After Defining the Variables Involved in a Study, Scientists Have

question 1

Essay

After defining the variables involved in a study, scientists have to identify individuals to study. The population is the group of individuals to whom we hope our conclusions will apply. Researchers generally hope that their conclusions will apply to a large population, such as all 5-year-olds or all people with schizophrenia. Because it is not practical to examine everyone in the population, researchers study a sample of people and assume that the results for the sample apply to the whole population. Briefly define the following types of samples and give one example for each; convenience sample, representative sample, random sample, and cross cultural sample.

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Definitions:

Schizophrenia

A chronic and severe mental disorder that affects a person's thinking, feeling, and behavior, often characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thought.

Psychologists

Professionals who study mental processes and behavior in humans and animals.

Psychiatrist

A medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders.

MMPI

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, a standardized psychometric test of adult personality and psychopathology.