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THEORY OBSERVATION. Three Basic Elements of Theory Construction. Testability. HYPOTHESIS :. intuitive. rigorous. Literature, Art, Practical Affairs. Science. Operational Specificity. CONSTRUCTS :. Explicit empirical referents. with surplus meaning. OBSERVATIONS :.
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THEORY OBSERVATION
Three Basic Elements of Theory Construction Testability HYPOTHESIS: intuitive rigorous Literature, Art, Practical Affairs Science Operational Specificity CONSTRUCTS: Explicit empirical referents with surplus meaning OBSERVATIONS: everyday ambiguous experimental
EXPERIMENT • EXPERIMENT: that portion of research in which variables are manipulated • and their effects upon other variables observed.
CONFOUNDING (or EXTRANEOUS) VARIABLES • History: Events occurring between measurement 1 and 2 • Maturation: e.g., growing older, hungrier, more tired • Testing: Effects of test 1 on test 2 • Instrumentation: Effects due to changes in instruments, observers or scorers
CONFOUNDING (or EXTRANEOUS) VARIABLES • Selection Bias: Differential selection of respondents for the comparison groups • Interaction Effects: Selection biases and the experimental variable
Hypothetical Distribution of Scores from a Study of Sex Difference in Spatial Skills boys girls Number of Subjects 70 10 20 30 40 50 60 Mean: Girls 45 Boys 55 Range: Girls 7- 69 Boys 10-75