I Love Wiki!

Ok, so as the wife of a quantitative psychologist, I have decided to post the definition of quant psych on our blog, mainly because often when I tell people what my sweet heart does, I get a blank stare. Now, I can refer them to the blog, and not only do they get to see Wikipedia's definition of quantitative psychology, they can look at photos of my cute kids (which really are put there for the grandparents, but...)

Quantitative psychology

Main article: Quantitative psychology

Quantitative psychology involves the application of mathematical and statistical modeling in psychological research, and the development of statistical methods for analyzing and explaining behavioral data. The term Quantitative psychology is relatively new and little used (only recently have Ph.D. programs in quantitative psychology been formed), and it loosely covers the longer standing subfields psychometrics and mathematical psychology.

Psychometrics is the field of psychology concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement, which includes the measurement of knowledge, abilities, attitudes, and personality traits. Measurement of these unobservable phenomena is difficult, and much of the research and accumulated knowledge in this discipline has been developed in an attempt to properly define and quantify such phenomena. Psychometric research typically involves two major research tasks, namely: (i) the construction of instruments and procedures for measurement; and (ii) the development and refinement of theoretical approaches to measurement.

Whereas psychometrics is mainly concerned with individual differences and population structure, mathematical psychology is concerned with modeling of mental and motor processes of the average individual.

Psychometrics is more associated with educational, personality, and clinical psychology. Mathematical psychology is more closely related to psychonomics/experimental and cognitive, and physiological psychology and (cognitive) neuroscience.

Payge "Talking"

Just can't make it any further...

Da Zoo

If you haven't noticed, spring (also known as tornado season) is well underway in the mid-west. This means the Potawatami Zoo is open here in South Bend! We've already ventured out once, with plans to do so many more times in the near future. A wonderful way to spend the day!




Watching the monkeys!

By the tigers~ Zach said the white tiger was a 'Zebra tiger'.

Zach, on the edge of the tiger pen.


Pointing to the ponies!

Zach's First Camping Trip

Stephen and Zachary went off into the wilderness this weekend...I was a little worried that Zach would want to come home after awhile, but I was very wrong. I received a phone call this morning from Zach that stated that he's going to have to do this every weekend. Fine by me! Here are some photos of the event; it was a ward Father/Son camp out, but everyone was on their own until the group breakfast the next morning.

Look what Chayce drew!

Not bad for a two-year old.

Quality Not Quantity?

Today we were looking for a treat for Mother's Day (OK, who am I kidding? I've been letting this family have treats daily for weeks now, I've gone soft, and I think I love sugar...must...over...come...) --anyhow--we realized we had some left over vanilla ice cream in the freezer, and Stephen suggested ice cream floats. So, we trekked to the store to get some cream soda (because it is 'oh, so yummy' on vanilla ice cream). Stephen kept suggesting really good brands of cream soda (Jones, IBC, etc.) but I couldn't bring myself to put GOOD soda on cheap ice cream (yes, I'd purchased the bucket from WalMart rather than the natural stuff, I told you I have slacked off!). In my need to express myself, I believe I came up with the perfect analogy for our situation: Putting IBC soda on WalMart bucket ice cream is like putting caviar on Doritos. You JUST DON'T DO IT. So, we bought the store brand of cream soda. We have yet to make the treat, as it was a movie night, and that is NOT a good treat to eat on the couch with a 4 and 2 year old. No, we opted for Jelly Belly's.

BUT, this leads me to another funny moment with my darlings: I'd purchased a select few flavors (the on sale ones), and so ALL of the yellow ones in the bowl were banana. Yet, this concept seemed so hard for my darlings: "Mom, what flavor is this one?" "Banana." "And this one?" "Banana." "This one?" "Banana." "Annnnd this...." "They are all banana!" "Oh. The yellow ones?" "Yes, the yellow are banana." "I'm gonna eat the pink ones."