Unit 4

• Confounding variables


  Variables that are uncontrolled and impossible to separate from the variable of interest
• Curvilinear relationship


  Relationship between two variables that both increase until a certain point then one variable increases whole the other decreases
• Dependent variable


  The variable measured in an experiment that represents some outcome of interest
• Experimental control


  Only the independent variable of interest varies, the other variables are kept the same
• Experimental method


  Tries to determine if variables are casually related. This is done by manipulating one variable, controlling all other variables, and then measuring the outcome effects
• Field experiment


  Conducted in a natural setting
• Independent variable


  Variable that is manipulated in order to see the effects on the dependent variable
• Internal validity


  The degree that the outcome can be contributed to the manipulated independent variable, and not some other explanation
• Mediating variable


  A psychological process that helps explain the relationship between two other variables.
• Negative linear relationship


  A relationship between two variable where while one increases the other decreases
• Non-experimental method


  Measuring variables to see if they are related
• Operationalization


  Turning an abstract concept into a measurable observation. Defining how a concept can be measured, observed, or manipulates.
• Participant variable


  A characteristic or aspect of a person that is pre-existing
• Positive linear relationship


  Relationship between two variables where they both grow at the same time
• Random assignment


  Using chance to determine which participants end up in which condition
• Response variable


  The response given by the participant after being exposed to a stimulus
• Situational variable


  The thing participant are exposed to that may effect the participants performance or opinion.

  • Room temperature, Attractiveness
• Third-variable problem


  A possible third, unmeasured, variable that is responsible for the observed association between two or more variables.
• Variable


  Any event, situation, behaviour, or individual characteristics that varies
• Operational definition


  A definition of something in terms of operations that allow it to be observed and measured
• Internal consistency validity


  Assesses that degree that items in a scale are consistent in measuring the same construct or variable
• Necessary


  Something the must be precent for a specific outcome to occur

  • If you score a point then the ball went into the net
• Sufficient 


  Something that causes an outcome to occur

  • if you kick the ball out then you loose a point (not the only way to loose a point)
• External Validity


  The degree that the results from a study can be applied to the general population