Chapter 2

Independent variable

Independent variable

Factor researchers controls or manipulate in order to determine the effect on behaviour

Minimum of two levels

Treatment (experiment) condition

Control condition

Dependent variable ( DV)

Measure of behaviour to assess the effect of the independent variable

Studies can involve several dependent variables predictions to be made

Type of variables

Continuous & categorical ( aka nominal )

Operational definition ( construct )

Specific procedure used to produce and measure a construct

What is a theory?

An integrated set of propositions , logical or internally, adequately Pr explains or accounts for existing data or observations, allows novel, falsifiable

Types of measurement

Physical & psychological

Goals of the scientific method

Description, prediction, explanation, and application

Description

Define, catalogue, or categorize events and their relationships

Most psychology research is nomothetic not…

Ideographic

Prediction

Correlations ( relationships ) among variables allow researchers to predict mental processes and behaviour

Variable

Dimension on which people differ or vary

Correlation

Two measures of the same people, events or things vary together or go together

Correlation does not imply…

Causation

Explanation

Researchers understand and can explain a phenomenon when they can identify its causes

Control

Manipulates factors one at to determine their effect (= independent variables )

Causal inference

Statement about the cause of an event or behaviour

Confounding

An unmeasured ( or unwanted ) 3rd variable affects the relationship between two variables

Generalization

Researchers are not interested in just one sample of people or one set of circumstances tested in a research study.

Applied Research

To improve people's lives & often "real world “ natural settings

Basic Research

To understand behaviour and mental processes.. Often in lab

Intervening variables

Processes or mechanisms used to explain the relationship between independent variables and dependent variables.

“Hidden” processes represented by constructs

Often considered a “mediating” variable