Methodical & Stats Analysis Flashcards

A researcher reports a 95% confidence interval of [2.1, 5.8] for a mean difference. This means:

Answer: If the procedure were repeated, 95% of such intervals would contain the true parameter

A 95% CI means the interval-construction procedure captures the true parameter in 95% of replications, not that this specific interval has a 95% probability.

Demand characteristics in psychological research refer to:

Answer: Cues that lead participants to guess the study's purpose and alter their behavior

Demand characteristics are subtle cues in the experimental setting that hint at the study's purpose, potentially altering participant behavior.

Which level of measurement allows meaningful ratio comparisons (e.g., 'twice as much')?

Answer: Ratio

Ratio scales have a true absolute zero point, allowing meaningful statements about proportional differences between values.

In structural equation modeling (SEM), a latent variable is:

Answer: An unobserved construct inferred from multiple indicators

Latent variables are unobserved theoretical constructs estimated from patterns among multiple observed indicator variables.

Hawthorne effects are a threat to internal validity because:

Answer: Participants improve simply due to being observed, not the treatment

The Hawthorne effect occurs when participants change their behavior because they know they are being observed, not because of the experimental manipulation.

A moderation effect in regression is tested by:

Answer: Including an interaction term (X × Z) in the model

Moderation is examined by including the product (interaction) term of two predictors; a significant interaction indicates the effect of X depends on the level of Z.

Which of the following statements about qualitative research is most accurate?

Answer: It seeks to understand meaning and lived experience through interpretive analysis

Qualitative research emphasizes understanding subjective meaning, context, and experience rather than statistical generalization.