Deck 8: Multivariate Correlational Research

Question 1

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. Of the correlations listed in the table,how many are autocorrelations?

A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five
E) Six

Answer 1

Two

Question 2

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. Of the correlations listed,how many are cross-sectional correlations?

A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Four
E) Five

Answer 2

Two

Question 3

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. In considering the three causal rules,which of the following rules/questions will Dr.Farah's study address?

A) Rule of covariance: Is there covariance?
B) Rule of temporal precedence: Is there temporal precedence?
C) Are there third variables that could explain the relationship?
D) Both a and b
E) Both a and c

Answer 3

Both a and b

Question 4

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. Which of the following correlations is a cross-lag correlation?

A) Correlation C
B) Correlation D
C) Correlation E
D) Both Correlations C and D
E) Both Correlations C and E

Question 5

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. For Dr.Farah to make the claim that homework causes academic achievement,which correlation does she predict will NOT be significant?

A) Correlation A
B) Correlation B
C) Correlation C
D) Correlation D
E) Correlation E

Question 6

Cross-lag correlations are important for answering/addressing which of the following rules of causation?

A) Rule of covariance: Is there covariance?
B) Rule of temporal precedence: Is there temporal precedence?
C) Are there third variables that could explain the relationship?
D) Both a and b
E) Both a and c

Question 7

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. Correlation B is an example of which of the following types of correlations?

A) Autocorrelation
B) Multivariate correlation
C) Sequential correlation
D) Cross-sectional correlation
E) Cross-lag correlation

Question 8

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. Imagine that Dr.Farah noted a cyclical,reinforcing relationship between homework and academic achievement.For this to be case,which of the following correlations would need to be significant?

A) Correlations A and B
B) Correlations C and D
C) Correlations C and E
D) Correlations D and F
E) Correlations B and E

Question 9

Which of the following is a necessary component of a longitudinal design?

A) Measuring the same variables at two points in time
B) Measuring at least four variables at one time
C) Measuring different age groups at two different times
D) Manipulating a variable at two points in time
E) None of the above

Question 10

Which of the following studies is an example of a longitudinal design?

A) Dr. Jonason's study in which he measured job satisfaction in a group of Chinese factory workers and a group of American factory workers
B) Dr. Stabler's study in which he measured teenagers' experiences with bullying in sixth grade and their aggressive tendencies in 12th grade
C) Dr. Benson's study in which she measured people's spatial manipulation ability in August and measured their ability again in May after they had taken two semesters of art classes
D) Both b and c are longitudinal designs
E) All of the above are longitudinal designs

Question 11

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. Correlation D is an example of which of the following types of correlations?

A) Autocorrelation
B) Multivariate correlation
C) Sequential correlation
D) Cross-sectional correlation
E) Cross-lag correlation

Question 12

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. A colleague of Dr.Farah's questions the internal validity of her causal claim.He is curious as to whether the relationship between homework and academic achievement could be explained by interest in one's classes.Specifically,he thinks that students who are interested in their classes will both do more homework and have higher GPAs.Which of the following is a solution to this possible threat to internal validity?

A) Dr. Farah should study a different sample.
B) Dr. Farah should also measure students' interest in their class.
C) Dr. Farah should measure students' interest in their class instead of time spent doing homework.
D) Dr. Farah should measure students' interest in their class instead of GPA.
E) None of the above are possible solutions.

Question 13

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. Based on her pattern of correlations,which of the following can Dr.Farah safely conclude?

A) Because Correlation C is significant but Correlation E is not, Dr. Farah has evidence that increased homework comes before academic achievement.
B) Because not all the correlations are significant, Dr. Farah has no evidence that increased homework comes before academic achievement.
C) Because all the correlations are significant, Dr. Farah has evidence that increased homework comes before academic achievement.
D) Because Correlations A and B are significant, Dr. Farah has evidence that increased homework comes before academic achievement.
E) Because Correlation D is stronger than Correlation F, Dr. Farah has no evidence that increased homework comes before academic achievement.

