A health psychologist believes that while a person’s overall calorie intake predicts body weight, the relationship is mediated by a person’s social network. Describe the four steps that would be involved conducting a mediational analysis to confirm
or refute this relationship and explain the potential impact of obtaining or failing to obtain statistically significant results at each step.
What will be an ideal response?
Step 1: Show that X significantly predicts Y. If X does not predict Y, then it is unlikely X is a cause of Y. Thus, there would be no causal relationship to mediate.
Step 2: Show that X significantly predicts M. If X does not predict M, then it is unlikely X is a cause of M. Thus, M could not be part of a causal path from X to Y.
Step 3: Show that M predicts Y in the context of a multiple regression in which X is also included as a predictor. It is important that M predicts Y, or M cannot be part of a causal path from X to Y. It is important to include X as a predictor so we can be sure that the association of M and Y is not due to their being both caused by X (but not causing each other).
Step 4: Show that, when M is included as a predictor of Y (along with X), X no longer predicts Y. That is, there is no unique prediction of X to Y when M is taken into account; the original significant prediction drops to nonsignificance when M is included. Such a result is said to be consistent with M “fully mediating” the effect of X on Y.
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The Central Limit Theorem states that as sample size becomes large
a. the sampling distribution of sample means approaches normality b. the sampling distribution of sample means becomes larger c. the population distribution becomes normal d. the sample distribution becomes normal
When Ashley's parents drop her off at school, she immediately goes to the bathroom and applies makeup. In this scenario, the agent of socialization impacting her immediate behavior is __________
a. her parents b. the school c. her peers d. the mass media
From reading this article, which of the following would best describe being atheist in American today?
a. It is an accepted identity by most, but not all, Americans, and atheists feel little stigma related to this identity. b. It remains a highly controversial identity, and atheists feel a great deal of stigma about choosing this lifestyle. c. It is so highly stigmatized that atheists believe that they can only tell other atheists about this identity, lest they get excommunicated from their friends and family. d. Atheists feel as if many people are beginning to doubt their own religious beliefs, and increasingly their friends and family are embracing atheism as well.
According to the conflict perspective, which of the following is a criticism of the functional perspective on racial/ethnic inequality?
a. Inequality produces a cycle of oppression leading to new rebellions and new forms of oppression. b. The group with the most power, wealth, and status installs itself as the dominant group, and everyone else becomes the subordinate group. c. It is based on a consciousness of kind that is not functional for society. d. Funneling racial/ethnic groups into jobs may benefit the public, but it exploits a powerless group of people.