Question

An experimenter is interested in studying the relationship between hunger and aggression. She decides that she will measure aggression by counting the number of times a participant hits a punching bag. In this case, her ______________ definition of aggression is the number of times the participant hits the bag.

Short answer

Operational

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Term

The question stated that an experimenter decided to measure aggression by counting the number of times a participant hits a punching bag. When aggression is defined in this specific, observable, and measurable way, this is called an operational definition in psychological research methods. Thus, the empty space can be filled with the term 'Operational'.

Key concepts

Psychological Research Methods

When examining the strategies used in psychological studies, research methods become the cornerstone for producing reliable and valid data. These methods encompass various techniques and procedures used to collect and analyze information. In the case of studying human behavior or complex phenomena, operational definitions play a critical role. An operational definition is a clear, concise detail of a measure or variable. It describes exactly what the researchers must do to measure the concept and what constitutes the evidence of the phenomena in question.

This emphasis on specificity ensures that the study can be replicated, which is a fundamental criterion for research reliability. In turn, this improves the validity of the findings by minimizing ambiguity in the measurement process. In psychological research, common methodologies include experiments, surveys, case studies, and observational studies, each with their own set of rules for defining and measuring variables.

Measuring Aggression

Aggression can be a complex and multifaceted behavior, making it challenging to measure directly. To assess such abstract concepts, psychologists develop operational definitions to translate them into quantifiable terms. In the scenario presented, the experimenter has chosen to measure aggression by the number of times a participant hits a punching bag. This allows for a tangible representation of aggression.

However, it is crucial to acknowledge that this operational definition may only capture a certain type of aggression (e.g., physical aggression) and might not encompass other forms, such as verbal aggression or passive aggression. Researchers often employ other tactics such as questionnaires or coding behaviors in social interactions to gain a comprehensive picture of aggressive behavior. These measurements can be affected by cultural norms and subjective interpretations, hence why careful consideration in their design is important.

Relationship Between Hunger and Aggression

The relationship between hunger and aggression is an area of interest in psychology that delves into how physiological states can influence behaviors. It's hypothesized that hunger, being a physical stressor, may heighten irritability and aggressive responses. To investigate this psychophysiological relation, research must be methodologically sound, employing precise operational definitions for both hunger and aggression.

Hunger could be defined operationally by hours of fasting, levels of certain hormones, or subjective hunger ratings. Similarly, aggression, as previously mentioned, could be defined by the number of hits on a punching bag. Correlating these operationalized variables through a method like an experiment can reveal insights into the causal relationship between them, if one exists. While interpreting these studies, it is vital to understand that the findings may not be broadly generalizable and should be viewed in the context of how the researchers defined and measured each variable.