Question 14

Which of the following is a correlation that could be found using a longitudinal design and a simple bivariate design?

A) Autocorrelation
B) Cross-sectional correlation
C) Cross-lag correlation
D) Multivariate correlation
E) Sequential correlation

Question 15

According to the text,when researchers conduct longitudinal research,the type of correlation they are most interested in is which of the following?

A) Autocorrelation
B) Cross-sectional correlation
C) Cross-lag correlation
D) Multivariate correlation
E) Sequential correlation

Question 16

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. Which of the following correlations is a cross-sectional correlation?

A) Correlation C
B) Correlation D
C) Correlation E
D) Correlation F
E) None of the above

Question 17

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. A colleague of Dr.Farah's asks her why she did not simply conduct an experiment.Which of the following is a probable reason for Dr.Farah's choice not to conduct an experiment?

A) It would be impossible to manipulate GPA.
B) It would be impossible to manipulate whether students are told to do homework for a semester.
C) It would be unethical to manipulate whether students are told to do homework for a semester.
D) Both a and c are probable reasons.
E) Both a and b are probable reasons.

Question 18

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. Which of the correlations is an autocorrelation?

A) Correlation A
B) Correlation B
C) Correlation C
D) Correlation D
E) All of the above

Question 19

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. Correlation C is an example of which of the following types of correlations?

A) Autocorrelation
B) Multivariate correlation
C) Sequential correlation
D) Cross-sectional correlation
E) Cross-lag correlation

Question 20

RESEARCH STUDY 8.1
Dr. Farah is an educational psychologist who is interested in studying the link between homework and academic achievement. Over the years, several researchers have found a link between the two, suggesting that doing homework is associated with higher grades. However, Dr. Farah is curious about the possible causal link between the two variables. She conducts the following study. At the beginning of the spring semester, Dr. Farah measures the number of hours her students spend doing homework during the preceding week and their fall GPA (a measure of academic achievement). At the end of the semester, Dr. Farah measures the same variables again (the hours spent doing homework the preceding week and their spring GPA). She finds the following correlations.

Refer to Research Study 8.1 above to answer the following question. What type of study design is Dr.Farah using?

A) Experimental design
B) Quasi-experimental design
C) Bivariate correlational design
D) Multiple regression design
E) Longitudinal design

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT true of a third variable and a mediating variable?

A) Mediating variables are internal to the causal variable, but third variables are not.
B) Third variables are considered nuisances, but mediating variables are not.
C) Multiple regression techniques can only be used to detect third variables but not mediating variables.
D) All of the above are true.
E) There are no differences between mediating and third variables.

Question 22

Refer to Research Study 8.2 above to answer the following question. Which of the following can be concluded based on the results of Dr.Sparrow's study?

A) As the number of arguments a couple has increases, their marital satisfaction increases as well, controlling for income but not life satisfaction.
B) The relationship between life satisfaction and marital satisfaction has the weakest effect size.
C) The beta for the relationship between life satisfaction and marital satisfaction is significantly different than zero.
D) All of the above can be concluded.
E) None of the above can be concluded.

Question 23

Refer to Research Study 8.4 above to answer the following question.
From Dr.O'Toole's study,provide an example of each of the following: a cross-sectional correlation,an autocorrelation,and a cross-lag correlation.

Question 24

Refer to Research Study 8.4 above to answer the following question.
Describe what makes Dr.O'Toole's study (1)a longitudinal study and (2)a multivariate correlational study.

Question 25

The pattern and parsimony approach to causation is a good example of which cycle in research?

A) Journal-journalism cycle
B) Basic-applied cycle
C) Theory-data cycle
D) Peer-review cycle
E) They are all equally important

Question 26

All of the following are true of betas and correlation coefficients EXCEPT:

A) Betas describe the relationship between two variables just as correlations coefficients can
B) Both betas and correlation coefficients can tell you something about the strength of a relationship
C) Both betas and correlation coefficients can tell you something about the direction of a relationship
D) Betas from an analysis can be compared with other beta coefficients from the same analysis just as correlation coefficients can
E) All of the above are true of betas and correlation coefficients

Question 27

How do multiple regression designs help rule out third variables?

