1. Module 3.Types of Variables.student version

Basic Research

Contributes new scientific knowledge without solving a social or clinical problem; useful for constructing and modifying theories.

Applied Research

Contributes scientific knowledge and solves social or clinical problems; aims for immediate solutions.

Clinical Research

A type of applied research focused on clinical applications.

Field Research

Conducted in everyday settings such as homes, schools, or clinics.

Laboratory Research

Conducted in controlled settings outside of daily life.

Experimental Research

Involves random assignment of participants and manipulation of conditions to ensure equivalency and eliminate bias.

Non-experimental Research

Lacks measures of comparison and typically observes behavior without inferring cause and effect.

Quasi-Experimental Research

Similar to experimental research but usually lacks random assignment.

Independent Variables (IV)

Presumed causes that researchers manipulate in experimental designs.

Dependent Variables (DV)

Presumed effects or behaviors that are observed and measured in research.

Bivariate Research

Involves one independent variable and one dependent variable.

Multivariate Research

Involves more than one independent variable and more than one dependent variable.

Active Variables

Manipulated independent variables controlled by the researcher.

Assigned Variables

Measured but not manipulated variables, such as human characteristics.

Continuous Variables

Take on a range of values and possess the property of order.

Categorical Variables

Assigned to categories based on characteristics without order.

Intervening Variables

Potential nuisance variables that affect the dependent variable but are not the independent variable.

Operational Definitions

Describe the activities necessary to measure and manipulate variables; must be valid and reliable.

Reliability

The consistency of a measure; includes procedures like blinding and interobserver reliability.

Internal Validity

The degree to which the relationship between the independent and dependent variables is observed without the influence of extraneous variables.

Confounding Variables

Variables that can compromise the study and weaken internal validity.

Ambiguous Temporal Precedence (ATP)

Occurs when it is unclear whether the treatment occurred before the change in the dependent variable.

Differential Selection Effects

Occurs when subjects are assigned to groups in a way that results in unequal distribution of characteristics.

History Effects

External events that may influence the dependent variable during the study.

Maturational Effects

Changes in participants over time that may affect the study outcomes.

Statistical Regression Effects

Occurs when subjects with extreme scores regress toward the mean on subsequent tests.

Attrition Effects

Loss of participants from a study that can bias results.

Multiple Testing Effects

Occurs when subjects are tested multiple times, potentially affecting their performance.

Instrumentation Effects

Variations in measurement instruments that can affect the results of a study.