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quasi
means “seeming like”
quasi-experiments
superficially resemble experiments, but lack their required manipulation of antecedent conditions and/or random assignment to conditions.
They may study the effects of preexisting antecedent conditions on behavior
pearson correlation coefficient
is used to calculate simple correlations (between two variables) and may be expressed as: r (50) =+.70, p = .001
linearity
sign
magnitude
probability
correlation coefficients have four properties
linearity
means how the relationship between x and y can be plotted as a line (linear
relationship) or a curve (curvilinear relationship)
sign
refers to whether the correlation coefficient is positive or negative
magnitude
is the strength of the correlation coefficient, ranging from -1 to +1.
probability
is the likelihood of obtaining a correlation coefficient of this magnitude due to chance.
scatterplots
are a graphic display of pairs of data points on the x and y axes.
illustrates the linearity, sign, magnitude, and probability (indirectly) of a correlation.
range truncation
is an artificial restriction of the range of X and Y that can reduce the strength of a correlation coefficient
outliers
are extreme scores.
They usually affect correlations by disturbing the trends in the data.
Range truncation removes ——
coefficient of determination (r2)
estimates the amount of variability that can be explained by a predictor variable
causal direction
bidirectional causation
the third variable problem
There are three additional reasons that correlations cannot prove causation:
causal direction
Since correlations are symmetrical, A could cause B just as readily as B could cause A
bidirectional causation
Two variables (for example—insomnia and depression) may affect each other
third variable problem
a third variable—family conflict—may create the appearance that insomnia and depression are related to each other
multiple correlation (R)
researchers use —- when they want to know whether there is a relationship among three or more variables.
partial correlation
We should compute a —- when we want to hold one variable (age) constant to measure its influence on a correlation between two other variables (television watching and vocabulary).
multiple regression
Researchers use — to predict behavior measured by one variable based on
scores on two or more other variables.
ex. We could estimate vocabulary size using age and television watching as predictor variables
causal modeling
is the creation and testing of models that suggest cause-and-effect relationships between behaviors
path analysis and cross-lagged panel designs
two forms of causal modeling
path analysis
in —, a researcher creates and tests models of possible causal sequences using
multiple regression analysis where two or more variables are used to predict behavior on a third variable.
cross-lagged panel design
in —-, a researcher measures relationships over time and these are used to suggest a causal path
ex post facto
means “after the fact.”
A researcher examines the effects of already existing subject variables (like gender or personality type), but does not manipulate them.
nonequivalent groups
design compares the effects of treatments on preexisting groups of
subjects.
ex. A researcher could install fluorescent lighting in Company A and incandescent lighting in Company B and then assess productivity
longitudinal designs
in —-, the same group of subjects is measured at different points of time to determine the effect of time on behavior
cross-sectional studies
in —-, subjects at different developmental stages (classes) are compared at the same point in time.
pretest/post test designs
a researcher measures behavior before and after an event.
This is quasi-experimental because there is no control condition.
For example: Practice GRE test 1 — six-week preparation course — Practice GRE test 2.
practice effects
The results may be confounded by —- (also called pretest sensitization) due
to less anxiety during the posttest and learning caused by review of pretest answers.
Solomon 4-group design
This variation on a pretest/posttest design include these conditions:
a group that received the pretest, treatment and posttest
a nonequivalent control group that received only the pretest and posttest
a group that received the treatment and a posttest
a group that only received the posttest