Theory - concept/propositions to describe and explain existing set of observations

Hypothesis - prediction about aspects of experience
- within a research study, the hypotheses should predict the results of the study. In order to do this, the hypotheses should include the IVs and DVs.
Good example of a hypothesis:
"In the present case, we are hypothesizing that future aggression (DV) will be greater for children who watch violent programs (IV- level 1) than for those who watch nonviolent programs (IV - level 2)."

DV - Dependent Variable - measurement
- amount of Aggression

IV - Independent Variable - under experimenters control, usually used to groups subjects or data
- type of TV program - 2 groups - violent and nonviolent

Confounding Variable - variable that is not controlled for, that is different between the groups, that could be an alternative explanation for the results found

Experimental Controls
Natural or Quasi Experimental Designs
1 or more if the grouping variables is a Subject Variable

Subject Variable - preexisting characteristic of the subject
(Ex: age, sex, religious affiliation, .....)
- groupings made by naturally occurring events (Ex: divorced vs non-divorced families ....)

Correlational Designs - examines the relationship between 2 or more dependent variable

Positive Correlation - change in one variable leads to a similar change in the other variable

Negative Correlation - change in one variable leads to an opposite change in the other variable

Strength of the Correlation = |r| - the closer the absolute value of r is to 1, the greater the strength of the correlation is

 Methods used to study Children
    Structured Interviews/Questionnaires
    Clinical Method
    Naturalistic Observation
    Structured Observation
    Case Study
    Ethnographic
    Psychophysiological
        - heart rate, EEG, ERP, MRI,
    Habituation Paradigm
 
 

Gr 1     2     4     6     8

Gr 2     4     6     8     10

Gr 3     6     8   10     12

Gr 4     8   10   12     14

           T1  T2   T3    T4
 

Gr = group T= time Center = age

Cross Sectional

Longitudinal

Sequential
 

Field v Lab studies

Process of studying children

Other people who provide information on children
    - family (generally parents)
    - teachers/daycare providers
    - peers

Special issues of consent