Unit 2 Variables in Non-experimental and Experimental Studies

 PattenTopics1-10.pdf page 11

Variable: trait or characteristic with two or more categories
Example

• gender
• male / female
• preferred candidate
• a, b, or c

Categories 

• mutually exclusive
• only one choice
• exhaustive
• for EVERY option
• naming or quantitative

Variables in non-experimental studies

• independent - presumed cause - comes first - PREDICTOR
• do NOT manipulate, simply observe as they occur naturally
• dependent - response or outcome - comes later - CRITERION (standard by which predictor is judged)

True: Valid

False: Invalid

 PattenTopics1-10.pdf page 13

Variables in experimental studies - Can obtain more information.

• independent - presumed cause - comes first - PREDICTOR (stimulus or input variable)
• physically manipulate independent variables
• giving a new drug or not giving
• providing computers
• using group counseling
• can be more than one (Causal effects o combinations)
• dependent - response or outcome - comes later - CRITERION (standard by which predictor is judged) - CHANGE in behavior ?
• improvement?
• attitude