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A researcher is graphing two variables from a study: 'reaction time in milliseconds' and 'preferred type of therapy' (Cognitive Behavioral, Psychodynamic, Humanistic). Describe how the researcher should apply standard graphing conventions regarding bar spacing when constructing histograms for each of these variables, and explain the rationale for the difference.
Question: A researcher is graphing two variables from a study: 'reaction time in milliseconds' and 'preferred type of therapy' (Cognitive Behavioral, Psychodynamic, Humanistic). Describe how the researcher should apply standard graphing conventions regarding bar spacing when constructing histograms for each of these variables, and explain the rationale for the difference.
Sample answer: For 'reaction time in milliseconds,' which is a quantitative variable, the bars of the histogram must be drawn adjacent to one another with no gaps between them to reflect the continuous nature of the data. For 'preferred type of therapy,' which is a categorical variable, a small gap must conventionally be left between the bars to visually distinguish the discrete, non-overlapping categories.
Key points:
- Identify 'reaction time' as a quantitative variable requiring no gaps between bars.
- Identify 'therapy type' as a categorical variable requiring small gaps between bars.
- Explain that the gap convention is used to distinguish discrete categories.
Rubric: Answers should correctly identify that the quantitative variable (reaction time) requires adjacent bars with no gaps, whereas the categorical variable (therapy type) requires small gaps between the bars. The response should explain that this spacing convention distinguishes the continuous nature of quantitative data from the discrete nature of categorical categories.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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