Exam 1 - Variables/Measures Flashcards
What are variables?
Any characteristics that can take on different values
-Height, Age, Species, Exam score
T/F: The independent variable impacts the dependent variable.
TRUE
Which is the outcome variable?
Dependent variable
Which is the cause or results in the outcome variable?
Independent variable
T/F: Dependent variable change based on the independent variables.
TRUE
What reduces subjectivity?
OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
What do variables measure?
Concepts and constructs
How are variables measured?
Using either a numerical value or an appropriate label
Which type of variable is responsible for the change in the observed phenomena?
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
T/F: Independent variables are the presumed CAUSE of the dependent variable.
TRUE
What three things are necessary for Causality?
1) Temporal
- Variation in the independent variable came before the variation in the dependent variable
2) Association
- A significant empirical association between the independent and dependent variables
3) Nonspuriousness
- Spurious means false or not genuine
- Spurious relationships between two variables is actually due to changes in a third variable
Which variable is referred to as the outcome variable?
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
T/F: The dependent variable’s outcomes results from changes in the independent variables.
TRUE
T/F: In the lab, control variables are often held constant.
TRUE
T/F: Outside the lab, control variables are held constant.
FALSE
-Outside the lab, control variables are measured, and statistical methods adjust or control for their influence
What are control variables also known as?
Confounding or Extraneous variables
Name the two categorical levels of measurement.
1) Nominal scale
2) Ordinal scale
Name the two continuous levels of measurement.
1) Interval scale
2) Ratio scale
What is a NOMINAL measurement scale used for?
Qualitative data
How many levels of measurement are needed for nominal measurement scale?
Two or more
What is qualitative data?
Labels, descriptive
Name 3 examples of Nominal Measurement.
1) Sex (M/F)
2) Smoker (Y/N)
3) Political Party
Define the Ordinal Measurement Scale.
All the properties of nominal but added more order to it
Which measurement scale is one in which the variables are ordered or ranked?
ORDINAL
Name 3 examples of Ordinal Measurement.
1) Disease severity, staging tumors
2) Income - low, medium, high
3) Likert scales - strongly agree, agree, strongly disagree, disagree
What example of measurement would a Likert scale be?
Ordinal Measurement
What example of measurement would being a smoker and not being a smoker be (yes/no)?
Nominal Measurement