Part 1- Each of the following statements describes a correlation in words that might typically be sued in an article or report. Decide whether each correlation is positive or negative and check the space corresponding to your answer (6 points each).

 

1) Parental involvement predicts better reading skills in children.

           ( ) positive

           ( ) negative

 

2) Spending more time on the internet is linked to higher levels of depression.

           ( ) positive

           ( ) negative

 

3) Poor self esteem is linked to higher stress levels.

           ( ) positive

           ( ) negative

 

4) As attendance drops, so do school grades.

           ( ) positive

           ( ) negative

 

5) Extraversion predicts heavy drinking in young men.

           ( ) positive

           ( ) negative

 

6) High worker satisfaction is associated with increased worker productivity

           ( ) positive

           ( ) negative

 

7) Alcohol consumption is linked to lower academic performance in college students.

           ( ) positive

           ( ) negative

 

Part 2- Choose two of the correlations listed above and provide a good "third variable" explanation for each. Be sure to explain how that variable would account for the correlation between the two variables (10 points each).

 

1)

 

 

 

2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 3- Each of the following is a hypothesis that might be addressed in an experiment. For each hypothesis, identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. Finally, specify whether or not the experiment could be a true experiment or would have to be a quasi-experiment ( 6 points each).

 

 

1) Caffeine improves attention.

      The independent variable is ____________.

 

2) Aggressive behavior can result from playing violent video games.

      The independent variable is ____________.

 

3) Girls are more likely than boys to change their behavior when verbally "disciplined"

      The independent variable is ____________.

 

4) Drug X is an effective treatment for schizophrenia.

      The independent variable is ____________.

 

5) Using a cell phone impairs driving

      The independent variable is ____________.

 

6) Aging causes memory impairment.

      The independent variable is ____________.