Feedback Assignment 3 _ 4 -
PYC3704 2021.
, Feedback Assignment 3
Unique number Semester 1: 357590
Unique number Semester 2: 278104
Question 1
Which of the following are advantages of studying statistical methods in psychology?
1. It leads to a better understanding of the content of psychological theories.
2. It helps us to formulate research questions.
3. It helps us to evaluate whether the patterns we observe in data are due to more than the
consequence of chance.
4. It gives insight into the nature of the scientific process.
➔Answer: Option 3 is correct.
Statistical methods are required specifically to compare the relationships that we observe in
data with what could be expected purely by chance, in order to decide whether the patterns
we detect are probably not purely the result of random variations in the data (e.g., due to errors
in our measurements). The other three options are more general aspects of research and go
beyond the statistical analysis of the results.
Question 2
Which of the options below is a valid description of a 'construct' in psychological research? It
is a(n) - - - - -.
1. measurement based on the careful observation of aspects of humans or human
behaviour
2. observation of an aspect of humans or human behaviour which was operationalized in
some way
3. hypothetical aspect of humans or human behaviour which we wish to investigate
4. explanation of empirical observations based on the measurement of certain variables
➔Answer: The correct answer is given in Option 3.
Constructs are abstract aspects of humans such as 'intelligence' or 'depression' which can be
best described as 'hypothetical' since we suppose they exist but they cannot be observed
directly (see p. 3 of the Study Guide for PYC3704). We use 'operationalization' to make them
visible (by developing some way of observing them) but this happens because we hypothesise
that they exist in the first place (so Option 2 is wrong). This could entail measurement (Option
1) and may lead to an explanation for human behaviour (Option 4), but the construct is
presupposed before any of this can happen.
Open Rubric
,Question 3
A psychologist believes that personality factors such as ability to get along with other people
in a team are likely to have an influence their success in a team sport. To investigate this, she
draws a sample of participants in competitive sport, comprising soccer players, hockey players
and cricketers from various sports clubs. After evaluating their performance on an appropriate
psychometric test, she divides players from the three types of sports into two groups: those
who have good social skills and those who tend avoid social contact. She then uses evaluation
forms, based on interviews with different sports experts, to assess the actual sports
performance of the members of the sample. The dependent variable in the study is - - - - -
and the independent variable is - - - - -.
1. measured sports performance; social skills
2. type of sports; social skills
3. social skills; measured sports performance
4. social skills; type of sports
➔Answer: Option 1 is correct.
The researcher wants to determine whether sports performance (a measurement of how well
a specific sports participant performs) depends on social skills. This implies that the construct
‘social skills’ is the independent variable which is varied to see how it affects the dependent
variable, the measurement of ‘sports performance.’ The category of sport (soccer, hockey or
cricket) gives us information about the population from which the sample was drawn (the types
of sports participants that were involved), but in the context of this scenario this variable is not
being investigated here. It would be possible to compare the three groups but this would not
answer the research question.
Question 4
A psychologist studies the effect that age has on attitude towards Aids. She selects a sample
of subjects divided into three different age groups, 20-30 years, 30-40 years and 40-50 years.
The three age groups are - - - - -.
1. different variables for measuring ‘age’
2. operationalisations of the variable 'age'
3. three different theoretical constructs
4. a way of measuring ‘age’
➔Answer: Option 4 is correct.
Measurement is a process where numbers are allocated to a construct according to a rule,
and that is what happens here. It produces a single new variable (which could be called
something like ‘Age group’), so Option 1 is wrong. These groups are classifications of age,
not the definition of how age should be measured, so Option 2 is wrong. The three values
refer to the same underlying construct, to produce a variable, so Option 3 is also incorrect.
One does not operationalise variables but operationalise constructs to be able to measure
them, and this measurement is then referred to as a variable.
, Question 5
The term ‘inference’ in psychological research refers to - - - - -.
1. describing information in a precise way
2. making a prediction or generalization based on existing information
3. the procedures for making a construct visible so that a measurement can be made
4. the development of a hypothesis as a relationship among variables
➔Answer: Option 2 is correct.
The notion of an inference is described as a conclusion which is based on existing information,
where the specific information is used to make statements about the type of phenomenon in
general. This enables social scientists to make predictions which have a reasonable
probability of being true. (See p. 2 in the Guide for PYC3704). Option 1 refers to descriptive
statistics and Option 3 refers to operationalization. Such predictions can be used to create
new hypotheses, but it is not the process of creating hypotheses as such (as suggested in
Option 4).
Question 6
Consider the following statement: "The experience of strong emotion is accompanied by
physiological reactions such as an increase in heart rate". This statement can be viewed as a
research hypothesis because it - - - - -.
(a) makes a prediction that can be tested by observation
(b) describes a possible relationship between variables
1. (a) but not (b)
2. both (a) and (b)
3. (b) but not (a)
4. neither (a) nor (b)
➔Answer: Option 2 is correct.
A psychological hypothesis formulates a testable empirical claim, that is, a prediction which
can in principle be observed, and this usually involves postulating a relationship between two
or more variables.
Question 7
A psychologist uses a psychometric test to study the intelligence of school children.
Intelligence is the - - - - - variable and the psychometric test represents the - - - - - variable in
this study.
1. independent; dependent
2 manifest; operational
3. dependent; independent
4. latent; manifest
➔Answer: Option 4 is correct.
A hidden or underlying (latent) aspect of a construct has to be made visible (manifest) to be
observed. ‘Intelligence’ is a latent variable because it cannot be observed directly. The results
of the psychometric test can however be observed directly and can therefore be regarded as
PYC3704 2021.
