PSYC 200 Quiz Three

What is a variable?

A characteristic that can have different values across people or observations.

What is a level of a variable?

A specific value or category of a variable.
Example: Gender → male, female, nonbinary.

What is a grouping variable?

A variable with categories that divide participants into groups.
Example: Freshman vs. senior.

What is a continuous variable?

A variable measured along a numerical continuum.
Examples: height, age, reaction time.

What is a correlation?

A statistical relationship between two variables.

What does a correlation tell you?

The direction and strength of the relationship between two variables.

Can correlation establish causation?

No. Correlation shows a relationship, not that one variable causes another.

What is an independent variable (IV)?

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher in an experiment.

What is a dependent variable (DV)?

The outcome that is measured by the researcher.

What is an experimental group?

The group that receives the experimental treatment/condition.

What is a control group?

The group that does not receive the experimental treatment.

What is a manipulated variable?

A variable whose levels are deliberately changed by the researcher.

What is a measured variable?

A variable that is observed or recorded without being manipulated.

When do researchers analyze a relationship?

When they want to know whether two variables are related.

When do researchers analyze a difference?

When they want to compare different groups or levels of a variable.

What analysis is used for two continuous variables?

Correlation.

What analysis compares groups or levels?

A difference analysis, such as a t test or ANOVA.

What makes a study an experiment?

The researcher manipulates an independent variable and measures an outcome.

What is a non-experimental study?

A study in which variables are measured rather than manipulated.

How do variable types relate to analyses?

→ Continuous + continuous → correlation/relationship.
→ Groups/levels → compare differences.

Study: Does caffeine improve reaction time? What is the IV?

Caffeine condition (caffeine vs. no caffeine).

Study: Does caffeine improve reaction time? What is the DV?

Reaction time.

Study: Compare freshmen and seniors on stress. What is the grouping variable?

Class year (freshman vs. senior).

Study: Compare freshmen and seniors on stress. What is the DV?

Stress level.

Study: Is sleep related to exam scores? What are the variables?

Hours of sleep and exam scores.

Study: Is sleep related to exam scores? What analysis would you use?

Correlation, because the question asks about a relationship.

Study: Does therapy type affect anxiety? What is the IV?

Therapy type.

Study: Does therapy type affect anxiety? What is the DV?

Anxiety level.

What are the variables?

What is being studied/measured?

What are the levels?

What are the specific categories or values?

Is it grouping or continuous?

Grouping = categories/groups
Continuous = numerical measurement

Is it manipulated or measured?

Manipulated = researcher changes it
Measured = researcher observes/records it

Is it experimental or non-experimental?

Experiment = manipulation

Non-experimental = no manipulation

Relationship or difference?

Relationship = variables are related → correlation
Difference = comparing groups/levels → t test or ANOVA

What is APA style?

A standardized format for writing and reporting psychological research.

What is the Abstract?

A brief summary of the study's purpose, method, results, and conclusions.

What is the Introduction section?

Introduces the topic, summarizes previous research, identifies the research gap, and states the research question/hypothesis.

What is the Method section?

Explains who participated, what materials were used, and what procedures were followed.

What is the Results section?

Reports the statistical analyses and findings without explaining their broader meaning.

What is the Discussion section?

Interprets the findings, discusses implications and limitations, and suggests future research.

What is the References section?

Gives the full APA citations for all sources cited in the paper.

When should you use an in-text citation?

Whenever you use information, ideas, or findings from another source.

Why are in-text citations important?

They give credit to the original source and allow readers to find it in the References.

What is the difference between an in-text citation and a reference?

In-text citation: appears within your paper.
Reference: gives the complete source information at the end.

What does a basic APA in-text citation include?

Author's last name + year.
Example: (Smith, 2024)

What is added when using a direct quote?

A page number.
Example: (Smith, 2024, p. 15)

What is the basic APA journal reference format?

Author, A. A. (Year). Article title. Journal Title, volume(issue), pages. DOI.