PSY 395– Oswald
Exam 1– Topic List(NOTE: This is just a generallist to help organizethe notes you have taken on the textbook and lecture material. Do not use the list as your sole study guide – that would be real real bad!)
Causality
causal reasoning
biases in reasoning
reason vs. values
Reliability
definition (consistency and inconsistencies in test scores)
hopefully scores for decision-making are reliable
what is a construct
construct deficiency
construct contamination
construct relevance
classical test theory (X = T + E)
assumptions
decomposing observed variance into true and error variances
reliability as the ratio of ratio of true variance / observed variance
types of reliability (which control for time, which control for content)
test-restest
parallel forms
alternate forms
internal consistency
Cronbach’s alpha, split-half reliability
desired level of reliability coefficients
Spearman-Brown correction
correction for attenuation
SEM and Agreement
SEM
how SEM is related to the reliability coefficient (i.e., to measurement error)
confidence intervals
interrater agreement
percent agreement
Kappa (how different from % agreement)
Scientific Method
experimentation = systematic, controlled procedures
Mill’s meaning of cause
covariation
temporal precedence
alternative explanations
Popper’s notions of good theories
testable / falsifiable
clear and well-defined
not proven but supported by evidence
Newton’s rules of scientific reasoning
focus only on simple and sufficient causes
same effects imply the same causes
generalization (findings apply to similar situations)
finding sources for research ideas
scientific research process
ideas/hypotheses
measures
sample
methods/design
conduct the study
results/interpretation
hypothesis
independent variable
dependent variable
challenges of psychological research
introspection
different interpretations of questions/measures
biases of self-report
Validity
validity is used for decision-making
construct validity
content validity
content domains
relevance
deficiency
contamination
criterion-related validity
predictive validity
concurrent validity
differences in samples for predictive and concurrent validation studies
factor analysis
multi-trait multi-method matrix
convergent validity
discriminant validity
method bias
Criterion-related Validity
criterion
criterion-related validity
range restriction effects
measurement unreliability effects
observed correlations vs. theoretical correlations
correction for attenuation due to measurement unreliability
correction for attenuation due to direct range restriction
operational validities
criterion-related validity and r2
meta-analysis
Modes of Measurement
typical modes
direct questioning
paper/pencil
face-to-face
telephone interviews
newer modes
Internet
experience sampling
other modes
implicit measures
third-party reports
observation
physiological monitoring
advantages/disadvantages of each
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