable

Answer 24

A variable is any characteristics, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted.

Question 25

Aggregation

Answer 25

The process of combining a variable across several measurements

Question 26

Diathesis stress-theory

Answer 26

theory holding that stress plus vulnerability creates problem for behavior

Question 27

Extrovert

Answer 27

social

Question 28

Idiographic

Answer 28

Pertaining to an approach that focuses on the individual person`s uniqueness

Question 29

Nomothetic

Answer 29

Pertaining to an approach that focuses on norms and variations among persons

Question 30

Interactionism

Answer 30

The idea that situation and personality interacts to determine behavior

Question 31

Interpersonal Circle

Answer 31

Personality patterns deriving from varying levels of dominance and love

Question 32

Introvert

Answer 32

Likes spending time alone

Question 33

Lexical criterion

Answer 33

a personality trait that is described by many words is likely to be more important than one described by just a few