1
PUP 3002 TEST 1 Questions with Answers
(100% Correct Answers)
Is the social world deterministic or probabilistic? Why do we care about this
distinction? What does it mean to say the social world is multivariate? Answer:
Social world is multivariate, therefore is probabilistic (allowing for random
chance to alter outcome). Multivariate refers to the multiple causes of a single
outcome/phenomenon. We care about this distinction because we want to
know which variables play a role in shaping the outcome and at what
magnitude.
What is a counterfactual? What does it have to do with understanding causal
inference? Answer: The counterfactual outcome would be the possible outcome
if you were not to have the conditions x, which we use to determine if x causes
y. By exploring a counterfactual we hope to compare what actually happened
to what would have happened. The "fundamental problem" of causal inference
is that we rarely observe the counterfactual because we are unable to fix the
past (no time machine)
What are independent variables? How are they related to dependent variables?
Know how to identify each in theory or hypothesis. Answer: A causal
relationship is x causes y. In this case, the independent variable is what is doing
the causing (x) and the dependent variable is what is being explained (y).
What are antecedent and intervening variables? Know how to identify in theory
or hypothesis. Answer: Intervening variables are hypothetical variables (much
like personality/attitude is "hypothetical") used to explain causal links between
other variables. Intervening= after independent, before dependent. example
that POVERTY (independent variable) leads to shorter LONGEVITY
(dependent variable), but this can be explained by the intervening relationship
that a lack of healthcare has on poor people. Antecedent variables are ones that
cannot help to explain the apparent relationship between other variables that
are normally in a cause and effect relationship
, 2
What is a theory? Where do they come from? How do we evaluate their merit?
Answer: A theory is used to build policy models that come from the
investigation of a topic. A good model is multivariate, probabilistic,
parsimonious, generalizable, falsifiable, clear, logically consistent, ideologically
neutral.
What are hypotheses and how do they differ from theories? Why do we need
hypotheses for science? Answer: Theories are derived from a process of
investigation. We use theories to produce empirically testable or falsifiable
hypotheses and then test these hypotheses with data. This process is known as
scientific inquiry.
Explain the Nash equilibrium Answer: The Nash equilibrium is a solution
concept that helps us arrive at a solution in which no player can improve their
position given the other player's action. It reveals both player's best response
when you consider both players action, therefore reaching a
consensus/equilibrium. It is used when we study game theory and is best to get
both sides to commit.
What is a commitment problem? Answer: when one or more parties cannot
credibly commit to a strategy despite its high utility.
What is a discount factor? How do discount factors affect cooperative
decisions? Answer: Discount factors are the degree which people discount
future benefits relative to current ones. We use this to understand whether
repeated interaction can cause a player to sustain cooperation by determining
the player's value in the future. A high discount factor (closer to one) reflects
someone who is patient, low discount (closer to 0) reflects someone who prefers
to be compensated in the near term.
Why doesn't correlation necessarily imply causation? Answer: Correlation
cannot imply causation because of the existence of confounding variables
(variables that are correlated to both the treatment and potential outcome).
PUP 3002 TEST 1 Questions with Answers
(100% Correct Answers)
Is the social world deterministic or probabilistic? Why do we care about this
distinction? What does it mean to say the social world is multivariate? Answer:
Social world is multivariate, therefore is probabilistic (allowing for random
chance to alter outcome). Multivariate refers to the multiple causes of a single
outcome/phenomenon. We care about this distinction because we want to
know which variables play a role in shaping the outcome and at what
magnitude.
What is a counterfactual? What does it have to do with understanding causal
inference? Answer: The counterfactual outcome would be the possible outcome
if you were not to have the conditions x, which we use to determine if x causes
y. By exploring a counterfactual we hope to compare what actually happened
to what would have happened. The "fundamental problem" of causal inference
is that we rarely observe the counterfactual because we are unable to fix the
past (no time machine)
What are independent variables? How are they related to dependent variables?
Know how to identify each in theory or hypothesis. Answer: A causal
relationship is x causes y. In this case, the independent variable is what is doing
the causing (x) and the dependent variable is what is being explained (y).
What are antecedent and intervening variables? Know how to identify in theory
or hypothesis. Answer: Intervening variables are hypothetical variables (much
like personality/attitude is "hypothetical") used to explain causal links between
other variables. Intervening= after independent, before dependent. example
that POVERTY (independent variable) leads to shorter LONGEVITY
(dependent variable), but this can be explained by the intervening relationship
that a lack of healthcare has on poor people. Antecedent variables are ones that
cannot help to explain the apparent relationship between other variables that
are normally in a cause and effect relationship
, 2
What is a theory? Where do they come from? How do we evaluate their merit?
Answer: A theory is used to build policy models that come from the
investigation of a topic. A good model is multivariate, probabilistic,
parsimonious, generalizable, falsifiable, clear, logically consistent, ideologically
neutral.
What are hypotheses and how do they differ from theories? Why do we need
hypotheses for science? Answer: Theories are derived from a process of
investigation. We use theories to produce empirically testable or falsifiable
hypotheses and then test these hypotheses with data. This process is known as
scientific inquiry.
Explain the Nash equilibrium Answer: The Nash equilibrium is a solution
concept that helps us arrive at a solution in which no player can improve their
position given the other player's action. It reveals both player's best response
when you consider both players action, therefore reaching a
consensus/equilibrium. It is used when we study game theory and is best to get
both sides to commit.
What is a commitment problem? Answer: when one or more parties cannot
credibly commit to a strategy despite its high utility.
What is a discount factor? How do discount factors affect cooperative
decisions? Answer: Discount factors are the degree which people discount
future benefits relative to current ones. We use this to understand whether
repeated interaction can cause a player to sustain cooperation by determining
the player's value in the future. A high discount factor (closer to one) reflects
someone who is patient, low discount (closer to 0) reflects someone who prefers
to be compensated in the near term.
Why doesn't correlation necessarily imply causation? Answer: Correlation
cannot imply causation because of the existence of confounding variables
(variables that are correlated to both the treatment and potential outcome).
