CH. 3 Interrogation Tools for Consumers of Research

These flashcards cover the key concepts related to interrogation tools for consumers of research, including variable types and definitions, claims, and validities.

What is a variable?

A variable is any characteristic, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted.

What is an independent variable (IV)?

The variable that you manipulate in an experiment.

What is a dependent variable (DV)?

The variable that you measure or that is changed by the independent variable.

What is the difference between a conceptual definition and an operational definition?

A conceptual definition is a careful, theoretical definition of a construct, while an operational definition specifies how the construct is measured or manipulated in an actual study.

What does a frequency claim indicate?

A frequency claim indicates how often an observation occurs.

What is the scale used in self-report surveys for measuring bullying?

A five-point scale ranging from 'almost never' to 'almost always'.

What is an association claim?

An association claim describes the relationship between two variables, suggesting that one level of a variable is likely to be associated with a particular level of another variable.

What does correlation measure?

Correlation examines the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.

What is a causal claim?

A causal claim argues that one variable causes changes in the level of another variable.

What are the three criteria needed to establish a causal claim?

Covariance, temporal precedence, and internal validity.

What does construct validity refer to?

Construct validity refers to how well the variables in a study are measured or manipulated.

What is external validity?

External validity is the extent to which the results of a study generalize to larger populations and other times or situations.

What does statistical validity involve?

Statistical validity involves how well the numbers support the claim, including the strength of the effect and the precision of the estimate.

What is the significance of internal validity?

Internal validity assesses whether A, rather than any other variable, is responsible for changes in B.

How does one interrogate frequency claims?

One interrogates frequency claims by evaluating construct validity, external validity, and statistical validity.