PSC 041 Exam 1 Flashcards
Null hypothesis
there is no relationship between variables
Predictor variable
explanatory variables that predict outcome variables
Participant variables
individual differences like height or age
Independent Variable
variable manipulated under experimenter’s control
Outcome variable
measured outcome
Dependent variable
variable affected by change to IV
Construct
hypothetical variable that is not directly observable, like happiness, intelligence
Operational definition
description of operation by which the construct is measured (procedures, tests, actions)
Construct validity
degree to which operational definition is capable of measuring the construct of interest
Face validity
apparent soundness of a test or measure
Descriptive research design
aims to systematically obtain information to describe a situation, phenomenon, population
Correlational research design
investigates relationship between two variables without researcher manipulating them
Experimental research design
determining the relationship between two variables by manipulating one to see how it affects the other
Observation
watch behavior
Self-report
ask questions about attitudes, beliefs, feelings
Physiological changes
monitor biological responses
Hypothesis
testable prediction concerning a variable or variables
Non-directional hypothesis
hypothesis that predicts a change will occur without predicting higher or lower values
Directional hypothesis
hypothesis that shows the direction of the two variables
Positive linear relationship
increases in one variable relate to increases in another
Negative linear relationship
increases in one variable relate to decreases in another
Curvilinear relationship
increases in one variable relates to both increases and decreases in another
No relationship
the variables are not related to each other
Correlation coefficient
statistic that quantifies relationship between two continuous variables
What kind of claim can be made from different research designs?
descriptive- value claim
correlational - association claim
experimental- causal claim
Categorical variables
variables described by groups or words that vary in kind or quality
Continuous variables
variables that are a meaningful number along a scale with at least 6 values
Deterministic
causally explained by preceding events or natural laws that can be discovered and explained
Empirical
based on objective, reproducible evidence not reason, emotion, or subjective experiences
Falsifiable
theory or hypothesis must be testable and proven to be false
Provisional
theory is always open for revision based on new evidence
Value claims
describe value (frequency/amount) of a single variable
Association claims
identify relationships between measured variables
Causal claims
isolate the effect of one variable on another variable
Covariance
degree to which two variables change together
Temporal precedence
one variable precedes the other
Elimination of alternate explanations
no other variable is responsible for the relationship identified