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a problem with journalists ignoring the importance of pattern and parsimony in research?

A) It can make it appear that psychologists conduct research on a whim.
B) It can give the impression that a single study is more important than previous studies.
C) It can make it easy for critics to deride the results of a single correlational study.
D) All of the above are problems.
E) None of the above are problems.

Question 29

Which of the following popular press "headlines" might suggest that a multiple regression has been used?

A) "Dog ownership is associated with less stress, even when controlling for job type."
B) "After taking into account job experience, people who are happier with their jobs report greater productivity."
C) "After correcting for several factors that affect memory, including intelligence, researchers found that people who read more frequently remember 12% more about a crime scene than those who don't read frequently."
D) "The link between traumatic experience and the development of anxiety symptoms existed above and beyond the affect of parental anxiety."
E) All of the headlines above suggest multiple regression.

Question 30

Refer to Research Study 8.2 above to answer the following question. Given Dr.Sparrow's design,which of the following is his study best able to deal with?

A) The ethical issue of manipulating income level
B) The issue of temporal precedence between his two variables
C) The issue of external validity of his findings
D) The issue of whether marital satisfaction changes over time
E) None of the above

Question 31

In a multiple regression design,___________ is to independent variable as _____________ is to dependent variable.

A) Criterion variable, predictor variable
B) Measured variable, manipulated variable
C) Control variable, mediator variable
D) None of the above are possible answers
E) All of the above are possible answers

Question 32

Refer to Research Study 8.4 above to answer the following question.
There are three possible causal patterns that can be found in a study like Dr.O'Toole's.Choose one causal pattern and explain which correlations need to be significant,which ones should not be significant,and what type of causal claim can be made.

Question 33

Refer to Research Study 8.2 above to answer the following question. Which of the following is NOT a predictor variable in Dr.Sparrow's study?

A) Marital satisfaction
B) Life satisfaction
C) Income
D) Number of arguments
E) All of the above are predictor variables

Question 34

Which of the following is a reason that multiple regression designs are inferior to experimental designs?

A) They can only control for third variables that are measured.
B) They cannot establish temporal precedence.
C) They take longer to conduct.
D) Both a and b are true.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 35

Which of the following popular press "headlines" might suggest that a multiple regression has been used?

A) "Cuddling is an important factor in marital satisfaction for men."
B) "Daughters are happier when their mothers are happy working outside the home."
C) "Drinking coffee is associated with greater work productivity."
D) "Vacations are important for life satisfaction, even when vacations are short."
E) "Watching aggressive television shows is associated with an increase in neighborhood crime."

Question 36

A researcher has examined a variety of correlational studies that point to a causal relationship between two variables.All of the studies have found a positive relationship between the two variables,but for ethical reasons,no experiments have been conducted.Using an approach of pattern and parsimony,the researcher may begin to make a causal claim by doing which of the following?

A) Running another correlational study but with more people
B) Specifying a mechanism or explanation for the causal relationship
C) Examining the dates of the studies to look for temporal precedence
D) Replicating all of the original studies
E) None of the above will be of assistance

Question 37

Explain why longitudinal designs can help researchers make causal statements.If a researcher is hoping to make a causal statement,why would a researcher use a longitudinal design instead of an experimental design?

Question 38

RESEARCH STUDY 8.3
Dr. Uchida is a clinical psychologist who is curious about how people deal with natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes). His previous research suggests that there is a relationship between how much people feel their emotional well-being was affected by the natural disaster and their likelihood of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, he is curious as to whether the effect of emotional well-being goes through another variable, that of social support. He conducts a study in which he asks 174 men and women affected by the 2011 tsunami in Japan to report on how their well-being was affected by the tsunami, the social support felt after the storm, and the number of PTSD symptoms. Dr. Uchida finds support for his proposed relationship. However, in examining his data more closely, he finds that the relationship between emotional well-being and PTSD symptoms is stronger for men than for women.
Refer to Research Study 8.3 above to answer the following question. Dr.Uchida's finding that the relationship between emotional well-being and PTSD symptoms is stronger for men than for women suggests which of the following?

