PSYCH291 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Nylon, Dependent And Independent Variables, Discriminant

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH291
• Professor: Heather Henderson

Document Summary

Chapter 5: identifying good measurement: three common types of measures (1) self-report (2) observational (3) physiological, more about conceptual and operational variables. Conceptual variable co(cid:374)(cid:272)eptual defi(cid:374)itio(cid:374) o(cid:396) (cid:272)o(cid:374)st(cid:396)u(cid:272)t; resea(cid:396)(cid:272)he(cid:396)"s defi(cid:374)itio(cid:374) of the variable in question at a theoretical level. Operational variable a(cid:374) ope(cid:396)atio(cid:374)al defi(cid:374)itio(cid:374); rep(cid:396)ese(cid:374)ts a (cid:396)esea(cid:396)(cid:272)he(cid:396)"s spe(cid:272)ifi(cid:272) de(cid:272)isio(cid:374) about how to measure or manipulate the conceptual variable. An operational variable is how the researcher chooses to manipulate the conceptual variable: operationalizing happiness. De(cid:448)eloped a p(cid:396)e(cid:272)ise (cid:272)o(cid:374)(cid:272)eptual defi(cid:374)itio(cid:374) = (cid:862)su(cid:271)je(cid:272)ti(cid:448)e (cid:449)ell-(cid:271)ei(cid:374)g(cid:863) Start by stating a definition of their construct (the conceptual variable) and then create an operational definition. Conceptual definition = level of arousal throughout the day. Emg (electromyography) a way of electronically recording tiny movements in the muscles in the face. Ope(cid:396)atio(cid:374)alizi(cid:374)g peoples" st(cid:396)ess le(cid:448)els (cid:271)(cid:455) (cid:373)easu(cid:396)i(cid:374)g deg(cid:396)ee of (cid:272)o(cid:396)tisol i(cid:374) sali(cid:448)a. High levels of stress = high levels of cortisol, low levels of stress = low levels of cortisol: scales of measurement.