Deck 8: Measuring What Happens: Dependent Variables

Question 1

In the pen-choice studies where one pen was blue and four others were red, Markus and colleagues found that compared to Indian students, American students:

A) did not care about a pen's color
B) tended to choose the blue pen
C) tended to choose one of the red pens
D) did not want any pen

Answer 1

tended to choose the blue pen

Question 2

The dependent variable or measure is the variable that is:

A) not under the control of the experimenter
B) is under the control of the experimenter
C) is manipulated by the experimenter
D) none of the above

Answer 2

not under the control of the experimenter

Question 3

The term "Hawthorne effect" refers to reactive situations in experiments where:

A) dependent variables cannot be measured effectively
B) independent variables have a powerful impact on behavior
C) behavior change but not due to the impact of any independent variable
D) all of the above

Answer 3

behavior change but not due to the impact of any independent variable

Question 4

Which of the following is a quantifiable dimension of a dependent variable?

A) amount
B) proximity or distance
C) frequency
D) all of the above

Question 5

A behavioroid measure is one that:

A) measures participants' responses online
B) measures participants' future intentions
C) measures participants' recalled behaviors
D) none of the above

Question 6

The following is not an example of an unobtrusive accretion measure:

A) graffiti on a wall
B) contents of a trash can
C) worn carpet
D) fingerprints on a handle

Question 7

The following is not an example of an unobtrusive erosion measure:

A) a worn book cover
B) a bumper sticker
C) scratches on flooring
D) torn pages in a phone book

Question 8

Which of the following is not a close-ended verbal dependent measure?

A) rating scale
B) personality inventory
C) recognition measure
D) interview

Question 9

The bogus pipeline was a reliable lie detecting device developed by Jones and Sigall (1971).

Question 10

Which of the following is not generally considered to be a practical way to administer a dependent variable?

A) disguise the measure
B) remove the measure from the main part of the study
C) use a nonverbal measure
D) all of the above

Question 11

Explain how the pen-choice studies conducted by Hazel Markus and her colleagues illustrate the role of personal freedom and agency among Western students. How would you characterize the behavioral responses of the Indian students, as well as those from other Eastern cultures?

Question 12

What is a dependent variable? Define this term and provide an example.

Question 13

Why should social psychologists choose behavioral dependent variables over, say, self-report dependent variables?

Question 14

What is reactivity? Why does it sometimes occur between particular independent and dependent variables? How can a social psychologist anticipate and possibly combat the problem(s) posed by reactivity?

Question 15

What is a "Hawthorne Effect"? Briefly explain the origin of this controversial effect and why the effect is a concern for social psychologists.

Question 16

Why should dependent variables be quantifiable? List and discuss several of the quantifiable dimensions of dependent variables.

Question 17

Define and describe the role of behavioroid measures in social psychological research. Provide a concrete example.

Question 18

What is an unobtrusive measure? What is the distinction between accretion and erosion measures? Provide an example of each.

Question 19

List some examples of open-ended and close-ended verbal dependent variables.

Question 20

What is a verbal protocol? How does this research tool differ from more traditional dependent measures?

Question 21

Besides unobtrusive measures, what other kinds of nonverbal measures do social psychologists use in their research?

Question 22

Discuss implicit measures, notably the Implicit Association Test (IAT). What does this measure assess? What are the IAT's strengths and weaknesses?

Question 23

Are physiological measures ever used in social psychological research? What are the advantages of such measures? Are there any drawbacks? If so, what are they?

Question 24

What are some strategies researchers can use to administer dependent variables while making them less conspicuous to research participants?

Question 25

What is reliability? Why must social psychologists be concerned about the reliability of their dependent measures?