HW #1

Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following statements:

A study seeks to find out if listening to heavy metal music causes teenagers to become more violent than their peers who do not listen to heavy metal music.

A group of researchers are interested in examining the effects of long-term poverty. They do this by studying subjects’ physiological health and attachment to the workforce.

A study finds that self-esteem increases as a consequence of receiving good grades on examinations.

Indicators are used to measure abstract concepts. List some indicators which might prove to be reliable and valid in measuring the following:

Economic prosperity
Family violence
Educational attainment
Religious commitment
Health
Criminality

Identify a potential spurious factor which may call the following findings into question:

Researchers have found a consistent relationship between schools and crime. More crimes occur in neighborhoods surrounding high schools and junior high schools than in neighborhoods far away from schools. The researchers conclude that schools cause crime to occur and believe that this relationship may have something to do with teachers not teaching students the appropriate lessons in the classroom.

The U.S. Department of Justice has found that of the children killed by their parents, 55% of the murders were committed by the child’s mother and 45% of the murders were committed by the child’s father. A researcher uses these data to support his contention that women are more violent than men. On the basis of these data, do you find this argument compelling? Why or why not?

A social commentator argues that the welfare programs introduced in the 1960’s have caused an unparalleled expansion of poverty in the U.S. Based on the following data from the Statistical Abstracts of the U.S. 1994, would you agree or disagree with this causal statement? Explain.

Year	Percent Below Poverty Level
1960	22%
1965	15%
1970	13%
1975	12%
1980	13%
1985	14%
1990	14%