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Cst Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
X accounted for Y not accounted for by Z.
From a scientific paper:
"Subsequent analyses revealed that only the Clarity sub-scale accounted for further variance in life satisfaction not accounted for by positive negative affect. This finding provides further evidence that components of the EI [emotional intelligence - cst] construct account for variance in this important human value not accounted for by personality."
I was asked to translate (I am not a psychologist) but I cannot find out the meaning of "to account for" in this context. How could one rewrite these sentences without using "account for"? What is the relation between the sub-scale, the variance, and the affect in the 1st sentence (and between the components, the variance, and the personality in the 2nd sentence)? The sub-scale is the reason for the variance? Or do the people only vary in their Clarity value? What has the positive/negative affect to do with this?
Thanks!
Christian
"Subsequent analyses revealed that only the Clarity sub-scale accounted for further variance in life satisfaction not accounted for by positive negative affect. This finding provides further evidence that components of the EI [emotional intelligence - cst] construct account for variance in this important human value not accounted for by personality."
I was asked to translate (I am not a psychologist) but I cannot find out the meaning of "to account for" in this context. How could one rewrite these sentences without using "account for"? What is the relation between the sub-scale, the variance, and the affect in the 1st sentence (and between the components, the variance, and the personality in the 2nd sentence)? The sub-scale is the reason for the variance? Or do the people only vary in their Clarity value? What has the positive/negative affect to do with this?
Thanks!
Christian
Top answer
Hi, The sentences you are translating are very poorly written, in my opinion, as many scientific sentences are. Let's look at simpler examples of the underlying construction. to account for something = to serve as or provide an explanation or reason for something eg Tom's tight hat accounts for his headaches.
- Hi, The sentences you are translating are very poorly written, in my opinion, as many scientific sentences are.
- Let's look at simpler examples of the underlying construction.
- to account for something = to serve as or provide an explanation or reason for something eg Tom's tight hat accounts for his headaches.
- This means his headaches are because of his tight hat.
- Now let's take this example a step further, making it similar to your sentence.
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2 Answers
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Hi,
The sentences you are translating are very poorly written, in my opinion, as many scientific sentences are.
Let's look at simpler examples of the underlying construction.
to account for something = to serve as or provide an explanatio
The sentences you are translating are very poorly written, in my opinion, as many scientific sentences are.
Let's look at simpler examples of the underlying construction.
to account for something = to serve as or provide an explanatio
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Aaah, I see! 
Tom's hat is a very nice example, expressing it in other words makes it clear.
Thanks a lot, Clive!
Ch
Tom's hat is a very nice example, expressing it in other words makes it clear. Thanks a lot, Clive!
Ch
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