Methodical & Stats Analysis Flashcards

What term refers to the extent to which a measurement procedure accurately measures what it is intended to measure, rather than measuring something else?

Answer: Validity

Validity refers to the degree to which a test or instrument actually measures what it claims to measure. It ensures that the conclusions drawn from a measurement are accurate and meaningful in the context of the research question. Unlike reliability, which concerns consistency, validity focuses on the truthfulness and appropriateness of the measurement.

What type of measures can be used to observe and record anything a participant does, directly observing their behavior?

Answer: Observational Measures

Observational measures involve directly watching and recording participants' overt behaviors as they occur. Researchers use systematic methods to document actions, gestures, and interactions in natural or controlled settings. This approach provides direct evidence of behavior without relying on self-reports or physiological responses.

What do you call measures of bodily responses, such as blood pressure or heart rate, used to determine changes in psychological state?

Answer: Physiological measures

Physiological measures involve assessing bodily responses that reflect underlying psychological states. These can include metrics like heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, or brain activity (e.g., EEG). They provide objective data about internal physical changes associated with emotions, stress, or cognitive processes.

What type of measures involve the replies people give to questionnaires and interviews?

Answer: Cognitive self-report

Cognitive self-report measures involve participants directly reporting their thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions through questionnaires or interviews. While 'self-report measures' is a broader category, 'cognitive self-report' specifically refers to assessing the mental content and processes of individuals. This method provides insight into internal cognitive states that are not directly observable.

What type of measure is used to assess what people think about something?

Answer: Cognitive self-report

Cognitive self-report measures are specifically designed to gather information about an individual's thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and opinions. These measures typically involve questionnaires, surveys, or interviews where participants articulate their internal cognitive states. They are crucial for understanding subjective mental processes that are not directly observable.

What kind of measure is used to assess how people feel?

Answer: Affective self-report

Affective self-report measures are used to assess an individual's emotional states, feelings, and moods. These typically involve questionnaires or scales where participants rate their current or recent emotional experiences. This method provides direct insight into subjective emotional responses, which are central to understanding psychological well-being and reactions.

What type of measures are used to assess how people act, for example, tracking how often they go to church, engage in specific behaviors, or participate in certain activities?

Answer: Behavioral self-report

Behavioral self-report measures involve participants reporting on their own actions and behaviors, such as how often they engage in specific activities or perform certain tasks. Unlike direct observation, this method relies on individuals' recollections and accounts of their past or typical behaviors. It's useful for assessing behaviors that are difficult to observe directly or occur infrequently.

What is the field that investigates and improves the properties of measurements used in behavioral research called?

Answer: Psychometrics

Psychometrics is the scientific field concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement. It involves the development, validation, and refinement of instruments and procedures used to measure psychological attributes, such as intelligence, personality, and attitudes. This field ensures that measurements in behavioral research are reliable, valid, and standardized.

What is the average of the numbers 7, 3, 5, 6, and 4?

Answer: 5

To find the average (mean) of a set of numbers, you sum all the numbers and then divide by the count of the numbers. For 7, 3, 5, 6, and 4, the sum is 7 + 3 + 5 + 6 + 4 = 25. Since there are 5 numbers, the average is 25 / 5 = 5.

What is the middle value (median) among the numbers 10, 28, 13, 14, 20, 35, 20, 19, 17, and 12?

Answer: 18

To find the median, first arrange the numbers in ascending order: 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 20, 28, 35. Since there is an even number of values (10), the median is the average of the two middle numbers. The two middle numbers are the 5th (17) and 6th (19) values, so their average is (17 + 19) / 2 = 36 / 2 = 18.

Among the numbers 9, 12, 24, 13, 15, 17, 35, 14, 17, and 17, what is the central value or value that appears most frequently?

Answer: the mode is 17

The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a data set. In the given set of numbers (9, 12, 24, 13, 15, 17, 35, 14, 17, 17), the number 17 appears three times, which is more often than any other number. Therefore, 17 is the mode of this data set.

If the dispersion or spread of a data set is represented by a standard deviation of 5, what is the corresponding variance?

Answer: 25

Variance is a measure of how spread out a set of data is, and it is mathematically defined as the square of the standard deviation. If the standard deviation is 5, then the variance is 5 squared (5 * 5), which equals 25. Both standard deviation and variance quantify the dispersion of data points around the mean.

Regarding the "study for use with questions 5-19" provided, what is the identified factor that is manipulated or controlled by the researchers? (Independent variable)

Answer: digit recitation

The independent variable is the factor that researchers intentionally manipulate or control to observe its effect on another variable. In this study, 'digit recitation' is identified as the independent variable, suggesting that researchers varied aspects of digit recitation (e.g., its presence, difficulty, or duration) across different experimental conditions. This manipulation allows for the examination of its causal impact.

In the context of this study, what is the measured or observed variable that is influenced or affected by the changes in the independent variable? (Dependent variable)

Answer: the number of correctly recalled words

The dependent variable is the outcome measure that is expected to change in response to the manipulation of the independent variable. In this study, 'the number of correctly recalled words' is the dependent variable. Researchers would measure how changes in 'digit recitation' (the independent variable) affect participants' ability to recall words, thus assessing the effect of the manipulation.

What specific category or type of research design does the described study fall under?

Answer: a true experiment

A true experiment is characterized by the manipulation of an independent variable, random assignment of participants to different conditions, and control over extraneous variables. This design allows researchers to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The study's structure, involving a manipulated factor and a measured outcome, aligns with these criteria.

What particular flaw or limitation is associated with the research design utilized in this study, which might result in a certain risk or potential outcome?

Answer: Non- equivalent samples because of participant variables

Even in a true experiment, especially with smaller sample sizes, random assignment does not guarantee perfect equivalence between groups on all participant variables. There remains a statistical possibility that groups could differ significantly on some pre-existing characteristics by chance, leading to non-equivalent samples. This potential imbalance could confound the results, making it difficult to attribute observed effects solely to the independent variable.