PSYC 270 LEARNING CHECK 2
Design - Answers- -plan for the structure of a study
-Tells us what will be done to whom and when
two functions of a good design - Answers- Enables us to pinpoint effects of the IV on
the DV
Helps us rule out confounds
Validity - Answers- The relative accuracy or correctness of a statement
Independent Variable - Answers- Variable that is manipulated by the experimenter
Dependent Variable - Answers- Variable that is measured by an experimenter
Internal Validity - Answers- The extent to which a set of research findings provides
compelling information about causality
high internal validity - Answers- confidently conclude that variations in the IV caused
any observed changes in the DV
3 steps of internal validity - Answers- covariation, temporal sequence, confound
Covariation - Answers- Changes in one variable must correspond to changes in
another variable
Temporal sequence - Answers- to argue that changes in one variable Cause changes
in another, changes in the first variable must precede the changes in the second
Confound - Answers- Additional variable that may (a) influence the DV and that (b)
varies systematically along with the IV
Third variable - Answers- Confound that usually exists in passive observational studies
External Validity - Answers- -a.k.a. generalizability
-Extent to which research findings provide an accurate description of what happens in
the real world
--To people
--To situations
Construct Validity - Answers- -The extent to which the IVs and DVs in a study represent
the abstract, hypothetical variables of interest
-Good operational definitions, high construct validity
Conceptual Validity - Answers- -How well a specific hypothesis maps onto the broader
theory
, -Hypothesis should
--Follow logically from theory
--Be tough to generate without theory
Nominal - Answers- Categorical
Meaningful but potentially arbitrary and non-numerical names
Ratio - Answers- -Like interval scales except has a true zero point
-A point at which none of the quantity under consideration is present
-Can never have a negative value
Reliability - Answers- -The consistency and repeatability of a measure or observation
-More is better (less error) for observers, observations, and occasions
-Reliability is a necessary but not sufficient condition for validity
Test-retest reliability - Answers- Testing a group of individuals at one time and then
having them come back a second time to take the test again
Internal consistency - Answers- Degree to which the total set of items or observations
in a multiple-item measure behave in the same way
Interobserver agreement/ Interrater reliability - Answers- The degree to which different
judges independently agree upon an observation or judgment
two challenges of survey writing - Answers- -judgement phase
-response translation phase
judgement phase - Answers- Are participants thinking about the same question as the
researcher?
Response Translation Phase - Answers- Can participants translate internal
psychological state into a value on response scale?
Ordinal - Answers- Involves order or ranking
Provides information about relative
Not sensitive to absolute differences between these things
Interval - Answers- Interval
Make use of real numbers designating amounts to reflect differences in magnitude
Sometimes has a negative value
Unit corresponds to a specific amount of the construct being measured
Focus group - Answers- a small, representative, sample of participants from the group
of interest meet to discuss their experiences
Open-ended questions - Answers- -Refine structured ratings scales
Design - Answers- -plan for the structure of a study
-Tells us what will be done to whom and when
two functions of a good design - Answers- Enables us to pinpoint effects of the IV on
the DV
Helps us rule out confounds
Validity - Answers- The relative accuracy or correctness of a statement
Independent Variable - Answers- Variable that is manipulated by the experimenter
Dependent Variable - Answers- Variable that is measured by an experimenter
Internal Validity - Answers- The extent to which a set of research findings provides
compelling information about causality
high internal validity - Answers- confidently conclude that variations in the IV caused
any observed changes in the DV
3 steps of internal validity - Answers- covariation, temporal sequence, confound
Covariation - Answers- Changes in one variable must correspond to changes in
another variable
Temporal sequence - Answers- to argue that changes in one variable Cause changes
in another, changes in the first variable must precede the changes in the second
Confound - Answers- Additional variable that may (a) influence the DV and that (b)
varies systematically along with the IV
Third variable - Answers- Confound that usually exists in passive observational studies
External Validity - Answers- -a.k.a. generalizability
-Extent to which research findings provide an accurate description of what happens in
the real world
--To people
--To situations
Construct Validity - Answers- -The extent to which the IVs and DVs in a study represent
the abstract, hypothetical variables of interest
-Good operational definitions, high construct validity
Conceptual Validity - Answers- -How well a specific hypothesis maps onto the broader
theory
, -Hypothesis should
--Follow logically from theory
--Be tough to generate without theory
Nominal - Answers- Categorical
Meaningful but potentially arbitrary and non-numerical names
Ratio - Answers- -Like interval scales except has a true zero point
-A point at which none of the quantity under consideration is present
-Can never have a negative value
Reliability - Answers- -The consistency and repeatability of a measure or observation
-More is better (less error) for observers, observations, and occasions
-Reliability is a necessary but not sufficient condition for validity
Test-retest reliability - Answers- Testing a group of individuals at one time and then
having them come back a second time to take the test again
Internal consistency - Answers- Degree to which the total set of items or observations
in a multiple-item measure behave in the same way
Interobserver agreement/ Interrater reliability - Answers- The degree to which different
judges independently agree upon an observation or judgment
two challenges of survey writing - Answers- -judgement phase
-response translation phase
judgement phase - Answers- Are participants thinking about the same question as the
researcher?
Response Translation Phase - Answers- Can participants translate internal
psychological state into a value on response scale?
Ordinal - Answers- Involves order or ranking
Provides information about relative
Not sensitive to absolute differences between these things
Interval - Answers- Interval
Make use of real numbers designating amounts to reflect differences in magnitude
Sometimes has a negative value
Unit corresponds to a specific amount of the construct being measured
Focus group - Answers- a small, representative, sample of participants from the group
of interest meet to discuss their experiences
Open-ended questions - Answers- -Refine structured ratings scales
