Variable Types
Independent Variable
What is the "explanatory variable" that typically is manipulated?
Operational Definition
What is a conceptual definition defined in terms of methods used to measure the variable?
What is quantitative data and what is the level of measurement associated with it?
Numeric data; continuous values. Scale.
What is validity?
What is one basic requirement of rigorous sciences that psychology (and most disciplines within the social sciences) has trouble fulfilling?
Dependent Variable
What is the "response variable" that is the outcome being measured?
Is "the number of uses for an object (e.g., a paperclip) that participants can come up with in 3 minutes" a conceptual or operational definition of creativity?
Operational
What is qualitative data and what are the levels of measurement associated with it?
"Qualities" of something; measures "types" rather than numbers; discreet categories that do not overlap. Nominal and Ordinal.
A personality measure that claims to address all aspects of personality is not high in this type of validity if it leaves out intraversion/extraversion.
Content validity - the extent to which an assessment addresses all the parts of the construct being measured
What is an example of deception pertaining to research?
Telling participants that the researchers will be measuring something slightly different than what they are actually measuring (reactivity)
Hudson is conducting a research project that examines whether a child's study habits impacts the child's grades. What are the indendent and dependent variables?
Independent variable - study habits
Dependent variable - grades
Is "a state of raised spirit" a conceptual or operational definition of happiness?
If Dr. Poole asked you to write down your score on the SAT/ACT, what measure would he be using?
Scale
People who score higher on IQ tests end up happier later in life. This is an example of what type of validity?
Predictive - the extent to which an assessment taken now predicts the results of another assessment taken in the future.
What is debreifing in research?
Letting participants know what is being studied (for real this time) and ensuring they were not harmed or upset by the experiment/survey
Kelley wants to know to what extent remote working increases job satisfaction. What are her independent and dependent variables?
Independent - remote working
Dependent - job satisfaction
Operationalize "marital satisfaction."
E.g., "how many meaninful conversations did you have this week?"
If I ranked my residents from 1st to 10th placed based upon the number of room checks they have failed, what level of measurement is being used?
Ordinal
A question on a personality test reads, "what is your favorite flavor of ice cream?" This is an example of a voilation of what type of validity?
Face - the extent to which the items on an assessment are clearly relevant to the construct being measured.
What is the primary purpose of the IRB?
Monitoring ethical issues (risk vs reward) and protecting participants
Generate a research question of your own and identify the independent and dependent variables, as well as any extraneous variables that could influence the results of your "study"
Good job!
Generate your own term and operationalize it!
Doobeedoobeedooba
Anna wans to study the correlation between her participants' favorite types of coffee and their IQs. When she asks for their favorite type of coffee, what level of measurement is she using?
Nominal
The more time spent studying for the GRE, the higher your score will be. This is an example of what type of validity?
Concurrent - the extent to which an assessment taken now correlates with other assessments taken at the same time
Think back to our discussion of ethical issues in class. Can you name at least three issues that you found over the three studies discussed?
Great job!