Individual Differences Flashcards
What are the 3 types of descriptive statistics
Observational: don’t question or intervene, just watch
Archival: historical, problem occurs that info not always accurate or available
Surveys: ask about attitudes/beliefs. Be mindful of wording and context. Random sampling essential, so as not to mislead the population.
What are correlational studies?what are their strengths and weaknesses?
They assess the association between 2 variables, there is no manipulation by the researcher.
Strengths: study naturally occurring associations
Examine difficult phenomena, offers freedom in settings.
Weakness ; could be due to chance and does not mean causation.
What is a prospective design?
Measuring 2 things at different points of time.
E.g. Sheier et al (1989) optimism of 51 coronary bypass pta. Assessed wellbeing:- 1 day before surgery, 8weeks post, 6 months post.
Disadvantage, getting participants to engage in all parts of study, high drop out rate.
What is construct validity
The extent to which the measures assess the variables they are meant to.
What are subject variables
The differences between participants that may influence the DV.
What is the difference between random sampling and random assignment
Random sampling is selecting parts. To be ina study so everyone from a pop. Has equal chance of being a part. Enables researchers to collect data representative of pop. They are studying to be able to generalise.
Random assignment is assigning parts. To the various conditions of the experiment so each part. Has an equal chance of being in any condition to reduce the individual diffs btw. Parts.
What is internal validity
The confidence that the IV caused the DV without any confounding variables.
Quasi -experimental
Where you include gender or age as an independent variable , something that just is and cant be manipulated.
How would you overcome the confounds, such as bias of researcher or participant effects (if they guess what is being asked of them ) or social desirability to threats to internal validity
Carefully controlled design
Use double blind and placebos
Anonymity stressed to the participant
What is external validity
The extent that results can be generalised to other situations and people
WHAT DOES THE BELL CURVE BY HURNSTEIN AND MURRAY (1994) PROPOSE
Assumptions made were that IQ tests are accurate , IQ strongly predicts achievement, IQ is genetically determined. There is nothing you can do to improve the bottom half of the distribution curve.
What is the marshmallow test and who devised it
Kids who did not eat the marshmallow as presented and told if they waited they would get more, had better life outcomes, delayed gratification. Mitchel 79,88
What if the Flynn effect
IQ scores increase over time, this has slowed in the US and Europe , increased in Korea.
What did twin studies of intelligence not account for
The effect of genes, little is still known about how genes interact with their environment.
That the twins were in different families but of similar mindset, SES , or from the same family. Most studies conducted in the west.
What is heritability
Refers to the % trait variation in a population , not an individual. Twin studies but it as high as .75-.85 with intelligence being genetic. More likely about 50%.
