Question

2. Researchers conducted a naturalistic observation of children between the ages of 5 and 7 years. The researchers visited classrooms during class party celebrations. As a measure of hyperactivity, they recorded the number of times children left their seats. The researchers found a strong positive correlation between sugary snacks offered at the parties and hyperactivity. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that sugar causes hyperactivity.

• How was hyperactivity operationalized (what was its operational definition)?
• Based on the information provided, what was the flaw in the researchers’ conclusions that sugar causes hyperactivity? (You can mention a flaw in methodology, but you must explain the flaw in their conclusions.)
• As a follow-up study, the researchers are designing a NEW study that will be an experiment to test whether sugar causes hyperactivity. For the experiment, name the independent variable and the dependent variable, being sure to label each.

Answer 1

1. An operationalization of a variable allows it to be measured. In this case, hyperactivity was measured as the number of times children left their seat during the party.

2. The flaw in the conclusion is that not all children ate the same number of sugary snacks and there might have been some children who did not eat any at all. Moreover, a child may have left his/her seat for reasons other than hyperactivity (eg using the washroom).

3. The independent variable would be the number of sugary snacks offered. The dependent variable would be hyperactivity.