Chapter
1. If Having Children Increases Your Happiness?
Introduction
How Would You Know
false
true
You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.
confounding variables
In an experiment, a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect
How Would You Know If Having Children Increases Your Happiness?
C. Nathan DeWall, University of Kentucky
David G. Myers, Hope College
REFERENCES
Blanchflower & Oswald, 2004; Deaton & Stone, 2013; Glenn & Weaver, 1979
Eibach & Mock, 2011
Nelson et al., 2013
Ross & Van Willigen, 1996; Kahneman et al., 2004
Introduction and Synopsis
Activity #1: Research Design
Before you begin your study, you need to make a plan. A research design helps steer your study in the right direction. If you choose the correct design, it will guide you toward the clearest answer. But if you make the wrong selection, it might make it difficult to interpret your results. Or worse, you might not even be able to conduct your study at all!
So, choose your research design wisely.
Question
tvj3ejT3zYnVuCKomryTO8pgW/cY9tjYy22DOf02WuSMyvFT3B1Scc1zq8Mluc+Jd/vg0UbXdTdAJExNQp5u1luOVptdk6bGGuOANXh1Xm4IV3Erbqw4UppEZr/wt1HS9jjfQODBbdgsUf8EK34c8S9gUDR/KRDsj4S2siW9c18KQhtuW1FJRtfF9bdF1zZ1bmrQIUELdvb4WElJjaB2qU/eOA+klcAESJbo94KtAUzHVsx9FHU80TPoPnYW1Gy0xFkMsyYI3LFXSsuP
Correct.
Incorrect.
{true} setModel("research_design", qqMC1 )
Participant Sample
Question
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
Correct.
Incorrect.
{true} setModel("participant_sample", qq1 == true)
Measuring Happiness
Question
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
Correct.
Incorrect.
{true} setModel("measuring_happiness", qq1 == true)
Feedback
Great job! You chose the correct research design, participants, and form of measurement.
(model.research_design && model.participant_sample && model.measuring_happiness)
You chose the correct participants and form of measurement, but not the correct research design. Watch the animated tutorial on research methods, and then try again.
(!model.research_design && model.participant_sample && model.measuring_happiness)
You chose the correct research design and form of measurement, but not the correct participants. Watch the animated tutorial on research methods, and then try again.
(model.research_design && !model.participant_sample && model.measuring_happiness)
You chose the correct research design and participants, but not the correct form of measurement. Watch the animated tutorial on research methods, and then try again.
(model.research_design && model.participant_sample && !model.measuring_happiness)
You chose the correct research design, but not the correct participants or form of measurement. Watch the animated tutorial on research methods, and then try again.
(model.research_design && !model.participant_sample && !model.measuring_happiness)
You chose the correct form of measurement, but not the correct research design or participants. Watch the animated tutorial on research methods, and then try again.
(!model.research_design && !model.participant_sample && model.measuring_happiness)
You chose the correct participants, but not the correct research design or form of measurement. Watch the animated tutorial on research methods, and then try again.
(!model.research_design && model.participant_sample && !model.measuring_happiness)
You did not choose the correct research design, participants, or form of measurement. Watch the animated tutorial on research methods, and then try again.
(!model.research_design && !model.participant_sample && !model.measuring_happiness)
Animated Tutorial: Research Methods
screen6a
{true} player.show_question_again(2)
{true} player.show_question_again(3)
{true} player.show_question_again(4)
Watch this tutorial to improve your understanding of research methods.
Activity #2: Confounding Variable Activity
In the previous activity, you chose to use a correlational study. You asked people to report whether they were a parent and then their level of happiness. And you replicated a previously found result: Parents were generally happier than non-parents.
But how can you be sure that parenting predicts greater happiness?
You need to rule out confounding variables—factors other than parenting that might explain why the parents were so happy.
Measuring Traits
Question
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Correct.
Incorrect.
{true} setModel("measuringTraits", (qq1 == true))
Confounding Variables
Question
Select all of the factors that might account for the relationship between parenthood and happiness.
bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
|
Marital status |
wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+
|
Favorite color |
bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
|
Age |
wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+
|
Preference for coffee or tea |
bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk
|
Socioeconomic status
|
wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+
|
Number of Miley Cyrus songs memorized |
Table
Correct.
Incorrect.
