PSYC 2900 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Discriminant, Theoretical Definition, Covariance
Document Summary
What makes a good theory: data (supported by data) (most important, falsifiable (when tested it could be wrong and challenge the theory, parsimonious (the simplest solution is the best) Consumer vs. producer: consumer: looks at research that is already done, producer: able to conduct your own research. Measured: variable being recorded; from an observation, statement, value. Manipulated: variable being controlled by assigning participants different levels. Conceptual definition: captures the main idea of the word. Operational definition: shows how to test the conceptual definition. 3 types of claims: frequency claim: particular rate or value, association claim: one level of the variable associates with another (two variables, causal claim: one variable is responsible for changing the other (two variables) 3 rules for causation: covariance: as a changes b changes, temporal precedence: a comes first, then b, internal validity: the only thing that could cause b is a.
