The goal of this assignment is to explain the variables in four peer-reviewed psychology publications and analyze the measurement tools used to quantify these variables. All four studies utilized a form of exercise as their independent variable and mood as their dependent variable. The distinct variation in these studies lies in the type of physical activity and operational definition of the variables. These, artifacts and confounding variables are discussed along with suggestions for how the researchers could have improved their methods. In 1988, Steptoe and Cox authored the article, “Acute effects of aerobic exercise on mood,” which appeared in Health Psychology. More specifically, the research examined alternating high and low intensity
…show more content…
published the article, “Weekly exercise consistently reinstates positive mood” in European Psychologist. The authors explained the research project to the participants and the exercise instructor before the investigation began thus potentially introducing numerous artifacts including reactivity, experimenter bias, and subject role behaviors. The independent variable was defined as a one-hour group exercise sessions with a warm-up, movements of increasing intensity and cool-down period set to music. Participants chose one of four different kinds of group aerobic classes described as Advanced, Beginner, Body Funk and Callanetics. Each session was given in the evening after six p.m. and was 60 minutes long. Confounding variables are music, the time of day and the fact that all exercise consisted of group classes. Music, social atmosphere or the timing of the class could have an effect on participants’ disposition. During the factor analysis the researchers discovered, “The number of preexercise [sic] mood scores derived from the first session was too small (n = 74) for analysis” (Steinberg et al., 1998). Hence, they used the numbers from a “comparable group” (Steinberg et al., 1998) who took an Alexander Technique class. The Alexander Technique is not typically classified as an exercise class because it is not known to raise heart rate and it is not done to music. This means that during the study researchers slightly changed the operational …show more content…
Similar the last mentioned participants were told about the investigation before it began potentially introducing numerous artifacts including reactivity, experimenter bias, and subject roles. Johansson, Hassmén and Jouper defined their independent variable of exercise as 30 minutes of Jichu Gong. The exercise instruction was given by tape thus making sure the class was exactly the same each time. Jichu Gong is a form of qigong that consists of relaxation, exercise and self-massage. The control group listened to a 30-minute lecture. The dependent variable, mood was assessed by the POMS and the Swedish version of the STAI before and after the qigong and lecture. An improvement would be to not tell the participants what is being studied and instead embed the POMS and STAI among other questions not relating to
published the article, “Weekly exercise consistently reinstates positive mood” in European Psychologist. The authors explained the research project to the participants and the exercise instructor before the investigation began thus potentially introducing numerous artifacts including reactivity, experimenter bias, and subject role behaviors. The independent variable was defined as a one-hour group exercise sessions with a warm-up, movements of increasing intensity and cool-down period set to music. Participants chose one of four different kinds of group aerobic classes described as Advanced, Beginner, Body Funk and Callanetics. Each session was given in the evening after six p.m. and was 60 minutes long. Confounding variables are music, the time of day and the fact that all exercise consisted of group classes. Music, social atmosphere or the timing of the class could have an effect on participants’ disposition. During the factor analysis the researchers discovered, “The number of preexercise [sic] mood scores derived from the first session was too small (n = 74) for analysis” (Steinberg et al., 1998). Hence, they used the numbers from a “comparable group” (Steinberg et al., 1998) who took an Alexander Technique class. The Alexander Technique is not typically classified as an exercise class because it is not known to raise heart rate and it is not done to music. This means that during the study researchers slightly changed the operational …show more content…
Similar the last mentioned participants were told about the investigation before it began potentially introducing numerous artifacts including reactivity, experimenter bias, and subject roles. Johansson, Hassmén and Jouper defined their independent variable of exercise as 30 minutes of Jichu Gong. The exercise instruction was given by tape thus making sure the class was exactly the same each time. Jichu Gong is a form of qigong that consists of relaxation, exercise and self-massage. The control group listened to a 30-minute lecture. The dependent variable, mood was assessed by the POMS and the Swedish version of the STAI before and after the qigong and lecture. An improvement would be to not tell the participants what is being studied and instead embed the POMS and STAI among other questions not relating to