Capella University
PSYC FPX 4700 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
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Complete the following problems within this Word document. Do not submit other files. Show your work for problem sets that require calculations. Ensure that your answer to each problem is clearly visible. You may want to highlight your answer or use a different font color to set it apart.
Problem Set 1.1: Identifying Variables (Dependent, Independent, Quasi-Independent)
Criterion: Identify dependent and independent variables.
Instructions: For the following examples, identify the dependent variable and independent (or quasi-independent) variable.
A researcher tests whether cocaine use increases impulsive behavior in a sample of cocaine-dependent and cocaine-inexperienced mice. Independent Variable: Cocaine Quasi-Independent Variable: Mouse type Dependent Variable: Impulsive behavior
A professor tests whether students perform better on a multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank test format. Independent Variable: Testing format Quasi-Independent Variable: N/A Dependent Variable: Student performance
A researcher tests whether smoking by parents influences children’s attitudes toward smoking behavior. Independent Variable: Parental smoking habits Quasi-Independent Variable: N/A Dependent Variable: Attitude towards smoking
A social scientist tests whether attitudes toward morality differ based on political affiliation (Democrat or Republican). Independent Variable: Political affiliation (Democrat/Republican) Quasi-Independent Variable: N/A Dependent Variable: Attitude towards morality
A cultural researcher tests whether individuals from different cultures share or differ in the belief that dreams have meaning. Independent Variable: Culture Quasi-Independent Variable: N/A Dependent Variable: Beliefs about dreams having meaning
Problem Set 1.2: Understanding Sample and Population
Criterion: Describe the relationship between population and sample.
Instructions: Read the following and answer the question.
Height and educational attainment: Szklarska et al. (2007) hypothesized that taller young men are more likely to move up the scale of educational attainment compared with shorter individuals from the same social background. They recruited 91,373 nineteen-year-old men to participate in the study.
Do these participants most likely represent a sample or population? Explain. The participants represent a sample, as the study focuses on a specific group (taller young men) and not the entire population of young men.
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