Unit 9 – Discussion: Graphing in Psychology: Are you optimistic or pessimistic?

Participate in this Discussion Forum: Graphing in psychology:

 Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Details: In psychology, perspective plays a tremendous role in treatment and decision-making. Is the glass half-full or half-empty? Questions like this can help us determine an individual’s mindset, such as if someone is optimistic or pessimistic. We then might want to explore the relationship between mindset and something like depression. For this discussion, we will set the x-axis to be depression (with a domain from 1.0 to 4.0) and the y-axis to be optimism (with a range from 1.0 to 8.0). The function you have been given that models the relationship between optimism and depression is linear and contains the following two points: (1, 7) and (4, 3). It can be represented by the line y = mx + b, where m is the slope, and b is the y-intercept. 

 Begin this discussion by: Find the slope of the line between the two points you have been given above. Find the y-intercept of the line between the two points you have been given above. Write the equation representing the relationship between optimism and depression using your determined slope and y-intercept. Write down a level of depression to the nearest tenth (between 1 and 4) and a level of optimism to the nearest tenth (between 1 and 8) and clearly label each (these will be used with your responses to classmates). 

Next, respond to two peers in the following way: 

 Response 1: Using the level of depression a classmate shared with your equation, solve for their level of optimism. 

Classmate1– Slope: 7-3/1-4 = 4/-3 Finding B: 7=-4/3(1) + B 7=-1 1/3+B add 1 1/3 8 1/3 = B Y intercept: 8 1/3 Equation: (4,3) 3=(-4/3)(4)+ 8 1/3 3=3 Write down a level of depression to the nearest tenth (between 1 and 4) and a level of optimism to the nearest tenth (between 1 and 8) and clearly label each (these will be used with your responses to classmates). Depression: 3.8 Optimism: 7.7  

 Response 2: Using the level of optimism that a different classmate shared with your equation, solve for their level of depression.   

Classmate 2

Slope= -4/3 Find B y=-4/3x+B 7=-4/3(1)+B 7+-1 1-/3+B 7+1 1/3=B 8 1/3= B Equation Y=-4/3x+8 1/3 7=-4/2(1)+8 1/3 7=-1 1/3+ 8 1/3 7=7 X-axis depression=3.3 Y-axis optimism=6.5