You read an article stating that Facebook is related to unhappiness. In the study, a group of high school students were asked how many times a day they checked their Facebook pages and how happy they were. In discussing this article with your friend Matt, he exclaims, "I knew it! I have always said that being on Facebook is the cause of all my unhappiness!"
1. Name the four validities used to interrogate claims. If you were to question the Facebook study's four validities, provide a question you might ask related to each validity.
2. What type of claim is the author of the article making? Name two reasons you think the author is making this type of claim.
3. Using the three criteria for evaluating causal claims, discuss the reasons your friend Matt is correct or incorrect in his interpretation of the study.
4 The Facebook study was based on variables that were measured. If you were to convert the study from one that is measured to one that is manipulating and controlling the variables (ie. an experiment), how would it look like? Describe the general procedure and also identify the independent variable and the dependent variable.
5. Considering the study above, explain why converting the study from one that "relates" to an experiment changes the type of claim the researcher can make.
6. Name the three criteria/rules necessary for making a causal claim. Describe why each is important.
7. For the following three terms, create a measured operational definition for each: academic success, attention, and social anxiety.
8. For the following three terms, create a manipulated operational definition for each: stress,personal space, and study skills.