PSYC 201W Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Behavioural Sciences, Dependent And Independent Variables, Convergent Validity
25 Jan 2019
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Variable - any factor/attribute that can assume 2 or more values. Variables - about wondrous differences occurring in our universe. Ways in which ppl differ from each other. Ways in which same ppl change over time/act differently across diverse settings. Ways in which other species, objects, environments differ. Nature contains seemingly infinite number of variables for scientists to explore & task of accounting for variability in ppl"s behaviors & characteristics fundamental to psychological science & other behavioral sciences. Qualitative variables - represent properties differing in type . E. g. biological sex, religious affiliation, eye color, marital status. Categories represent differences in kind of some attribute. Quantitative variables - properties differing in amount . E. g. height, weight, degree of shyness, time spent learning task, etc. Task performance - common quantitative variable in behavioral research. Qualitative variables, like quantitative variables, can generate numerical data & be statistically analyzed.
