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Based on the concepts of variables presented in the text, diagnose whether physical height and declared major function as variables in this specific study. Justify your decisions.
Case context: A researcher is studying a group of students in a small university seminar. The researcher records two characteristics for each student: their physical height (which ranges from cm to cm) and their declared major. In this particular seminar, every single enrolled student has declared Psychology as their major.
Question: Based on the concepts of variables presented in the text, diagnose whether physical height and declared major function as variables in this specific study. Justify your decisions.
Sample answer: In this study, physical height functions as a variable because it differs among the students, ranging from cm to cm. However, declared major does not function as a variable because all students have the same major (Psychology), meaning it does not vary across the individuals in this group.
Key points:
- Height is a variable because it differs from one individual to another.
- Declared major does not function as a variable in this case because there is no variation in the field of study.
- For a characteristic to function as a variable, the sample must include individuals who differ on that characteristic.
- A characteristic that does not vary within a sample behaves as a constant rather than a variable.
Rubric: The student must correctly identify height as a variable and justify it by noting that it varies across individuals. The student must also identify declared major as a constant/non-variable in this study and justify it by noting that all students share the same major, meaning there is no variation in fields of study.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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