Exercise 1 – Review of Fundamental Concepts in Research Methods

A) Population vs. Sample

1. State a research question in which the entire student body of HKCC would be
considered a population? HKCC students back school early will get higher
grades?
2. 2. State a research question in which the entire body of HKCC would be
considered a sample? Studying psychology of hkcc students back school early will
get higher grades?

3. If the student body of HKCC were considered a sample, like in question 2, would
this be a random sample? yes

B) IV / DV/ Statement of hypothesis

1. Make a hypothesis between a discrete IV and a continuous DV.

IV- number of days students back school early, DV- The grades of students got
2. Make a hypothesis between a continuous IV and a discrete DV.
IV- Top level of IQ can get higher grades , DV- The number of A- level or above
students got

3. Make a causal hypothesis between a discrete IV and discrete DV.

IV- The number of books students read will increase their grades, DV- The scores
students got in a subject

C) Internal and External Validity/Types of Study

A fourth-grade student named Beth Peres in the U.S. conducted a mini-study

that drew media attention. In the process of collecting evidence in support of her
campaign for a higher allowance, she polled her classmates on what they received
for an allowance.
11 girls on average received $2.63 per week, and 7 boys reported receiving an
average allowance of $3.18 per week. The boys received 21% more than the girls
even though they had to do fewer chores. This study led people to wonder whether
the gender inequality in wages that we often see in society exists even at an early
age.

1. What is the IV and DV in this study? What kind of study is this (correlational,
experimental, quasi-experimental)? What would be a reasonable hypothesis based
on the data Beth collected?

2. Evaluate the internal validity of this study.

3. Evaluate the external validity of this study.

4. How can we do a more internally valid study to show that there is gender
inequality in wages?