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A peer researcher proposes operationalizing 'optimistic explanatory style' for a new survey by solely measuring whether a participant generally expects good things to happen to them in the future. Evaluate this proposed operational definition based on the text. Is this definition sufficient for measuring an optimistic explanatory style?
Question: A peer researcher proposes operationalizing 'optimistic explanatory style' for a new survey by solely measuring whether a participant generally expects good things to happen to them in the future. Evaluate this proposed operational definition based on the text. Is this definition sufficient for measuring an optimistic explanatory style?
Sample answer: This operational definition is insufficient because it misses the core characteristics of an optimistic explanatory style. According to the text, the style specifically requires measuring how a person attributes bad events (blaming outside forces rather than personal faults) and their expectation that these negative occurrences will have limited, short-term consequences, rather than just a general expectation of positive future events.
Key points:
- State that the proposed operational definition is insufficient or invalid.
- Explain that the definition must include the attribution of bad events to outside forces.
- Explain that the definition must include the expectation that negative occurrences have limited, short-term consequences.
Rubric: Full credit requires stating that the definition is insufficient and justifying this by citing the necessity of measuring responses to bad events, specifically regarding external forces and short-term consequences.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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