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Learning Objectives
Chapter 6
1. Learn the definition of a variable.
2. Understand that IVs, DVs, and extraneous variables differ on the number of levels
each can have. Know the range of levels likely to be found in each.
3. Know what an operational definition is and how that differs from conceptual
definitions.
4. Be able to identify an operational definition or give an example of one.
5. Know why operational definitions are important in research.
6. Know the different types of IVs.
a. Physiological
b. Experience
c. Stimulus
d. Participant Characteristics
7. Know what characterizes a good IV.
8. Know the different ways of measuring DVs.
a. Correctness
b. Rate
c. Frequency
d. Degree
e. Latency
f. Duration
9. Know what makes a good DV.
10. Be able to differentiate a confounding variable from other extraneous variables
such as nuisance variables.
11. Understand why randomization is used to control for extraneous variables and the
limitation(s) on its use.
12. Understand how constancy is a means of reducing extraneous variables and its
limitations.
13. Understand how balancing is used to control for extraneous variables and its
limitations.
14. Understand the following about counterbalancing.
a. What it is.
b. When it should be used.
c. What forms it can take (within, between, complete, incomplete)
d. What confounding variables it reduces (e.g., carryover effects).
e. Why it should be avoided in experiments with more than 2 levels.
Chapter 7
1. Know what should guide someone when choosing participants.
2. Understand why “more is better” when it comes to participants.
3. Know what experimenter characteristics are and how they can alter the results of
a study.
4. Know what experimenter expectancies are and how they can alter the results.
5. Know what participant expectancies are and how they can alter the results.
6. Know what response bias is and be able to give some examples.
7. Be able to discuss ways that expectancies or response bias can be avoided.
8. Know the definition of culture.
9. Be able to discriminate between an etic and an emic.
10. Know what social constructionism is and be prepared to give an example.
11. Know what ethnocentrism is and how it can adversely affect research.
12. Be prepared to describe all the ways in which culture affects the research process.
Chapter 9
1. Know the purposes of descriptive and inferential statistics.
2. Know and be able to give examples of the 4 scales of measurement.
3. Understand why scales of measurement matter?
4. Know the 3 measures of central tendency and the limitations of each.
5. Know which graphs are appropriate for each scale of measurement.
6. Know the purpose of a line graph and under what circumstances it would be used.
7. Know the 3 measures of variability.
8. Know the features of the standard deviation.
9. Know the features of the standardized normal distribution.
10. Understand how a sampling distribution of the mean would be generated.
11. Know what sampling error is and the two determinates of it.
12. Know what the null hypothesis is and what its purpose is.
13. Know the features of the sampling distribution of the different between means.
14. Understand the general process of testing a hypothesis.
15. Know when to reject and accept the null hypothesis based on the p-value.
16. Understand the meaning of statistical significance.
17. Know what alpha is and other terms that mean the same thing.
18. Know the difference between a one-tailed test and a two-tailed test.
19. Understand the two types of errors one can make when interpreting inferential
statistics.
20. Understand how probability is related to Type I errors.
Placebo Effects
1. Know what the placebo effect is and why it must be examined in any study of
new drugs or treatments.
2. Know why placebos were once routinely used by physicians as a treatment for all
manner of ailments.
3. Be prepared to use an example from the film to illustrate any of the following:
operational definitions, types of IVs or DVs, demand characteristics, participant
or experimenter expectancies, single vs. double blind, and random assignment.