, Feedback Assignment 3
Unique number Semester 1: 357590
Unique number Semester 2: 278104
Question 1
Which of the following are advantages of studying statistical methods in psychology?
1. It leads to a better understanding of the content of psychological theories.
2. It helps us to formulate research questions.
3. It helps us to evaluate whether the patterns we observe in data are due to more than the
consequence of chance.
4. It gives insight into the nature of the scientific process.
➔Answer: Option 3 is correct.
Statistical methods are required specifically to compare the relationships that we observe in
data with what could be expected purely by chance, in order to decide whether the patterns
we detect are probably not purely the result of random variations in the data (e.g., due to errors
in our measurements). The other three options are more general aspects of research and go
beyond the statistical analysis of the results.
Question 2
Which of the options below is a valid description of a 'construct' in psychological research? It
is a(n) - - - - -.
1. measurement based on the careful observation of aspects of humans or human
behaviour
2. observation of an aspect of humans or human behaviour which was operationalized in
some way
3. hypothetical aspect of humans or human behaviour which we wish to investigate
4. explanation of empirical observations based on the measurement of certain variables
➔Answer: The correct answer is given in Option 3.
Constructs are abstract aspects of humans such as 'intelligence' or 'depression' which can be
best described as 'hypothetical' since we suppose they exist but they cannot be observed
directly (see p. 3 of the Study Guide for PYC3704). We use 'operationalization' to make them
visible (by developing some way of observing them) but this happens because we hypothesise
that they exist in the first place (so Option 2 is wrong). This could entail measurement (Option
1) and may lead to an explanation for human behaviour (Option 4), but the construct is
presupposed before any of this can happen.
Open Rubric
,Question 3
A psychologist believes that personality factors such as ability to get along with other people
in a team are likely to have an influence their success in a team sport. To investigate this, she
draws a sample of participants in competitive sport, comprising soccer players, hockey players
and cricketers from various sports clubs. After evaluating their performance on an appropriate
psychometric test, she divides players from the three types of sports into two groups: those
who have good social skills and those who tend avoid social contact. She then uses evaluation
forms, based on interviews with different sports experts, to assess the actual sports
performance of the members of the sample. The dependent variable in the study is - - - - -
and the independent variable is - - - - -.
1. measured sports performance; social skills
2. type of sports; social skills
3. social skills; measured sports performance
4. social skills; type of sports
➔Answer: Option 1 is correct.
The researcher wants to determine whether sports performance (a measurement of how well
a specific sports participant performs) depends on social skills. This implies that the construct
‘social skills’ is the independent variable which is varied to see how it affects the dependent
variable, the measurement of ‘sports performance.’ The category of sport (soccer, hockey or
cricket) gives us information about the population from which the sample was drawn (the types
of sports participants that were involved), but in the context of this scenario this variable is not
being investigated here. It would be possible to compare the three groups but this would not
answer the research question.
Question 4
A psychologist studies the effect that age has on attitude towards Aids. She selects a sample
of subjects divided into three different age groups, 20-30 years, 30-40 years and 40-50 years.
The three age groups are - - - - -.
1. different variables for measuring ‘age’
2. operationalisations of the variable 'age'
3. three different theoretical constructs
4. a way of measuring ‘age’
➔Answer: Option 4 is correct.
Measurement is a process where numbers are allocated to a construct according to a rule,
and that is what happens here. It produces a single new variable (which could be called
something like ‘Age group’), so Option 1 is wrong. These groups are classifications of age,
not the definition of how age should be measured, so Option 2 is wrong. The three values
refer to the same underlying construct, to produce a variable, so Option 3 is also incorrect.
One does not operationalise variables but operationalise constructs to be able to measure
them, and this measurement is then referred to as a variable.
, Question 5
The term ‘inference’ in psychological research refers to - - - - -.
1. describing information in a precise way
2. making a prediction or generalization based on existing information
3. the procedures for making a construct visible so that a measurement can be made
4. the development of a hypothesis as a relationship among variables
➔Answer: Option 2 is correct.
The notion of an inference is described as a conclusion which is based on existing information,
where the specific information is used to make statements about the type of phenomenon in
general. This enables social scientists to make predictions which have a reasonable
probability of being true. (See p. 2 in the Guide for PYC3704). Option 1 refers to descriptive
statistics and Option 3 refers to operationalization. Such predictions can be used to create
new hypotheses, but it is not the process of creating hypotheses as such (as suggested in
Option 4).
Question 6
Consider the following statement: "The experience of strong emotion is accompanied by
physiological reactions such as an increase in heart rate". This statement can be viewed as a
research hypothesis because it - - - - -.
(a) makes a prediction that can be tested by observation
(b) describes a possible relationship between variables
1. (a) but not (b)
2. both (a) and (b)
3. (b) but not (a)
4. neither (a) nor (b)
➔Answer: Option 2 is correct.
A psychological hypothesis formulates a testable empirical claim, that is, a prediction which
can in principle be observed, and this usually involves postulating a relationship between two
or more variables.
Question 7
A psychologist uses a psychometric test to study the intelligence of school children.
Intelligence is the - - - - - variable and the psychometric test represents the - - - - - variable in
this study.
1. independent; dependent
2 manifest; operational
3. dependent; independent
4. latent; manifest
➔Answer: Option 4 is correct.
A hidden or underlying (latent) aspect of a construct has to be made visible (manifest) to be
observed. ‘Intelligence’ is a latent variable because it cannot be observed directly. The results
of the psychometric test can however be observed directly and can therefore be regarded as
