PSYB01H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Confounding, Construct Validity, Signify
Document Summary
Researchers have developed some techniques that enable them to test for cause. The best of these is experimentation: instead of measuring both variables, researchers manipulate one variable and measure the other. Research often begins with a simple bivariate correlation, but since bivariate correlations cannot establish causation, researchers use other techniques that help them get closer to making a causal claim. *multivariate designs: involves more than 2 dependent /measured variables. The 3 criteria for establishing causation are covariance, temporal precedence, and internal validity. Longitudinal design: an observational research method which the data collected, concerns the same subjects repeatedly over a period of time. This design can provide evidence for temporal precedence by measuring the same variables in the same people at several points in time. Often, longitudinal research is used in developmental psychology to study changes in a trait or an ability as a person grows older. In addition, this type of design is adapted to test causal claims.
