1. “To ‘learn from experience’ is to make a backward and forward connection between what we do and what we enjoy or suffer in consequence. Under such conditions, doing becomes a trying; an experiment with the world to find out what it is like; the undergoing becomes instruction—discovery of the connection of things” John Dewey

2. Variable Analytic Approach
Property or characteristic of people or things that varies in quality or magnitude
Constant
Property or characteristic whose value does not change; a symbol to which only one number can be assigned

3. Independent Variable
Manipulation or variation of this variable is assumed to be the cause of change in other variables
Also called antecedent variable, experimental variable or predicator variable

4. Dependent Variable The variable of primary interest
The variable that is influenced or changed by the independent variable
Also called the criterion variable, outcome variable

5. Intervening Variable
Presumed to explain or provide a link between independent and dependent variables
Relationship between IV and DV is shaped by intervening variable
Also referred to as mediating or moderating variable

6. The Dependent variable is influenced by changes in the IV
Criterion
Outcome
Independent
Antecedent
Experimental
Predictor
The Independent variable is presumed to have an effect on or cause change in the dependent variable
Intervening
Mediating
Moderating
The Dependent variable is influenced by changes in the IV
The intervening variable is presumed to explain or influence the link between the IV and DV.

7. Examples
People who have had formal debate training will report higher levels of aggressiveness than will people who have not had debate training
IV: Debate training
DV: Level of aggressiveness

8. College educated individuals who have high levels of exposure to television news will report greater satisfaction with life than college-educated individuals who have low levels of exposure to television news
IV: Exposure to TV news
DV: Satisfaction with life
Constant: College education

9. The effect of communication competence on interpersonal solidarity will be stronger for African Americans than for European Americans
IV: Level of communication competence
DV: Interpersonal solidarity
Intervening: Race

10. There will be a higher frequency of tobacco-related advertisements in African-American magazines compared to similar general audience magazines
IV: Target audience of magazine
DV: Frequency of tobacco-related advertisements

11. Volunteers will exhibit higher levels of identification with an organization’s mission than paid employees
IV: Membership status (e.g., volunteer/paid employees)
DV: Identification with an organization’s mission

12. The use of nonverbal immediacy behaviors by physicians will increase patient satisfaction with care received
IV: Nonverbal immediacy
DV: Patient satisfaction

13. Operationalization How the variable is observed or measured
Multiple operationalizations exist for most variables
Is/does the measurement….
Practical and useful?
Justified argument?
Coincides with the conceptual definition?

14. Measurement Assigning numbers to variables according to a system
4 levels of measurement
1. Nominal (Categorical):
#s represent absence or presence of characteristic; values indicate different categories
Gender

15. 2. Ordinal (Categorical): Uses rank order to determine categorical differences; does not tell you how much difference exists between categories
(e.g., bronze, silver, gold)
3. Interval (Continuous): Assigns numbers to items as a matter of degree; intervals between numbers are equal in size
(e.g., Likert scale)

16. 4. Ratio (Continuous): extends interval to include “absolute zero”
(e.g., scores on an exam)