Question

AP

FRQ Unit 1, 7
Directions: You should present a cogent argument based on your critical analysis of the questions posed, using
appropriate psychological terminology. It is not enough to answer a question by merely listing facts or providing
definitions only
Dr. Rollins is a physician who believes that people are healthier if they exercise more. She hopes to fund a research
project to demonstrate this so she can promote a new exercise application she has developed. She is proposing a
correlational study to examine this belief.
1.
AP PSYCHAM CXIV
.
Describe the predicted relationship between the variables of this study.
• Identify the population Dr. Rollins is studying.
• Provide an example of a valid operational definition of people's health."
• Provide a specific example of how the "third variable problem" could affect this study
Explain why random assignment would or would not be important for this stud
Explain how people may face an avoidance-avoidance conflict when deciding to engage in a daily exercise
program
Respond to all parts of the question.

Answer 1

The predicted relationship between the variables of this study is that there will be a positive correlation between exercise and health. Specifically, Dr. Rollins is likely predicting that people who exercise more will have better overall health outcomes than people who exercise less or not at all.
• The population that Dr. Rollins is studying would likely be adults of various ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds who have different levels of physical activity and health statuses.

• A valid operational definition of people's health could be based on objective measures such as body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and presence or absence of chronic diseases.

• The "third variable problem" refers to the possibility that another variable, not accounted for in the study, may be influencing the relationship between the two variables being studied. In this case, a third variable such as diet, genetics, or socioeconomic status could be influencing the relationship between exercise and health.

Random assignment would be important for this study if Dr. Rollins wanted to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between exercise and health. Random assignment would allow her to control for extraneous variables and ensure that any observed differences between the groups can be attributed to the independent variable (exercise).
People may face an avoidance-avoidance conflict when deciding to engage in a daily exercise program because they may have to choose between two undesirable options - exercising and feeling discomfort or pain, or not exercising and facing the negative consequences of a sedentary lifestyle such as weight gain, poor physical health, and decreased longevity. This conflict may result in avoidance behavior or procrastination. However, people can overcome this conflict by setting realistic goals, developing a positive attitude towards exercise, and finding enjoyable physical activities.