Essay

A researcher administers the Beck Depression Inventory to a group of 50 elite athletes known for their high resilience and positive affect. The researcher notices one score is drastically higher than the rest. Apply the concept of an outlier to explain why this specific score might have occurred in this sample, and discuss how the researcher should initially approach this data point.

Question: A researcher administers the Beck Depression Inventory to a group of 50 elite athletes known for their high resilience and positive affect. The researcher notices one score is drastically higher than the rest. Apply the concept of an outlier to explain why this specific score might have occurred in this sample, and discuss how the researcher should initially approach this data point.

Sample answer: In this sample of highly resilient athletes, the exceptionally high score represents an extreme value relative to the rest of the group, thereby constituting an outlier. This score might have occurred because the individual is experiencing clinical depression, or it could be due to a data entry error or a misunderstanding of the questionnaire. The researcher should initially approach this data point by verifying its accuracy (checking for data entry errors) before deciding whether it reflects a true clinical state that warrants inclusion or specialized attention.

Key points:

  • Identifies the high score as an outlier due to being an extreme value relative to the resilient group.
  • Suggests the score may reflect a true case of clinical depression among peers.
  • Notes the possibility of data entry error or misunderstanding of the inventory.
  • Recommends verifying the accuracy of the data point before proceeding with analysis.

Rubric: Full credit is awarded for correctly applying the definition of an outlier as an extreme value relative to the group, suggesting a plausible reason for its occurrence (e.g., true clinical depression or measurement error), and proposing an appropriate initial action (e.g., verifying the data).

0

1

Updated 2026-05-27

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

KPU

Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

Related