Psychology 2800E Lecture 8: Lecture 8 - Variables & chapter summary

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2800E
• Professor: Patrick Brown

Document Summary

Are things whose values can be measured and vary from one occasion to another. Things that stay the same aren"t of much interest to scientists (dimension of room) Interested in things that occur on time scales change is detectable. May be physical (length, weight, height, volume & velocity) - can see & agree. Relatively easy to measure process produces facts. May be abstract (mood, intelligence & value) More dif cult to measure process produces inferences /not facts. Never measure abstract itself could measure proxy variables. Could measure brain processes but such are not psychological states (brain structure) Eg using instrument such as beck depression inventory - not measuring depression. Bdi measures behaviours that we believe vary in some way of frequency severity. Behaviours that vary with depression severity involve responding to test items. Ppl w diff levels of severity respond in diff ways.