Exam #1 Part C Choosing a Research Design

Question 1

Compares groups at one point in time (e.g., age groups, ethnic groups, disease groups)
Surveys and questionnaires
Yield degree of relationship between two variables
Advantage is that it can examine variables that cannot be experimentally manipulated (e.g., IQ and occupational status).
Disadvantage is that it cannot determine causality.

Answer 1

Correlational: Cross-Sectional Designs

Question 2

In depth analysis of one individual
Advantage is a more complete analysis of the individual
Disadvantages:
Lacks external validity
Can’t use statistical analyses
Can’t test for interactions

Answer 2

Correlational: Single-Subject Designs

Question 3

To gather data on the course of health or disease over time (e.g., progression of multiple sclerosis).
Advantage is that you can see the time course of the disease or behavior (e.g., smoking cessation over time).
Disadvantage is it is costly and conclusions are still limited

Answer 3

Correlational: Longitudinal Designs

Question 4

Prospective studies
Follow healthy people over time to see who gets sick

Retrospective studies
Compare healthy to sick people to see which characteristics are different

Answer 4

Correlational: Observational Methods

Question 5

Examines differences between experimentally manipulated groups (e.g., one group gets a certain drug and the other gets a placebo).
Advantage is that you can determine causality.
Disadvantage is cost and many variables cannot be experimentally manipulated (e.g., smoke exposure over time); not as realistic
Subjects are randomly assigned
There is a control group
Experimenter and participant biases are controlled for

Answer 5

Experimental Designs

Question 6

Experiments that control for as much as possible but use a subject independent variable
Cannot claim causality but can come very close
Individual-subject experimental designs
Time-Series Designs
Useful for evaluating single subject interventions

Answer 6

Quasi- Experimental Designs

Question 7

he ability of your design to test your hypothesis
Can you actually say that X caused Y…Or, are there confounds?
What effects internal validity?
Outside forces, using the same survey/testing materials more than once, errors with equipment, subjects not chosen at random, subject drop-out, extreme scores

Answer 7

Internal

Question 8

can you results be applied outside of the sample you used?
What effects external validity?
Artificial lab settings, participant reactivity, unique subjects.

Answer 8

External

Question 9

occurs under controlled conditions

Answer 9

Type Of Psychological Research: Lab

Question 10

occurs in natural environment

Answer 10

Type Of Psychological Research: Field

Question 11

data collected in number form

Answer 11

Type Of Psychological Research: Quantitative

Question 12

data collected in detailed (narrative) form

Answer 12

Type Of Psychological Research: Qualitative