Hypotheses, Variables, Definitions Flashcards
What is confirmation bias?
o People tend to highlight evidence that supports their beliefs and ignore alternatives
What was the sequence game hypothesis?
- Every card containing a vowel must have an even number on the other side
What is an operational definition?
o Definition of a theoretical construct or concept stated in concreate/observable terms
- Defines a variable in terms used to measure it
- Measurement
-Clear, objective, practical, repeatable 1 `
What were the two variables in the bobo doll experiment?
- exposure
- aggressive behavior
How did the bobo doll experiment define EXPOSURE?
- watching an adult interact with a bob doll aggressively
How did the bobo doll experiment define AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR?
Number of instances of hitting, throwing of the doll in specific time
What was the hypothesis in the bobo doll experiment?
exposure to aggression increases aggressive behavior
What are the 3 types of variables?
- independent
- dependent
- subject
What is an independent variable?
- the manipulated variable
- researchers control these
What is a dependent variable?
- the responses or behaviors of individuals
- the effect on the dependent variable
What is the subject variable?
- indiviudal differences
- not under control of researcher
What are some examples of a subject variable?
- age
- ethnicity
- gender
What are the 4 variable scales?
- nominal
- ordinal
- interval
- ratio
What does nominal mean on the variable scale?
- no quantitative or numerical meaning
- categories cannot be arranged in any order from least to greatest
What are some examples of nominal variables?
- hair color
- preschool programs
- culture
- gender
What are ordinal variables?
Categories that can be arranged in any order from least to greatest but the spacing isn’t consistent
What are some examples of ordinal variables?
- socioeconomic status
- education levels
- place levels (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc)
What is an interval variable?
- the spacing between values is always the same , but there is no true zero
What are some examples of interval variables?
- temperature
- IQ score
What is a ratio variable?
an interval scale with a true zero point
What are some examples of a ratio variable?
- number of siblings
- years of education
- age
What are the 3 questions you need to ask to determine which scale a variable is on?
- Can you rank the levels of the variable?
- Are the level equidistant?
- Is there a true zero?
