PSYC 300 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Content Analysis, Operational Definition, Thematic Apperception Test

• School: University of Maryland
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 300
• Professor: Charles Stagnor

Document Summary

Research methods for the behavioral sciences chapter 4. Measurement assignment of numbers to objects/events according to specific rules. Fundamentals: conceptual variables abstract ideas that form basis of research hypothesis, measured variables numbers that represent conceptual variables. More specific definitions lead to less danger that collected data was misunderstood. Converging operations: represents great advantage for researchers, researchers triangulate conceptual variable of interest after using different operationalization of the same conceptual variable. Assumptions: research hypothesis is correct (conceptual variables correlated, measured variables adequate (relationship between conceptual and measured variables, relationship between two measured variables observed. Ultimate goal: learn about relationship between two variables. Nominal and quantitative variables: nominal variable used to name or identify a particular characteristic. Indicate the fact that people who share a value on the variable are equal in some way: quantitative variable uses numbers to indicate extent to which person possesses a characteristic of interest. Ex. how many siblings, how fast they can do something.