PSC 041 Exam 1

Question 1

Null hypothesis

Answer 1

there is no relationship between variables

Question 2

Predictor variable

Answer 2

explanatory variables that predict outcome variables

Question 3

Participant variables

Answer 3

individual differences like height or age

Question 4

Independent Variable

Answer 4

variable manipulated under experimenter’s control

Question 5

Outcome variable

Answer 5

measured outcome

Question 6

Dependent variable

Answer 6

variable affected by change to IV

Question 7

Construct

Answer 7

hypothetical variable that is not directly observable, like happiness, intelligence

Question 8

Operational definition

Answer 8

description of operation by which the construct is measured (procedures, tests, actions)

Question 9

Construct validity

Answer 9

degree to which operational definition is capable of measuring the construct of interest

Question 10

Face validity

Answer 10

apparent soundness of a test or measure

Question 11

Descriptive research design

Answer 11

aims to systematically obtain information to describe a situation, phenomenon, population

Question 12

Correlational research design

Answer 12

investigates relationship between two variables without researcher manipulating them

Question 13

Experimental research design

Answer 13

determining the relationship between two variables by manipulating one to see how it affects the other

Question 14

Observation

Answer 14

watch behavior

Question 15

Self-report

Answer 15

ask questions about attitudes, beliefs, feelings

Question 16

Physiological changes

Answer 16

monitor biological responses

Question 17

Hypothesis

Answer 17

testable prediction concerning a variable or variables

Question 18

Non-directional hypothesis

Answer 18

hypothesis that predicts a change will occur without predicting higher or lower values

Question 19

Directional hypothesis

Answer 19

hypothesis that shows the direction of the two variables

Question 20

Positive linear relationship

Answer 20

increases in one variable relate to increases in another

Question 21

Negative linear relationship

Answer 21

increases in one variable relate to decreases in another

Question 22

Curvilinear relationship

Answer 22

increases in one variable relates to both increases and decreases in another

Question 23

No relationship

Answer 23

the variables are not related to each other

Question 24

Correlation coefficient

Answer 24

statistic that quantifies relationship between two continuous variables

Question 25

What kind of claim can be made from different research designs?

Answer 25

descriptive- value claim correlational - association claim experimental- causal claim

Question 26

Categorical variables

Answer 26

variables described by groups or words that vary in kind or quality

Question 27

Continuous variables

Answer 27

variables that are a meaningful number along a scale with at least 6 values

Question 28

Deterministic

Answer 28

causally explained by preceding events or natural laws that can be discovered and explained

Question 29

Empirical

Answer 29

based on objective, reproducible evidence not reason, emotion, or subjective experiences

Question 30

Falsifiable

Answer 30

theory or hypothesis must be testable and proven to be false

Question 31

Provisional

Answer 31

theory is always open for revision based on new evidence

Question 32

Value claims

Answer 32

describe value (frequency/amount) of a single variable

Question 33

Association claims

Answer 33

identify relationships between measured variables

Question 34

Causal claims

Answer 34

isolate the effect of one variable on another variable

Question 35

Covariance

Answer 35

degree to which two variables change together

Question 36

Temporal precedence

Answer 36

one variable precedes the other

Question 37

Elimination of alternate explanations

Answer 37

no other variable is responsible for the relationship identified