PSYC-301

Theory-Data Cycle

Asking questions that are based on theories, making predictions, and collecting and reflecting upon data.

Sources of Information Type: Intuition

-Biased by faulty thinking: human mind works imperfectly. Example: We focus on positive rather than negative info -Biased by motivation- we see what we want to see. Example: We ask biased questions to hear what we want to hear.

Sources of Information Type: Experience

-Usually, have no comparison group -Is confounded: we don't know what caused the outcome - Can be powerful but not as much as research

Good theories....

1) Supported by data 2) can be true or false 3)Simple theory-parsimonious 4) dont use the word Not proven but supported or the weight of the evidence

Dr. Sheffield gives his measure to his supervisor, who is also an expert in pathological gambling. His supervisor says that his measure appears to test all the components of pathological gambling, including feeling restless when attempting to stop gambling, jeopardizing jobs in order to keep gambling, and using gambling to escape from problems and a bad mood. Given this information, Dr. Sheffield's measure has evidence of which of the following? a. Content validity b. Criterion validity c. Predictive validity d. Discriminant validity

A

Association Claims

Two variables and are related. One variable is associated with another variable. Example: Girls are more likely to like anime.

Three Criteria for Causation

1. covariance- Two variables are related. Association claim measures this. 2. Temporal Precedence- One variable comes before the other variable in time. Manipulated one first then measured one. One change and the other 3. Internal Validity- No alternative explanations for change of B, only A changed. The variable changed and not something else.

In which of the following ways are content and face validity similar? a. Both involve subjective judgments. b. Both involve judgments based on participants' opinions. c. Both are preferred by psychologists as measures of validity. d. Both are necessary for criterion validity.

A

Naomi is studying the effect of popularity on academic success for her research methods project. To do this, she has elementary school students report how popular each member of their class is. She then uses this information to rank the students on popularity (e.g., John is the most popular, Vanessa is the second-most popular). Which of the following best describes this variable? a. An ordinal scale of measurement b. A categorical measurement c. A self-report measurement d. An interval scale of measurement

A

When participants complete questionnaires, we are using which measurement technique? a. Self-report measurement b. Physiological measurement c. Observational measurement d. Archival measurement

A

Which of the following is NOT true of variables? a. Variables are the same as constants. b. Some variables can only be measured. c. Some variables can be either manipulated or measured. d. All variables must have operational definitions in a research study

A

Translational Research

A bridge from basic to applied research in which findings from basic research are then used to develop applications, example: Will mediation improve GRE scores in college students.

Convergent validity

A measure should correlate with measures of similar constructs Example: a new self-esteem measure should correlate with the existing measures of self-esteem

discriminant validity

A measure should not correlate with measures of dissimilar constructs e.g., a new self-esteem measure should not correlate with a measures of physical health

RESEARCH STUDY Dr. Sheffield is a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating pathological gambling. Pathological gambling is defined as being unable to resist impulses to gamble. Bothered by not having a good measure that he can give to clients to determine whether they are suffering from this condition, he creates a new measure of pathological gambling. The measure has 15 questions. If Dr. Sheffield's measure does not actually MEASURE pathological gambling, his measure is said to lack which of the following? a. Validity b. Conceptualization c. Reliability d. Operationalization

A-accuracery of measure.

Research that is done specifically to solve a practical problem, like increasing memory ability in adults with Alzheimer's disease or decreasing symptoms of depression in survivors of abuse, is known as: a. Basic research b. Empirical research c. Applied research d. Translational research

Applied

Applied Vs. Basic Research

Applied- Conducted to solve real life problems, Example: conducting a study to determine the best method for teaching young children how to read. Example: can medication be tested in 3 schools in VA to see improvements in grades Basic- Enhance the general body of knowledge about a particular topic. Example: Can mediation improve bain cell increase

:To test his measure, Dr. Sheffield gives his measure to a group of his clients and at the same time measures how many times they have been gambling in the past month. He predicts that clients who score higher on his measure will also report gambling more times in the past month. This procedure is meant to provide evidence for which of the following? a. Face validity b. Criterion validity - Relationship between scores on measure and behavior. c. Content validity d. Discriminant validity

B

A researcher decides to collect his data at a neighborhood park. He has his two research assistants pose as a married couple having a picnic. While having their picnic, they take detailed records of the sharing behavior of the children and note whether the pairs are same sex or opposite sex. Given his use of two research assistants, he must establish the ________ of their measures. a. Face validity b. Interrater reliability c. Convergent validity d. Test-retest reliability

B

A researcher's data shows that as participants' intelligence levels increase, their academic success tends to increase as well. This is evidence for what type of association? a. Negative association b. Positive association c. Zero association d. Internal association

B

Benjamin is a social psychologist who studies marriage. He believes that marital satisfaction has two components: the ability to trust one's partner and a belief that one can be a good spouse. He conducts a study to test his ideas. Assuming that his data match his theory, which of the following statements should he make? a. "The data prove my theory." b. "My theory is generalizable." c. "The data provide support for my theory." d. "The data complicate my theory."

