Chapter 13 - Descriptive Research Flashcards
Is descriptive research strategy concerned with relationships between variable?
NO
A researcher conducts a survey to determine the average number of text messages that college students send or receive during a typical 1-hour class. Which research strategy is being used?
The descriptive research strategy
What is the real goal of a descriptive research strategy?
Measures a variable or set of variables as they exist naturally
How does the descriptive research strategy differ from the experimental or nonexperimental research strategies?
It does not concern relationships between variables
What is it called when the researcher systematically records the behavior of individuals to describe the behavior?
Observational Research Design
What are some disadvantages of observational research design and how can it be prevented?
- It is essential that the behaviours are not disrupted or influenced by the presence of an observer
- can be addressed by concealing the observer
- Participants can be habituated to the observer’s presence
- EX. observers sit in a classroom for 1 hour every day for 1 week - Observations are based, in part, on a subjective judgment
- Can be addressed by using an inter-rater reliability method
What are the 3 types of observation?
1.Naturalistic Observation
- No research intervention
- Participant Observation
- researcher interacts with participants and becomes one of them - Contrived Observation
- researher sets up a situation likely to produce the desired behavior in participants
Strengths and Weaknesses of Naturalistic Observation:
Strengths:
- Behavior observed in the real world
- Useful for nonmanipulated behaviors
- Actual behaviors observed and recorded
Weaknesses:
- Time-consuming
- Potential for observer influence
- Potential for subjective interpretation
Strengths and Weaknesses of Contrived Observation:
Strengths:
- Do not have to wait for behaviors to occur
Weaknesses:
- less natural
Strengths and Weaknesses of Participant Observation:
Strengths:
- When natural observation is impossible
- Get information not accessible otherwise
- Participation gives unique perspective
Weaknesses:
- Time-consuming
- Potential for loss of objectivity
- Increased chance for observer influence
During a study using the behavioral research strategy, it is common to have two observers record behavior simultaneously. What is the purpose for this procedure?
It is used to ensure the objectivity of the measurements.
Which technique would probably be used by a researcher who wanted to observe behaviors in a private social club?
Partcipant Obervation
a survey study that uses a survey to:
- Obtain a description of a particular group of individuals
- the goal is to obtain almost a “snapshot” of the groups at a particular time
- Common application: companies seeking accurate descriptions of their customers
What are the 3 types of survey questions?
- Open-ended Question
EX. What do you think about the current availability of food on this campus? - Restricted Question
EX. During a typical week, how often do you eat out?
a. Not at all b. Once c. Twice - Rating-scale Question
EX. Likerttyp rating scale
Name the four types of surveys:
Internet surveys
Mail surveys
Telephone surveys
In-person surveys and interviews
Strengths and Weaknesses of Internet Surveys:
Strengths:
- Efficient to administer to a large number of participants
- Access to large number of individuals with common characteristics
- Survey can be individualized based on participant’s responses
Weaknesses:
- Initial expense for site
- Sample may not be representative
- Cannot control composition of the sample
Strengths and Weaknesses of Mail Surveys:
Strengths:
- Convenient and anonymous
- Nonthreatening to participants
- Easy to administer
Weaknesses:
- Can be expensive
- Low response rate and nonresponse bias
- Unsure exactly who completes the survey
Strengths and Weaknesses of Telephone Surveys:
Strengths:
- Can be conducted from home or office
- Participants can stay at home or office
Weaknesses:
- Time-consuming
- Potential for interviewer bias
Strengths and Weaknesses of In-person Surveys:
Strengths:
- Efficient to administer with groups
- 100% response rate, and flexible (groups or individual interviews)
Weaknesses:
- Time-consuming
- risk of interviewer bias
Although surveys can be used with a variety of different research strategies, which of the following is the defining characteristic of the survey research design?
The intent is simply to describe behaviors.
The multiple-choice questions in an exam are examples of which type of survey question.
Restricted
What is an advantage to administering a survey over the Internet?
Survey can be individualized based on responses
What research design involves a in-depth study and detailed description of a single individual?
Case study design
When is the case study design typically used for in-depth investigation?
Rare phenomena and unusual clinical cases
EX. Gaining information about mental disorders such as multiple personality disorder
Strengths and Weaknesses of the case study design:
Strengths:
- Not averaged over a diverse group
- Detailed description
- Vivid, powerful, convincing
- Compatible with clinical work
- Can study rare and unusual events
- Can identify exceptions to the rule
Weaknesses:
- Limited generalization
- Potential for selective bias
- Potential for subjective interpretation
What kind of research was used to study the brain surgery patient H. M. who lost the ability to
store new memories?
Case study research
