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?

By:

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

screen3

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

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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.

Next

screen7
(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.

View Animated Tutorial

screen6a
(!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.

View Animated Tutorial

screen6a
(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.

View Animated Tutorial

screen6a
(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.

View Animated Tutorial

screen6a
(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.

View Animated Tutorial

screen6a
(!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.

View Animated Tutorial

screen6a
(!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.

View Animated Tutorial

screen6a
(!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.

Next

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Activity #2: Confounding Variable Activity

screen7

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

measuringTraits

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.

Next

screen12
(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.

Next

screen11a
(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.

Next

screen11a
(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.

Next

screen11a
(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.

Next

screen11a
(!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.

Next

screen11a
(!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.

Next

screen11a
(!model.measuringTraits && !model.confoundingVariablesIsCorrect && model.controlling)

Oops. None of your answers were correct. Watch the animated tutorial on confounding variables, and then try again.

Next

screen11a
(!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.

Next

measuringTraits

Now, What Do You Know?

screen12

Question

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Correct.
Incorrect.

Question

0qccBqEyURIz2NwUAhMM1P62CQgj8TyFskb9Ebj8cprl1ZqFK79L9CsRIrH+iPpPH1SPNp2+7bianxSocuBIKTSoJjvHz1L+V7eqMamio26Zzq/9NU8Z0w2f9uZTAdgLnatU0V9RkEl3QaPWwic7tbi5PYjxjViUapt8wpX7tazFZfGTkCHST9arSiRkMLAd6Z8MT8quEeZZjLbHEvVU2NINydIsnOYTiYk/GH8rzJTYU4HCXe26VPXPE+WvVmbd5l2m8Q0weG5w8vJ+rMTwjr1PGcVGtzHxX738VtMULfg6slJY9ozjuh0GOKr9/6SH2mp79jvRuy/UygYwlQnNeeXfX7Dw6SkZZwnCmcsqgujVP7VqURUOLSw29g/6aq4uGx/VEP0IHP+UaB74raZxO67pCVGvyv3n3BMSIRnVW5EfVONPr8IURtOo0U7/v6AndXi6eF4DZPdVn70j7HYrabBkd1+sApKhmrzpEbw6Ydg=
Correct.
Incorrect.

Question

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
Correct.
Incorrect.

Question

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
Correct.
Incorrect.

Question

Lv+WlSFlyM/vPYC+lJg8VAM1YdgIoCXsxqcyOk4Eb3kcJCWW5RtGEIt1vu9FxB9M//CqSePuiMfqsyrxfGcHyJIukWc=
Use a correlational design, control confounding variables, and account for those confounding variables when analyzing your study responses.