PSYC 222 FINAL EXAM UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
conceptual definition of variables - CORRECT ANSWER -defining a variabel in theoretical terms (aggression,
happiness)
operational definitions of variables - CORRECT ANSWER -determining how you will use the variables in your
study
discusses abstract concepts in concrete (observable) terms
measured operational definition - CORRECT ANSWER -specifies the exact procedure for measuring the DV
-self report, giving people a task to do and assesing creativity based on total adjectives
experimental operational definition - CORRECT ANSWER -definition specifies the exact procedure for creating
values of the IV
-how engaged a particular part of brain is while doing creative task
IV - CORRECT ANSWER -variable being manipulated
DV - CORRECT ANSWER -measured outcome
participant variable - CORRECT ANSWER -
manipulating the IV: straightforward manipulation
stimulus manipulation - CORRECT ANSWER -different conditions use different stimuli
manipulating the IV: straightforward manipulation
instructional manipulation - CORRECT ANSWER -different conditions are given different instructions
staged manipulation - CORRECT ANSWER -events in the experiment are staged to manipulate the IV successfully
-simulate some situation
-try to create some psychological state in pps
manipulation strength - CORRECT ANSWER -maximize the differences between levels of your IV
increases the chances of you finding an effect
manipulation check - CORRECT ANSWER -an attempt to directly measure whether the IV manipulation had the
intended effect on participants
include at experiment end to avoid giving away study purpose
establishing internal validity - CORRECT ANSWER -ability to draw conclusions about causal relationships from
the results of a study
-to find causal relationship, there must be some relationship
-temporal precedence: manipulated variable comes before measured variable
-eliminate confounds + hold extraneous variables constant and control for variables that cannot be held constant
(individual differences)
threats to internal validity + reducing them - CORRECT ANSWER -experimenter bias: experimenter might
unintentionally treat pps different
, -run double blind study, well trained experimenters
demand characteristics: pps pick up cues during an experiment and modify their behavior possibly affecting and altering
the results of a study
-limited info in consent, deception, filler items, post experiment interviews
general threats to internal validity - CORRECT ANSWER -individuals may change without treatment
measurement errors can look like treatment effect
there are differences between groups that have nothing to do with treatment
individuals may change without treatment: testing effect - CORRECT ANSWER -repeated measurement of the
same individual may impact person's subsequent scores
-increase scores due to practice/familarity with measuring instruemnts
solutions: distractor items/tasks, incrase time between conditions, give pps lots of practice
individuals may change without treatment: maturation - CORRECT ANSWER -results due to normal maturation of
the participant
long term: pps become older, wiser, more mature
short term: pps become bored, tired, hungry during course of experiment
solutions: use comparison group not exposed to treatment or intervention to determine if maturation is potential threat
individuals may change without treatment: history - CORRECT ANSWER -results due to historical events that
occur during the study but are unrelated to and cannot be controlled by the study
small scale: fire alarm going off during study
large scale: historical events like 9/11 or elections, natural disaters, holidays, seasonal changes
solutions: difficult to prevent, record in researchers notes any unexpected occurences. isolate pps from external events
during study
measurement errors can look like treatment effect: instrumentation - CORRECT ANSWER -results due to change
in measuring instrument
human error: become more proficient, change in how measure is being administered/measured
solutions: maintain consistency in the measurement instrument and how it is administered throughout the study
measurement errors can look like treatment effect: regression to the mean - CORRECT ANSWER -tendency for
pps selected because of extreme scores to be less extreme on a retest
solutions: add contro group, don't chose pps on basis of extreme scores
there are differences between your groups that have nothing to do with treatment: attrition - CORRECT
ANSWER -differential droppping out of pps from a study
groups may be equivalent in the beginning but differential drop out rates can make them unequal in the end
solutions: include pretest, do pretest scores of those who dropped differ from pretest of those who stayed?, keep study
interesting and avoid multiple sessions over extended period of time
there are differences between your groups that have nothing to do with treatment: selection effect - CORRECT
ANSWER -people selected for the two conditions differ in some systematic way
usually occurs when pps who form the 2 groups in the experiment are chosen from existing natural groups