A) Participant sex is a moderating variable.
B) Emotional well-being is a mediating variable.
C) Dr. Uchida's study was conducted incorrectly.
D) Dr. Uchida's study was conducted unethically.
E) Both b and c are mediating variables.

Question 39

RESEARCH STUDY 8.3
Dr. Uchida is a clinical psychologist who is curious about how people deal with natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes). His previous research suggests that there is a relationship between how much people feel their emotional well-being was affected by the natural disaster and their likelihood of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, he is curious as to whether the effect of emotional well-being goes through another variable, that of social support. He conducts a study in which he asks 174 men and women affected by the 2011 tsunami in Japan to report on how their well-being was affected by the tsunami, the social support felt after the storm, and the number of PTSD symptoms. Dr. Uchida finds support for his proposed relationship. However, in examining his data more closely, he finds that the relationship between emotional well-being and PTSD symptoms is stronger for men than for women.
Refer to Research Study 8.3 above to answer the following question. Which of the following is the mediating variable in Dr.Uchida's hypothesis?

A) Emotional well-being
B) PTSD symptoms
C) Social support
D) Participant sex
E) Both b and c are mediating variables

Question 40

In understanding "controlling for" a third variable,which of the following is a similar concept?

A) Creating a longitudinal study
B) Identifying subgroups
C) Creating an operational definition
D) Conducting a replication
E) None of the above

Question 41

RESEARCH STUDY 8.6
Dr. Uchida is a clinical psychologist who is curious about how people deal with natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, tornados). His previous research suggests that there is a relationship between how much people feel that their emotional well-being was affected by the natural disaster and their likelihood of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, he is curious whether the effect of emotional well-being goes through another variable, that of social support. He conducts a study in which he asks 174 men and women affected by the 2011 tsunami in Japan to report on how their well-being was affected by the tsunami, the social support felt after the storm, and the number of PTSD symptoms. Dr. Uchida finds support for his proposed relationship. However, in examining his data more closely, he finds that the relationship between emotional well-being and PTSD symptoms is stronger for men than for women.
Refer to Research Study 8.6 above to answer the following question.
State Dr.Uchida's hypothesis and sketch a diagram of this hypothesized relationship.

Question 42

Explain what it means that third variables are "external" to the causal variable and mediators are "internal" to the causal variable.

Question 43

RESEARCH STUDY 8.5
Dr. Nguyen is a psychologist who studies legal decision making. Specifically, he is curious about the factors that influence the sentences juries give to defendants that are irrelevant to the crime committed (known as extra-legal factors). To study this further, he samples a group of jury-eligible adults from the Memphis area. He provides them with the fact pattern to a particular case and allows them to watch the closing statements from the trial. He then asks them to provide a sentence (in months) for the defendant. In addition, he measures two legal factors (the number of arguments made by the prosecuting attorney and the length of time the defense attorney speaks during his or her closing argument) and two extra-legal factors (how attractive the participants think the defendant is [higher scores indicate higher ratings of attractiveness] and how many legal televisions shows the participants watch). The data are below.

Refer to Research Study 8.5 above to answer the following question.
Explain whether Dr.Nguyen is correct in thinking that extra-legal factors are more important in legal decision making than legal factors.

Question 44

RESEARCH STUDY 8.5
Dr. Nguyen is a psychologist who studies legal decision making. Specifically, he is curious about the factors that influence the sentences juries give to defendants that are irrelevant to the crime committed (known as extra-legal factors). To study this further, he samples a group of jury-eligible adults from the Memphis area. He provides them with the fact pattern to a particular case and allows them to watch the closing statements from the trial. He then asks them to provide a sentence (in months) for the defendant. In addition, he measures two legal factors (the number of arguments made by the prosecuting attorney and the length of time the defense attorney speaks during his or her closing argument) and two extra-legal factors (how attractive the participants think the defendant is [higher scores indicate higher ratings of attractiveness] and how many legal televisions shows the participants watch). The data are below.