C

To test his measure, Dr. Sheffield gives his measure to a group of people in Gamblers Anonymous (GA) and another group of people in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). He finds that people in the GA group have higher scores on his new measure than people in the AA group. This procedure is known as a: a. Test-retest paradigm b. Prediction paradigm c. Known-groups paradigm - Look at difference between groups. d. Group evaluation paradigm

C

When examining the statistical validity of a frequency claim, one should look for the: a. Strength of the association b. Statistical significance c. Margin of error estimate d. Length of the measurement

C

Which of the following is NOT an example of physiological measurement? a. Measurements of hormones in the bloodstream b. Blood pressure measurements c. Number of panic attacks a patient reports d. A brain scan made using an fMRI

C

Source of Info: Research

Can be probabilistic- Prove most but not all cases

Conceptual and Operational Definition

Conceptual-concept or idea Example: Depression, school achievement Operational- Procedure where concept is defined in terms of observable procedures. Example: Self report, checking records

Name the four validities used to interrogate claims. If you were to question a study's four validities, provide a question you might ask related to each validity.

Construct validity: How well was the variable measured or manipulated? Statistical validity: How strong is the relationship? What is the effect size? Internal validity: Are there any alternative explanations? External validity: Can we generalize these results beyond the sample?

Authority

Could be the authority's research, intuition or experience

Cupboard cycle vs. the contact comfort cycle

Cupboard cycle was an experiment where a monkey was exposed to two different settings, one with a monkey mom who gave the baby milk and no contact ( cupboard cycle) and one with the monkey mom giving the baby comfort ( contact comfort cycle). The baby choose the comforting mother.

Types of Validity

Face-It looks like what you want to measure. Content-The measure contains all the parts that your theory says it should contain Convergent- A measure should correlate with measures of similar constructs Discriminative- A measure should not correlate with measures of dissimilar constructs

Name the three types of claims. Explain the difference between claims.

Frequency- One measured variable- 90% of dogs are house trained Association- two claimed variables, there is a relationship- Brown dogs are more likely to be-house trained. Consual- manipulated variable produced changes in the measured variable- The color of a dog EFFECTS if they are house trained.

Casual Claims

Two variables, one causes the other Example: playing video games cause girls to watch more anime.

Measured vs. Manipulated

Measured- Observed and recorded Example- Race Manipulated- Controlled by researcher Example: hour of sleep

Describe the difference between measured and manipulated variables. Give an example of each.

Measured- Observed/recorded and collected data and manipulated is changed by researcher Manipulated- sleep vs no sleep- one will sleep and one will not.

Internal Validity

No alternative causal explanations for the outcome (relevant for causal claims)

Frequency Claims

One variable. Describes a rate or degree. Example: 10% of girls are into anime

Construct validity

Quality of the measures and manipulations

External Validity

Results generalize to other people, situations, environments

Empiricism

Scientist make conclusions based on evidence from senses. Example: Observation or experience.

variables

Something that changed or varies, Needs at least two values or levels Example: gender

Statistical validity

Statistical conclusions are appropriate and reasonable

Constant

Stays the same Example: gender when only talking about women.

Reliability

Test retest- Consistent scores every time measured Interrater- Consistent scores no matter who does testing. Internal- Consistent scores no matter how question is phrased.

Theory Data Cycle

Theory----> Research question----> research deisgn-----> hypothesis----> data Data can support the theory or you need to revise the research design or theory

Put the steps of the theory-data cycle in order below:

Theory---> Research question----> Research design---> Hypothesis---->Collect data---> support theory----> or look at research design again or revise theory

According to the text, the bridge between basic and applied research is known as: a. Empirical research b. Translational research c. Practical research d. Compound research

Translational

Validity

Whether the operationalization is measuring what it's supposed to measure. Face- Looks like what you want to measure Content- All the parts that should be contained

Confounded

a potential alternative explanation for a research finding Example: Do teens get more mad at video games around 8 pm? confound- Late at night, hormones

Research that is done specifically to add to our general understanding of psychology, like distinguishing the components of extraversion or predicting the time it takes a person to determine whether an object is a face or another object, is known as: a. Basic research b. Empirical research c. Applied research d. Translational research

basic

Know Group Paradigm

in which you examine whether scores on the measure can distinguish among a set of groups whose behavior is already well understood.

scales of measurement

nominal- Example: gender ordinal- Ranking- Example: Ratings Interval- No true zero, equal intervals between unit. Example: IQ testscales Ratio- Equal intervals and true zero- Weight, body temperature,

Ways to measure variables

self-report, observational, physiological