Week 8 Flashcards
What are behavioural variables?
A class of variables. Any observable response produced by a subject.
What are the class of variables called stimulus variables?
Environmental factors that have actual or potential effects on behavioural variables.
What are the class of variables, subject variables?
Characteristics that can be used to classify a subject for research purposes
What is a dependent variable?
A variable that is measured or observed
Can a dependant variable sometimes be measured directly
Yes
What are two examples of a dependent variables being measured directly?
- Physical arousal
2. Virus antibodies
Can a dependant variable sometimes be measured indirectly?
Yes
Give three examples of dependent variables being measured indirectly by representing it as a construct
- pleasure
- love
- pain
What is an independent variable?
A variable that is manipulated by the researcher
How many levels or conditions do independent variables require? Give an example in relation to red cordial and hyperactivity in children:
It requires two levels or conditions.
Example:Does red cordial produce hyperactivity?
1. Need at least two levels if the IV - red cordial and non-red cordial
2. If there is more activity after drinking red cordial than non-red-cordial, the activity is DEPENDENT on colour of cordial
Is the independent variable manipulated in a true experiment? Can it ever not be?
Yes it is manipulated, but sometimes it cannot be. For example, gender (eg male, female)
Is it sometimes unethical to manipulate the independent variable? if so, when?
Yes. For example, smoking or drugs
Can there be more than one independent variable? If so, what are these called?
Yes. experiments with multiple IVs are called factorial experiments
What is an operational definition?
Procedures or operations that specify how to manipulate or measure a construct.
Does operational definition apply to both IVs and DVs?
Yes
Give an example of operational definition in terms of affection towards one’s partner/
Does affection toward one’s partner vary with length of the relationship?
- How can we operationalise affection?
- Must be measurable
- ‘Vary’ implies a change in amount (quantitative) of affection, not type (qualitative) affection
Give a two-step example of using operational definition to explore the research: does stress level affect long term memory?
- What is a reasonable operational definition of anxiousness (IV) that allows us to manipulate.
- heart rate, blood pressure
- could manipulate by changing environmental noise - What is an operational definition of long-term memory?
- participants learn list of words
- recall them approx 24 hour (a proxy of LTM)
What are three examples of the operational definition of anxiety?
- a physiological measure
- self-report anxiety level
- avoidance behaviour
What are three operational definitions of aggression in children?
- ratings of aggression by teacher
- child hits, bites etc how many times
- no. of acts of aggression in stories written by childnre
What are three operational definitions of obesity?
- pinch test
- volume of water displaced
- height-weight ratio
What are three operational definitions of intelligence?
- score on IQ test
- Others judgement on ability to solve problems
- number of school grades complete
What are three benefits of using multiple operational definitions?
- different aspects of concept can be measured
- convergent validity
- allows for multiple ways to design studies
What will multiple operational definitions show in respect to convergent validity?
That it has good convergent validity is different operational definitions yield common findings
Are most constructs multi-dimensional?
Yes
What are two aspects of extraneous variables?
- variables other than IV that can affect the DV
2. Contribute random (unexplained) error (variability) to the data