Refer to Research Study 8.5 above to answer the following question.
Explain whether or not Dr.Nguyen could conduct an experiment instead of a multiple regression design.Regardless,why would an experiment be better than his current study?

Question 45

RESEARCH STUDY 8.5
Dr. Nguyen is a psychologist who studies legal decision making. Specifically, he is curious about the factors that influence the sentences juries give to defendants that are irrelevant to the crime committed (known as extra-legal factors). To study this further, he samples a group of jury-eligible adults from the Memphis area. He provides them with the fact pattern to a particular case and allows them to watch the closing statements from the trial. He then asks them to provide a sentence (in months) for the defendant. In addition, he measures two legal factors (the number of arguments made by the prosecuting attorney and the length of time the defense attorney speaks during his or her closing argument) and two extra-legal factors (how attractive the participants think the defendant is [higher scores indicate higher ratings of attractiveness] and how many legal televisions shows the participants watch). The data are below.

Refer to Research Study 8.5 above to answer the following question.
Choose one of the variables in Dr.Nguyen's study.Explain how this variable relates to criminal sentencing,considering direction of the effect,statistical significance,and strength of relationship compared with the other variables.

Question 46

RESEARCH STUDY 8.5
Dr. Nguyen is a psychologist who studies legal decision making. Specifically, he is curious about the factors that influence the sentences juries give to defendants that are irrelevant to the crime committed (known as extra-legal factors). To study this further, he samples a group of jury-eligible adults from the Memphis area. He provides them with the fact pattern to a particular case and allows them to watch the closing statements from the trial. He then asks them to provide a sentence (in months) for the defendant. In addition, he measures two legal factors (the number of arguments made by the prosecuting attorney and the length of time the defense attorney speaks during his or her closing argument) and two extra-legal factors (how attractive the participants think the defendant is [higher scores indicate higher ratings of attractiveness] and how many legal televisions shows the participants watch). The data are below.

Refer to Research Study 8.5 above to answer the following question.
List the predictor and dependent/criterion variables in Dr.Nguyen's study.

Question 47

Name two consequences of journalists reporting on single studies rather than reporting on patterns of data.

Question 48

RESEARCH STUDY 8.6
Dr. Uchida is a clinical psychologist who is curious about how people deal with natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, tornados). His previous research suggests that there is a relationship between how much people feel that their emotional well-being was affected by the natural disaster and their likelihood of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, he is curious whether the effect of emotional well-being goes through another variable, that of social support. He conducts a study in which he asks 174 men and women affected by the 2011 tsunami in Japan to report on how their well-being was affected by the tsunami, the social support felt after the storm, and the number of PTSD symptoms. Dr. Uchida finds support for his proposed relationship. However, in examining his data more closely, he finds that the relationship between emotional well-being and PTSD symptoms is stronger for men than for women.
Refer to Research Study 8.6 above to answer the following question.
Using Dr.Uchida's study,explain the steps he would go through to examine whether there was support for his mediation hypothesis.

Question 49

Explain the value of pattern and parsimony in attempting to establish causal links in correlational findings.

Question 50

RESEARCH STUDY 8.6
Dr. Uchida is a clinical psychologist who is curious about how people deal with natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, tornados). His previous research suggests that there is a relationship between how much people feel that their emotional well-being was affected by the natural disaster and their likelihood of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, he is curious whether the effect of emotional well-being goes through another variable, that of social support. He conducts a study in which he asks 174 men and women affected by the 2011 tsunami in Japan to report on how their well-being was affected by the tsunami, the social support felt after the storm, and the number of PTSD symptoms. Dr. Uchida finds support for his proposed relationship. However, in examining his data more closely, he finds that the relationship between emotional well-being and PTSD symptoms is stronger for men than for women.
Refer to Research Study 8.6 above to answer the following question.
Using Dr.Uchida's study,identify a mediating variable and a moderating variable and explain the difference between the two types of variables.