Chapter 10

Question 1

Observational Research

Answer 1

Focuses on describing behavior.

Question 2

Advantages of Observational Research

Answer 2

Results are generalizable

Question 3

Disadvantages of Observational Research

Answer 3

No control
Cannot infer causation
Observer bias

Question 4

Two Types of Observational Research

Answer 4

1-Naturalistic Observation
2-Participant Observation

Question 5

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 5

People are observed as they behave in their everyday natural environments here behaviors are assumed to be natural. The experimenter can impose different degrees of structure such as lab observation study.

Question 6

Participant Observation

Answer 6

The researcher becomes part of the group being observed, including groups that are closed to the outside.

Question 7

Challenges with Observational Methods:

Answer 7

1-Lack of control
2-Observer bias
3-Subject Reactivity

Question 8

Lack of Control

Answer 8

you must take what you get, you cannot infer causation.

Question 9

Observer Bias

Answer 9

the observer might have an idea about what will be observed which could “color one’s perception”. They might only see what they want to see.

Question 10

Reducing Observer Bias

Answer 10

1-Use good operational definitions for the behaviors of interest.
2-Use a behavior checklist.
3-Videotaping the session
4-Have several observers and determine inter-rater reliability.
5-Sampling procedures

Question 11

Inter-rater Reliability

Answer 11

The percentage of times that the observers collectively agree.

Question 12

Sampling procedures

Answer 12

Selecting a subset of possible observations

Question 13

Time Sampling

Answer 13

Sample behaviour only a pre-defined times rather than maintaining a continuous record of everything that’s happening.

Question 14

Event Sampling

Answer 14

Only certain events/behaviors are selected for observation while others are ignored.

Question 15

Individual Sampling

Answer 15

Focus only on certain individuals

Question 16

Subject Reactivity

Answer 16

A subject’s behavior is influenced by knowing that they are being observed.

Question 17

Solution for Subject Reactivity

Answer 17

Use unobstructed measures so that subjects don’t know that they are being measured.

Question 18

Two Types of Subject Reactivity

Answer 18

1-Direct unobstructed measures
2-Indirect unobstructed measures

Question 19

Direct Unobstructed Measures

Answer 19

Audio/video recording, two-way mirror

Question 20

Indirect Unobstructed Measures

Answer 20

Examining blue boxes to determine consumption of bottled water.

Question 21

Ethics

Answer 21

Naturalistic observation does not require informed consent if the Ss are observed publicly. Do not interfere with the S and maintain confidentiality and anonymity.

Question 22

Archival Research

Answer 22

uses archival data; data that has already been collected for some purpose other than the research in question.

Question 23

Advantages of Archival Research

Answer 23

A huge amount of data is available

Question 24

Disadvantages of Archival Research

Answer 24

-sometimes data is missing
-experimenter bias, in which the experimenter attends more closely to data that supports his hypothesis.

Question 25

Content Analysis

Answer 25

Sometimes performed on archival data before it undergoes statistical analysis. Involved in examining qualitative data. Good to have more than one person coding it to establish inter-rater reliability.

Question 26

Thematic Analysis

Answer 26

Is a method for identifying and analyzing themes or patterns of responses in qualitative data.

Question 27

Factor Analysis

Answer 27

It is a Correlation between each variable and the identified factor. Many variables are inter-correlated and items that are highly inter-correlated form a factor.

Question 28

Meta-Analysis

Answer 28

A more current approach that uses statistical analyses to compare the results across studies. It is an analysis of analyses that have already been conducted.

Question 29

Meta-analysis looks at the results of many different studies on a similar topic and:

Answer 29

-Determines whether the effect is consistent across studies
-Tries to synthesize the results across studies
-Involves statistical analysis to see the size of the effect.