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Variables and Operational Definitions of Variables
Psychologists study many variables. A variable is a class of an event, situation, or behavior within which specific instances, called or values will vary. |
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Variables are abstract concepts and must be translated into definitions. |
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That is, defined in terms of the or techniques the researcher uses to measure or them. |
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There are general categories of variables: that describe characteristics of a situation or environment, , the responses or behaviors of individuals, or subject variables that are characteristics of individuals, and , which are the psychological processes that explain why the situational variable has an effect on a particular response variable. |
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Relationships Between Variables
When researchers describe the pattern of a relationship between two variables with numeric values, they refer to one of the following types of relationships: a linear relationship is one in which the values of both variables vary in the same direction (either both increase or both decrease), a negative linear relationship between variables exists when the values of one variable increase as the values for the other variable , a relationship is one in which the direction of the relationship changes at least once, such that the values of one variable are accompanied by both increases and decreases in the values of the other variable, and relationship is when the values of each variable vary independently of each other. |
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Nonexperimental Versus Experimental Methods
To determine whether variables are related, researchers use either the method or the experimental method. |
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With the method, relationships are studied by making observations or measures of the variables of interest. |
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The method, however, is very different and it involves the direct and control of variables. |
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Independent and Dependent Variables
When researchers study relationships, they use specific terms to refer to variables being studied. For example, the variable that is considered to be the is called the independent variable, and the variable that is the "effect" is called the variable. |
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In an experiment, it is the variable that is manipulated and the variable is the measured behavior that is assumed to be caused by the variable. |
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Causality
Inferences of cause and effect require elements. |
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There must be precedence, a relationship between the two variables, and the elimination of explanations for the observed relationship. |
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Choosing a Method: Advantages of Multiple Methods
The experimental method can be used to conduct a laboratory experiment or a experiment. |
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In both cases, an independent variable is manipulated. In a laboratory experiment, the independent variable is manipulated in a carefully environment that reduces the possibility of variables influencing the results. |
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The disadvantage is that this high degree of experimenter control may create an atmosphere and limit either the questions that can be addressed or the of the results. |
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In a field experimenter, however, the independent variable is manipulated in a setting. |
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This is the advantage to this method because the independent variable is investigated in a context. |
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The disadvantage to this method, however, is that variables cannot be held constant as easily and the elimination of their influence on the outcome of the experiment is difficult to achieve. Thus, it is important that researchers take these issues and others into consideration when deciding which method to use in research studies. |
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Evaluating Research: Three Validities refers to truth and the accurate representation of information. |
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There are three types of validity used to describe and evaluate research: validity refers to the adequacy of the operational definition, validity refers to the ability to draw conclusions about causal relationships from data, and refers to the extent the results of a study can be generallzed to other populations and settings. Each of these types of validities is important when it comes to evaluating research. |
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