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Sociology 202 Martin Lecture Outline 16: October 27, 2005

Should you choose marriage?. The Washington Post recently ran an editorial describing a report on the benefits of marriage.The report noted that marriage seems to benefit everyone except black women.Is this true?If so, why?. The Elaboration Model. Elaboration model: A logical approach for understanding the relationship between two variables by controlling for the effects of a third.Independent variable: The explanatory or causal variable.Dependent variable: The outcome or response v29914

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Sociology 202 Martin Lecture Outline 16: October 27, 2005

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    1. Sociology 202 (Martin) Lecture Outline 16: October 27, 2005 The Elaboration Model definitions the elaboration paradigm types of test variables examples Reading: Babbie Chapter 15.

    2. Should you choose marriage? The Washington Post recently ran an editorial describing a report on the benefits of marriage. The report noted that marriage seems to benefit everyone except black women. Is this true? If so, why?

    3. The Elaboration Model Elaboration model: A logical approach for understanding the relationship between two variables by controlling for the effects of a third. Independent variable: The explanatory or causal variable. Dependent variable: The outcome or response variable. Test variable: The control variable. You tabulate the partial relationship between the independent and dependent variables for each category of the test variable.

    4. Partial relationships between marriage and happiness, by race Percent of respondents “Very Happy”, by marital status. Overall: Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” 34 % 23 % “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy 66 % 77 % Men: Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” 35 % 21 % “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy 65 % 79 % Women: Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” 34 % 25 % “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy 66 % 75 %

    5. Interpreting partial relationships (1) Replication: The observed relationship persists across categories of the control variable. Young adults (25 – 39) Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy Mid-Adults (40 – 54) Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy

    6. Interpreting partial relationships (2) Specification: When partial relationships differ for categories of the test variable. Whites Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy Blacks Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy

    7. Interpreting partial relationships (3) Explanation/Interpretation: The relationship shrinks or disappears when the test variable is introduced. Example: does having children make people happier? Overall: No Children Children “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy Ever Married: No Children Children “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy Never Married: No Children Children “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy

    8. Distinguishing explanation from interpretation Interpretation is how we describe the case where the test variable makes sense as an intervening variable (caused by the independent variable). independent var. > test var. > dependent var. Explanation is how we describe the case where the test variable makes sense as an antecedent variable (causes the independent variable). test var. > dependent var. test var. > independent var.

    9. Refinements to the elaboration paradigm A suppressor variable is a term to describe the test variable when there are evident partial relationships but no zero order (overall) relationship suppressor variables can be explanation, interpretation, or specification variables. A distorter variable is a term to describe the test variable when there are evident partial relationships, but the zero order (overall) relationship has the opposite sign. distorter variables can be explanation or interpretation variables.

    10. Extensions of the elaboration model A researcher can use two or more test variables to identify more complex patterns Percent of respondents “Very Happy”, by marital status. White Men: Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy White Women: Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy Black Men: Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy Black Women: Ever Married Never Married “Very Happy” “Pretty” or “Not Too” Happy

    11. Summary questions 1.) In your own words, describe the elaboration logic of interpretation. 2.) In your own words, describe the elaboration logic of explanation. 3.) Construct a hypothetical example of an elaboration model involving a suppressor variable. 4.) Construct a hypothetical example of an elaboration model involving a replicator variable.

    12. Assignment for next lecture Choose one of the questions from the previous slide. Write a paragraph about it.

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