{true} setModel("confoundingVariablesIsCorrect", (qq1 == true) && (qq2 == true) && (qq3 == true) && (qq4 == true) && (qq5 == true) && (qq6 = true))
Control
Question
EyoNjArIl2ToHHJjAPhQXyI2c3pcTkSV+2Zw1xmMIPl+ZC7wesuL0kEuwyhJBMDakoU3g0TBbsIk12IomCu0bDYNdwdNBUqEn2MHOID+DnqsBLGT2OOJAAN0/VowODjz7QhfDq9VGKJtvEUZVVvQlf5XJcndIAT3XqqkgYlk3Xe1ot/xr71POZUp+ean+YE5Gs0I5JIF6ZUzwaDr4YSCUhhhrsu7CgxcXlkYd9tOYsRjx9Rvj8liNRpiPPV8tECFzErbe3arahwVHtwQL4QqeEafpTU5EbIZ/UsuS5J+PW9wQbNe647PKSI17sMoyp89G184MExzYevn3GQ01rRjtTBYLzCCUx7H6kTwXWasfyc7OTR1AYrRZToi4HhJEiH4nHGGTkShRxl/etHardEhBHzONLyOvSCxpHn0/J+mwkxL1KK0PcjnPMQacVJGA3G+CIXmeO4iGyJfFsS5mi8eA7zyMww=
Correct.
Incorrect.
{true} setModel("controlling", (qq1 == true))
Feedback
Excellent work! When you conduct a correlational study, you want to collect relevant personality and demographic factors. This way you’ll know more about the participants in your sample—and you’ll be armed with possible confounding variables that could explain your study’s results. Picking appropriate confounding variables can be difficult. You chose confounding variables that might relate to greater happiness or being a parent, such as age and socioeconomic status. Being in a long-term committed relationship also relieves the stress of parenting, so it’s good that you chose marital status as a potential confounding variable. Finally, you chose to include the confounding variables in your analysis. That’s a great decision. By including confounding variables in your analysis, you will know whether parenthood really does relate to being happier.
(model.measuringTraits && model.confoundingVariablesIsCorrect && model.controlling)
Good start. You chose the correct way to measure the traits of your research participants. Watch the animated tutorial on confounding variables, and then go back and try the other two questions again.
(model.measuringTraits && !model.confoundingVariablesIsCorrect && !model.controlling)
You’re so close! You chose the correct way to measure the traits of your research participants. You also picked the best confounding variables, but you didn’t make the correct decision about whether to include them in your analysis. Watch the animated tutorial on confounding variables, and then try again.
(model.measuringTraits && model.confoundingVariablesIsCorrect && !model.controlling)
You’re so close! You chose the correct way to measure the traits of your research participants. You also made the correct decision to include confounding variables in your analysis, but you didn’t choose the most appropriate confounding variables. Watch the animated tutorial on confounding variables, and then try again.
(model.measuringTraits && !model.confoundingVariablesIsCorrect && model.controlling)
That’s pretty good. You chose the correct confounding variables. Unfortunately, your other two answers were incorrect. Watch the animated tutorial on confounding variables, and then try again.
(!model.measuringTraits && model.confoundingVariablesIsCorrect && !model.controlling)
Nice work! You chose the correct confounding variables and made the correct decision to include them in your analysis. You didn’t choose the correct way to measure your participants’ traits. Watch the animated tutorial on confounding variables, and then go back try again.
(!model.measuringTraits && model.confoundingVariablesIsCorrect && model.controlling)
Good start. You chose to include confounding variables in your analysis. Watch the animated tutorial on confounding variables, and then go back and try the other two questions again.
(!model.measuringTraits && !model.confoundingVariablesIsCorrect && model.controlling)
Oops. None of your answers were correct. Watch the animated tutorial on confounding variables, and then try again.
(!model.measuringTraits && !model.confoundingVariablesIsCorrect && !model.controlling)
Animated Tutorial: Confounding Variables
screen11a
{true} player.show_question_again(8)
{true} player.show_question_again(9)
{true} player.show_question_again(10)
Watch this tutorial to improve your understanding of confounding variables.
Now try answering the questions again.
Now, What Do You Know?
Question
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Question
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Question
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Question
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
Question
Lv+WlSFlyM/vPYC+lJg8VAM1YdgIoCXsxqcyOk4Eb3kcJCWW5RtGEIt1vu9FxB9M//CqSePuiMfqsyrxfGcHyJIukWc=
Use a correlational design, control confounding variables, and account for those confounding variables when analyzing your study responses.