Chapter 2 - Getting Started
independent variable
The variable in a causal relationship that is hypothesized to influence the dependent variable; sometimes called the treatment variable. In experimental research, the independent variable is manipulated
Predictor variable
The variable in an association that is used to estimate or forecast a result or outcome
Outcome variable
The variable that expresses the result of an association
Which of these is a research question that seeks the value of one or more variables?
How many employees enrolled in the company vision care plan last year?
A causal claim will include an
Independent variable and dependent variable
Which characteristic of a good research question is not addressed by this research question? "Are angry outbursts linked to a creative subconscious?"
Is falsifiable
Which of these is a research question about an association?
Is gender predictive of spatial reasoning ability?
Which characteristic of a good research question is not addressed by this research question? "Is the color of a person's car associated with their preferences for sweets?"
Is worthwhile
Which of these terms may describe a causal relationship?
Leads to
Which is a characteristic of a good research question that is not addressed by the following research question? "Are effective verbal messages correlated?"
List the variable(s) of interest
A researcher forms the hypothesis "A student's preference for breakfast cereal is predictive of the number of cavities a student has filled before graduating from high school." For this hypothesis, a student's breakfast cereal preference is what type of variable?
Predictor variable
Which of these terms may describe an association?
Predicts
Associative relationship
The type of relationship between variables in which the predictor variable is used to estimate or forecast (i.e., predict) the outcome variable
Dependent variable
The variable in a causal relationship that is hypothesized to be influenced by the independent variable
What is the relationship between an association claim and a causation claim?
Causation claims are a type of association claim.
A scientific theory
can be abandoned if it no longer fits with the body of research.
Variable
A condition or characteristic that is subject to change (i.e., capable of taking on different levels, categories, or values).
Association (correlation; relationship)
A covariance between or among variables such that a change in one variable coincides with or predicts a change in another variable
Value
A measure of a variable, such as the number, amount, or degree of that variable
claim
A statement, assertion, or conclusion arrived at after careful examination of a research question; it generalizes the results of a study to the larger population and other situations
Conceptual replication (systematic replication)
A study in which the same hypothesis as the original study is tested using different methods
Causation
A subcategory of association. In causation, one variable directly affects the other such that changes in one variable lead to or bring about (i.e., cause) changes in the other variable
Results
A summary of findings or outcomes from collecting and analyzing data in a research study
Research question
A testable question about one or more specific variables, asking about what is true now or what will happen in the future. A good research question clearly indicates the type of relationship and variables of interest, is specific enough for a single study, can be translated into a testable hypothesis, and is worth answering
alternative explanations
An explanation for a result that is not accounted for in a study
Identify the outcome variable for the following hypothesis: "Exercise is linked to a reduction in anxiety for adults in the United States."
Anxiety
A company was interested in whether computer monitor size caused a change in worker productivity. Worker productivity is what type of variable?
Dependent variable
Which of these research questions is correlational?
Does a person's height relate to earning potential?
Which of the following is an example of a general research question?
Does witnessing trauma as a child have a long-lasting effect on development?
Direct replication (exact replication; literal replication)
Repeating a study by following the same procedures with a different group of study participants
Replication
Repeating a study that has already been completed
Replication with extension
Replicating the original study and extending the findings by adding new variables to answer additional questions
Basic research
Research designed to contribute to the body of knowledge about a topic. Basic research may or may not have an obvious application
Applied research
Research designed to help solve practical problems in a given field
A researcher investigated whether the type of distraction (text message, app notification, no distraction) during a brief lecture influenced memory. The experiment was conducted with college students aged 18-23. Identify the independent variable.
Type of distraction
hypothesis
an expected outcome of the research study; predicts the answer to the research question
Falsifiable
capable of being proven wrong or incorrect
A research team found that owning a cat was linked to lower levels of stress, as measured by a self-report survey, in adults over the age of 70. Another research team modified the study methods to measure heart rate and skin conductance, which are established indicators of stress. This is an example of a
conceptual replication
By consulting an established scientific theory, a researcher can
develop a good research question
A research team conducts a study on whether engaging in a meditation practice before the start of class improves students' content retention. Their participants were students taking a chemistry class. The research team later repeats the study, following the exact same procedures as before, with students taking a history class. This is an example of a
direct replication
Replication studies are important because they
provide information on the generalization of research findings.
