Lecture Slides: Measuring Dependent Variables

This  lecture introduces students to several different ways of measuring   behavior as the dependent variable.  Several types of behavioral measures are shown, including: behavioral trace, behavioral observation, and behavioral choice.

The goal of this lecture is to get students to see other types of measuring DVs, aside from self-report. This starts with a quick overview of the pros & cons of behavioral measures, including the importance of methodological pluralism, then provides an overview of different types of behavioral measures (the related references provide a nice background of these concepts)

Each example provides a citation, the research question, the DV, how the DV was operationally defined, the procedure (where applicable), and simple summary of the results.

The last slide provides an opportunity for students to generate their own ideas. In full, the lecture should take about an hour.

Related References:

Baumeister, R. F., Vohs, K. D., & Funder, D. C. (2007). Psychology as the science of self-reports and finger movements: Whatever happened to actual behavior? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2, 396-403.

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., & Strohmetz, D. B. (2009). Actions can speak as loud as words: Measuring behavior in psychological science. Social Psychology and Personality Compass, 3, 992-1002.

Please click here for the file.