Variables.

Question 1

What are variables?

Answer 1

Anything that varies/changes and can be measured.

Question 2

An identified event which changes in value, either within one person over ______ or between ______ in a society is known as a _______.

Answer 2

Time, Individuals, Variable.

Question 3

Give an example of a numerical variable.

Answer 3

Height, weight etc.

Question 4

Often variables are numerical but some variables are _______.

Answer 4

Categorical.

Question 5

What is meant by a categorical variable?

Answer 5

Where values are given names, not numerical values.

Question 6

Some variables such as height are easy to ______.

Answer 6

Measure.

Question 7

Give an example of a variable that may be more difficult to measure directly.

Answer 7

Anxiety.

Question 8

In psychology, what do we treat concepts like intelligence, anxiety or attitude as?

Answer 8

As Hypothetical Constructs.

Question 9

What is a hypothetical construct?

Answer 9

A Hypothetical Construct is assumed to exist as a factor which explains observable phenomena. Eg. did well on task because they are intelligent.

Question 10

Although we can see the physical signs of anxiety, what is it hard to do?

Answer 10

Its hard to actually measure anxiety.

Question 11

In order to measure anxiety, we need to do so indirectly, so what must we do?

Answer 11

Set up an Operational Definition of anxiety.

Question 12

What does an Operational Definition do?

Answer 12

It states how we are going to measure a variable.

Question 13

In setting up an Operational definition of anxiety, what measurements may be used?

Answer 13

• Self report eg. questionnaire
• Physiological Measure eg. sweat on hands
• Observation eg. tick off signs against list of criteria.

Question 14

What is an Operational Definition?

Answer 14

An operational definition of an event or phenomenon is when something is defined in terms of the procedures required to measure it.

Question 15

In , we need to state the definition of the variable in exact terms of how we are going to measure it. What is this known as?

Answer 15

An Operational Definition.

Question 16

What will a good Operational Definition allow?

Answer 16

• To agree or compare with others’ measurements

- To allow replication of the experiment.

Question 17

The measurement of a variable must be ______ in an experiment.

Answer 17

Systematic.

Question 18

When can an operational definition not measure all aspects of a phenomena?

Answer 18

When measuring hypothetical constructs eg. intelligence/ anxiety.

Question 19

What can give us a reasonably valid method of measuring some part of a hypothetical construct?

Answer 19

An Operational Definition.

Question 20

We need an Operational Definition to state exactly what we are counting as a _____ of the construct.

Answer 20

Measure.

Question 21

What is the essence of scientific research (in terms of variables)?

Answer 21

To relate changes in one variable to changes in another variable.

Question 22

Variables are the basis of ___________.

Answer 22

Experimentation.

Question 23

Why do we need to have effective selection and manipulation of variables?

Answer 23

In order to be able to make confident assertions about the results.

Question 24

In experiments psychologists ask about the _____ between variables.

Answer 24

Relationship.

Question 25

What do psychologists investigate (in terms of variables)?

Answer 25

The effect of one variable upon another.

Question 26

What are the two types of variables?

Answer 26

Independent Variables and Dependent Variables.

Question 27

What is the independent variable?

Answer 27

The variable that causes the changes observed by the experimenter.

Question 28

Define what is meant by Dependent Variable.

Answer 28

The dependent variable is affected by the independent variable.

Question 29

The ____ variable is the thing that we change, whereas the ______ variable is the thing we measure (as a result of the change).

Answer 29

Independent, Dependent.

Question 30

What is the Fundamental Process of scientific research?

Answer 30

To relate the Independent Variable to the dependent variable,holding all other relevant variables constant while the Independent Variable Changes.

Question 31

What do we start off an experiment with?

Answer 31

A prediction (hypothesis) that changing the IV will have a particular effect on the DV.

Question 32

If the dependent variable is affected by the independent variable, what is the experiment said to be?

Answer 32

A Success.

Question 33

If there are 2 different values for the IV (eg. Learning by rehearsal or learning by imagery- both come under the mode of learning), what is this known as?

Answer 33

The Levels of the IV.

Question 34

Identify the IV and DV in the following example: | -The influence of music (present or not) on productivity rates in an office.

Answer 34

``` IV= Presence/Absence of music (levels of IV) DV = Productivity rates. ```

Question 35

What is an Extraneous Variable?

Answer 35

Any Variable other than the IV which might have an effect on the DV measured.

Question 36

What variables must we control in order to make a confident assertion that it was the IV that affected the DV?

Answer 36

We must control the extraneous variables by keeping them constant.

Question 37

In order for a reliable experiment, we must keep the extraneous variables _____ throughout the experiment.

Answer 37

Constant.

Question 38

If the effects of extraneous variables are not controlled, what can we not state?

Answer 38

We cannot state that it was the changes in the IV that affected the DV.

Question 39

______ variables- is when extraneous variables influence confounds(confuses) the proper interpretation of the results.

Answer 39

Confounding.

Question 40

We tend to think of _____ variables in advance when setting up and experiment.

Answer 40

Confounding.

Question 41

What is an extraneous variable isn't controlled and impacts the results what could we call this?

Answer 41

A confounding variable.

Question 42

Name this- | A variable other than the IV which might have an affect on the DV.

Answer 42

An Extraneous Variable.

Question 43

To compare conditions fairly we want to control the effects of all ______ variables apart from the __________.

Answer 43

Extraneous, Independent Variable .

Question 44

In an experiment we must eliminate any potential ___________.

Answer 44

Confounds.

Question 45

In some cases an extraneous variable could operate in what manner? (eg. may get better at task due to practice) What must be done?

Answer 45

A systematic Manner. | Experiment should be designed to remove the systematic effect.