Cal’s suggestions for References, RH & the Introduction…

Rule #1 à      Remember -- this is a “lab project” not a “career”!

Suggested process:

1. Look through the lists of scales and subscales available from each questionnaire

a. Interpersonal Relationships Questionnaire

b.   Personal Success Questionnaire

c. Self Description Questionnaire

2. Pick ONE Quantitative variable ( it absolutely has to be one of the quantitative SCALES!! ) that is “pretty cool”  à  This will be your “core variable” 

3. Find some “research literature” about your “core variable” -- you only need three references!  (See Rule #1!!!)

• Use PsycInfo to find research using the specific scale

• Use PsycInfo to find research using the “construct” measured by the scale
• Look for references in an introductory Psyc text or other textbook you have
• Look for references in a Psychological Encyclopedia
• You only need three references!  (See Rule #1!!!)

o Remember that we have data from college students (so you’ll probably want research run using college students)

o If you find a useful study, concentrate on the references of that study to find another

4. Get some ideas for your RH: -- What variables do you want to investigate if they are related to your “core variable”?

• What variables were related to your “core variable” in the references you found?
• What variables are related to variables that other research has found to be related your “core variable”?  (examples: 1) if a study found that “parent’s income” were related to your “core variable” you might also ask if “parent’s education” is related OR  2) if a study found that assertiveness was related to your “core variable” you might also ask if aggressiveness was related)
• What variables were “suggested for future research” in the discussions of the references you found?
• Relationships with demographic variables are often interesting to explore!

5. Pick the variables you will relate to your “core variable”

Please Note: Any qualitative variables with 3 or more groups must be recoded and/or selected to be binary

• Pick 4 variables to relate to your “core variable” (6 if you want to go for the bonus points) TWO MUST BE QUANTIATIVE (they can be SCALES or DEMOGRAPHICS but they MUST be from the same dataset as the CORE VARIABLE) !!
• TWO MUST BE QUALITATIVE (they can be SCALES or DEMOGRAPHICS but they MUST be from the same dataset as the CORE VARIABLE) !! (and either binary or can be made binary by selection or aggregation)
• Try to have a mix of variables that are “replications” of variables others have related to your “core variable”  and “novel hypotheses” that aren’t mentioned in the references you have chosen

6. Write your RH:  (should be the last part of the Introduction)

• Write a separate RH: for each of the 4-6 variables
• Be sure the RH: used the proper language for the variables involved (linear relationship, pattern of relationship or mean difference)
• Write the RH:  -- not the H0:  (unless your research hypothesis is that the variable isn’t related to your “core variable” then the RH: = H0:, which is perfectly possible and permissible)

Frequently Asked Questions **

Q#1: Do I have to stick with my variable choices and RH:?

A: Yep!  The idea is to practice the process of generating RH: from “the literature,” testing them and writing up the research report. Your grade will reflect your understanding of the process, not your hypothesizing success or the number of significant effects you find!  See Rule #1!!

Q#2:  But what if my RH: are wrong?  Will that effect my grade?

A:  Nope!  You’re being graded on your ability to draw RH: from “the literature” testing those RH: and writing up the research report.  Your grade will reflect your understanding of the process, not your hypothesizing success!

Q#3:  But what if I don’t get any significant effects?  Can I change my variables then?

A:  Nope!  The purpose of research isn’t to “find significant effects” but to “test hypotheses about the pattern of relationships variables have with your ‘core variable’”.  Your grade will reflect your understanding of the hypothesis testing process, not the number of significant effects you find!

Q#4:  But what if I get ALL Null effects?

A:  No! See the answer to Q#3!

Q#5:  But what if I don’t still like my variables and RH: after I run my analyses?

A:  No! See the answer to Q#3!

Q#6:   But what if I really, really want to change my variables?

A:  No! See the answer to Q#3!

 And don’t even think about coming to beg! If I can tell my sweet little Maggie no, I can easily tell you no !!!