Questions and CORRECT Answers
conceptual definition of variables - CORRECT ANSWER -defining a variabel in theoretical terms (aggression,
happiness)
operational definitions of variables - CORRECT ANSWER -determining how you will use the variables in your
study
discusses abstract concepts in concrete (observable) terms
measured operational definition - CORRECT ANSWER -specifies the exact procedure for measuring the DV
-self report, giving people a task to do and assesing creativity based on total adjectives
experimental operational definition - CORRECT ANSWER -definition specifies the exact procedure for creating
values of the IV
-how engaged a particular part of brain is while doing creative task
IV - CORRECT ANSWER -variable being manipulated
DV - CORRECT ANSWER -measured outcome
participant variable - CORRECT ANSWER -
manipulating the IV: straightforward manipulation
stimulus manipulation - CORRECT ANSWER -different conditions use different stimuli
manipulating the IV: straightforward manipulation
instructional manipulation - CORRECT ANSWER -different conditions are given different instructions
staged manipulation - CORRECT ANSWER -events in the experiment are staged to manipulate the IV successfully
-simulate some situation
-try to create some psychological state in pps
manipulation strength - CORRECT ANSWER -maximize the differences between levels of your IV
increases the chances of you finding an effect
manipulation check - CORRECT ANSWER -an attempt to directly measure whether the IV manipulation had the
intended effect on participants
include at experiment end to avoid giving away study purpose
establishing internal validity - CORRECT ANSWER -ability to draw conclusions about causal relationships from
the results of a study
-to find causal relationship, there must be some relationship
-temporal precedence: manipulated variable comes before measured variable
-eliminate confounds + hold extraneous variables constant and control for variables that cannot be held constant
(individual differences)
threats to internal validity + reducing them - CORRECT ANSWER -experimenter bias: experimenter might
unintentionally treat pps different
, -run double blind study, well trained experimenters
demand characteristics: pps pick up cues during an experiment and modify their behavior possibly affecting and altering
the results of a study
-limited info in consent, deception, filler items, post experiment interviews
general threats to internal validity - CORRECT ANSWER -individuals may change without treatment
measurement errors can look like treatment effect
there are differences between groups that have nothing to do with treatment
individuals may change without treatment: testing effect - CORRECT ANSWER -repeated measurement of the
same individual may impact person's subsequent scores
-increase scores due to practice/familarity with measuring instruemnts
solutions: distractor items/tasks, incrase time between conditions, give pps lots of practice
individuals may change without treatment: maturation - CORRECT ANSWER -results due to normal maturation of
the participant
long term: pps become older, wiser, more mature
short term: pps become bored, tired, hungry during course of experiment
solutions: use comparison group not exposed to treatment or intervention to determine if maturation is potential threat
individuals may change without treatment: history - CORRECT ANSWER -results due to historical events that
occur during the study but are unrelated to and cannot be controlled by the study
small scale: fire alarm going off during study
large scale: historical events like 9/11 or elections, natural disaters, holidays, seasonal changes
solutions: difficult to prevent, record in researchers notes any unexpected occurences. isolate pps from external events
during study
measurement errors can look like treatment effect: instrumentation - CORRECT ANSWER -results due to change
in measuring instrument
human error: become more proficient, change in how measure is being administered/measured
solutions: maintain consistency in the measurement instrument and how it is administered throughout the study
measurement errors can look like treatment effect: regression to the mean - CORRECT ANSWER -tendency for
pps selected because of extreme scores to be less extreme on a retest
solutions: add contro group, don't chose pps on basis of extreme scores
there are differences between your groups that have nothing to do with treatment: attrition - CORRECT
ANSWER -differential droppping out of pps from a study
groups may be equivalent in the beginning but differential drop out rates can make them unequal in the end
solutions: include pretest, do pretest scores of those who dropped differ from pretest of those who stayed?, keep study
interesting and avoid multiple sessions over extended period of time
there are differences between your groups that have nothing to do with treatment: selection effect - CORRECT
ANSWER -people selected for the two conditions differ in some systematic way
usually occurs when pps who form the 2 groups in the experiment are chosen from existing natural groups
