Variables
● A variable is something that changes or varies, so it needs to have at least two levels or
values (but it can have no more)
○ Variables vs constants: constant does not change…
○ Measured and manipulated variables:
■ Measured variable is observed and recorded
■ Manipulated variable is controlled
■ Some variables can only be measured- not manipulated
■ Some variables can be either manipulated or measured
○ Conceptual variables
■ Construct, and conception definitions are abstract, theoretical concepts
such as “ infant temperment”...
○ Operational definitions
■ To operationalize a definition is to turn a conceptual definition into a
measured …
Claims
An argument someone is trying to make. Psychological…
Three types:
● Frequency
● Association
●
Frequency claims
● Describes a particular rate or degree of a single…
Association claim
● Argues that one level of a variable is likel to be associated with a particular level of
another variable
● Involve at least two measured variables
● Variables that associated are set to correlate
3 types of association claims
● Positive
● Negative
● Zero
Making predictions based on associations
● Some association claims are useful because they help us make predictions
● The stronger the association between the two variables, the more accurate the
prediction will be
Not all claims are based on research
● Not all claims we read about in the popular press are based on research
Construct validity: how well the variables in a study are measured or manipulated- the extent
to which the operational variables in a study are a good approximation of the conceptual
variables
● Example: People who multitask are the worst at it
External validity:
● A variable is something that changes or varies, so it needs to have at least two levels or
values (but it can have no more)
○ Variables vs constants: constant does not change…
○ Measured and manipulated variables:
■ Measured variable is observed and recorded
■ Manipulated variable is controlled
■ Some variables can only be measured- not manipulated
■ Some variables can be either manipulated or measured
○ Conceptual variables
■ Construct, and conception definitions are abstract, theoretical concepts
such as “ infant temperment”...
○ Operational definitions
■ To operationalize a definition is to turn a conceptual definition into a
measured …
Claims
An argument someone is trying to make. Psychological…
Three types:
● Frequency
● Association
●
Frequency claims
● Describes a particular rate or degree of a single…
Association claim
● Argues that one level of a variable is likel to be associated with a particular level of
another variable
● Involve at least two measured variables
● Variables that associated are set to correlate
3 types of association claims
● Positive
● Negative
● Zero
Making predictions based on associations
● Some association claims are useful because they help us make predictions
● The stronger the association between the two variables, the more accurate the
prediction will be
Not all claims are based on research
● Not all claims we read about in the popular press are based on research
Construct validity: how well the variables in a study are measured or manipulated- the extent
to which the operational variables in a study are a good approximation of the conceptual
variables
● Example: People who multitask are the worst at it
External validity:
