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A researcher wants to measure the construct of 'academic conscientiousness' by observing whether a student submits their very first assignment early. In two to three sentences, apply the concept of behavioral tendencies to explain why this measurement strategy is flawed and how it should be corrected.
Question: A researcher wants to measure the construct of 'academic conscientiousness' by observing whether a student submits their very first assignment early. In two to three sentences, apply the concept of behavioral tendencies to explain why this measurement strategy is flawed and how it should be corrected.
Sample answer: Submitting a single assignment early is an immediate, visible action, which does not capture a behavioral tendency because tendencies are general inclinations across a variety of situations rather than constant guarantees. To correct this, the researcher should measure the student's behavior across multiple assignments and different academic situations over time. This allows the researcher to summarize the underlying tendency rather than relying on a single, isolated action.
Key points:
- A single early submission is an immediate, visible action, not a behavioral tendency.
- Behavioral tendencies must be observed across a variety of situations to reflect a general inclination.
- Correcting the design requires collecting multiple observations over time to summarize the underlying construct.
Rubric: The response must apply the concept of behavioral tendency by stating that a single action is not a guarantee of a general inclination. It must recommend measuring behavior across a variety of situations/times to capture the underlying construct.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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A researcher wants to measure the construct of 'academic conscientiousness' by observing whether a student submits their very first assignment early. In two to three sentences, apply the concept of behavioral tendencies to explain why this measurement strategy is flawed and how it should be corrected.