On 14 Mar 2008 at 6:52, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Can I call on tipsters to tell me which answer they think is correct and > why? I will later tell you which answer I thoughtw as correct and why. > > 1. Two researchers tested the hypothesis that college students´ grades > and stress are related. One researcher operationally defined stress as > the number of minutes spent arguing with others. The other researcher > defined stress as the amount of tension at any point in time measured on > a 10-point scale. Which of the following statements is accurate? > a. Because their hypotheses are identical, the two > researchers should have similar results. > b. The only valid definition is the number of minutes > spent arguing with others because it is the only > objective measure. > c. The difference in operational definitions of stress > could lead to quite different results.
Sure you can. I'd go with (c). Why is tougher. I'd say because (c) is obviously true, (a) would be nice but there's no guarantee--different tests of a hypothesis often lead to conflicting results, and for (b), carefully-collected subjective ratings can be just as valid as any old direct measure of behaviour, although they may well be measuring different things. You're welcome. Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
