PSC 41 Lecture 5: Lecture 5 - 4/18/17

• School: UC-Davis
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSC 41
• Professor: Cross, Victoria

Document Summary

Method overview: correlational research/association claims, two measured variables, searching for an association. Experimental research/causal claims: one manipulated variable, one measured variable, searching for causation. I wonder if where someone is sitting in a classroom is related to how much they fidget. Measurement outline: measuring variables accurately and consistently, number system + psychological variables, scales of measurement. A construct: a construct is a hypothetical variable which is not directly observable. (cid:858)i(cid:374)tellige(cid:374)(cid:272)e(cid:859) (cid:858)happi(cid:374)ess(cid:859, esear(cid:272)hers esti(cid:373)ate ea(cid:272)h parti(cid:272)ipa(cid:374)t(cid:859)s le(cid:448)el of the (cid:272)o(cid:374)stru(cid:272)t (cid:271)(cid:455) (cid:373)easuri(cid:374)g (cid:448)aria(cid:271)les that are somewhat related to the underlying construct. Measuring variables: almost all measurements include some degree of error or noise, we must evaluate the accuracy and consistency of the measurement. Validity and reliability: validity (accuracy, we(cid:271)ster: (cid:862)sou(cid:374)dl(cid:455) (cid:271)ased o(cid:374) fa(cid:272)ts or e(cid:448)ide(cid:374)(cid:272)e(cid:863, genuine, credible, true, reliability (consistency, repeat, replicate. If the characteristic being measured is stable, a reliable test yields consistent results. Measuring reliability: calculate correlations to assess reliability, test-retest, split-half, parallel or alternate forms.