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Explain why the variables measured in this study (height, total number of siblings, level of talkativeness, and severity of depression) are classified as quantitative variables. What is the defining characteristic that groups these different measurements together under this classification?
Case context: A psychologist designs a study to examine how family background and communication patterns relate to mental well-being in students. For each participant, the researcher records their physical height, notes the total number of siblings they have, assesses their level of talkativeness during a clinical interview, and measures the severity of their depression using a clinical scale.
Question: Explain why the variables measured in this study (height, total number of siblings, level of talkativeness, and severity of depression) are classified as quantitative variables. What is the defining characteristic that groups these different measurements together under this classification?
Sample answer: These variables are classified as quantitative variables because they represent quantities that are measured by assigning a specific numerical value to each individual participant. The defining characteristic that groups them together is that they are measured numerically (e.g., height in inches or centimeters, the count of siblings, a numerical score for talkativeness, and a numerical score representing depression severity) rather than being categorized qualitatively without numbers.
Key points:
- Quantitative variables represent quantities that are measured by assigning specific numerical values to individuals.
- The measured variables (height, siblings, talkativeness, depression severity) each assign a specific numerical value to represent a quantity for each individual.
- Numerical measurement of quantities is the defining characteristic of quantitative variables.
Rubric:
- Explains that quantitative variables represent quantities measured by assigning a specific numerical value to each individual (2 points). 2. Applies this definition to the specific variables in the study (height, siblings, talkativeness, depression severity) to show how they are represented by numbers (2 points). 3. Clearly states the defining characteristic is the numerical measurement of a quantity (1 point).
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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