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A developmental psychologist wants to investigate if there is a correlation between the number of hours teenagers spend playing video games and their scores on a spatial reasoning test. How should the psychologist approach measuring these variables if the research question involves investigating an inherently non-causal statistical relationship?
Question: A developmental psychologist wants to investigate if there is a correlation between the number of hours teenagers spend playing video games and their scores on a spatial reasoning test. How should the psychologist approach measuring these variables if the research question involves investigating an inherently non-causal statistical relationship?
Sample answer: To investigate an inherently non-causal statistical relationship, the psychologist must use a non-experimental approach by observing and measuring both the hours spent playing video games and the spatial reasoning scores exactly as they naturally exist among the teenagers, without attempting to change or manipulate either variable.
Key points:
- Utilize a non-experimental approach.
- Observe and measure variables as they naturally exist.
- Do not manipulate the variables or assert causation.
Rubric: Full credit is given for explicitly stating that both variables must be observed and measured as they naturally exist, consistent with a non-experimental approach that does not assert direct causation.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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A developmental psychologist wants to investigate if there is a correlation between the number of hours teenagers spend playing video games and their scores on a spatial reasoning test. How should the psychologist approach measuring these variables if the research question involves investigating an inherently non-causal statistical relationship?