Descriptive Research

Question 1

Define the term Descriptive Research

Answer 1

Provides data about the population being studied but cannot establish cause and effect, as there is no active manipulation of variables by the researcher (also known as observational)

Question 2

Name 3 types of descriptive research

Answer 2

The Survey

Developmental / Ageing studies

Correlational studies

Question 3

Describe a Survey

Answer 3

Seeks to determine present practises, opinions or characteristics of a specified population; has three sub types:

1. Questionnaire
2. Interview
3. Normative survey

Question 4

Describe a Questionnaire

Answer 4

2 form of questions:

1. Open-ended; participant can answer freely and in depth, produces qualitative data
2. Closed-ended; fixed choice answers (yes or no), produces quantitative questions

Question 5

Give advantages and disadvantages of Open-ended questions

Answer 5

Advantage: gives participant opportunity to express their feelings and expand on ideas.

Disadvantage: time consuming, limits control over responses and difficult to categorise.

Question 6

Give advantages and disadvantages of Closed-ended questions

Answer 6

Advantage: quick and easy to analyse data to spot patterns and trends

Disadvantage: participants responses may be false

Question 7

Describe Correlational research

Answer 7

Investigates how relationships among variables exist and their strength and direction.

Useful to conduct before experiment.

Useful alternative to experiments, due to ethical issues or feasible conduct.

Question 8

What are the three types of correlation?

Answer 8

Positive, Negative and No correlation

Question 9

What is a Normative data survey?

Answer 9

Information / data gathered which is compared to social norms, also known as whole population studies.

Question 10

Give three arguments for Correlation vs. Causation

Answer 10

1. Correlation is necessary but not sufficient condition for causation
2. If there is no association between variables, there is no causation
3. A significant correlation doesn’t prove causation as there is no active manipulation of variables

Question 11

What are the 2 major problems associated with causation?

Answer 11

1. Directionality: do not know which variable caused what, for example; is depression causing fatigue or is fatigue causing depression?
2. Third variable problem: if we find a correlation between X and Y, variable Z could have effected findings (e.g. Alcohol or medication)

Question 12

Name 4 types of correlational design

Answer 12

1. Different variables, same subjects, same time
2. Same variables, same subjects, different time
3. Different variables. Same subjects, different time
4. Same variables, different subjects, same time