Quasi-Experimental, Correlational, Descriptive Designs 2

Question 1

what are longitudinal designs

Answer 1

examine variables at different points in time

vs cross sectional designs, which are at one point in time

Question 2

what are the three types of longitudinal designs

Answer 2

• prospective longitudinal study (panel study)
• successive cross sectional design: data is collected from different samples of the population at multiple points in time
• retrospective study: event that happened in the past, e.g., want to investigate how anxiety is related to childhood trauma

Question 3

what is a prospective longitudinal study

Answer 3

group of participants (the panel) who are studied at several points in time using similar measures

Question 4

what is a mediator variable

Answer 4

accounts for the relationship between variables X and Y

Question 5

what is a moderator variable

Answer 5

different levels of this variable show different sizes of the relationship between variables X and Y

Question 6

what is the suppressor variable

Answer 6

makes relationship between X and Y smaller or zero

Question 7

what is synchronous correlation

Answer 7

usual correlation between X and Y measured at the same point in time

Question 8

what is auto, test-retest, or lagged correlation

Answer 8

correlation between e.g., variable X measured at time 1 and variable X measured at time 2

Question 9

cross lagged correlation

Answer 9

between variable X measured at time 1 and variable Y measured at time 2

Question 10

self report method - what is split ballot technique

Answer 10

survey procedure whereby experimental manipulation is included

Question 11

self report method - what is clinical method

Answer 11

type of interview in which participant’s response to each successive question determines what investigator will ask next

Question 12

observational studies - what time sampling

Answer 12

investigator records frequencies with which individuals display particular behaviours

Question 13

observational studies, what is a structured observation

Answer 13

investigator cues behaviour of interest and observes participants responses in a lab

Question 14

observational studies, what is ethnography

Answer 14

researchers seek to understand tradition and social processes of a culture or subculture by living with members and making observations and notes

Question 15

what are the limits to self report and observational studies

Answer 15

• observed behaviours may be influenced by observer’s presence (e.g., social desirability)
• recall bias
• conclusions may be biased by investigator’s theoretical points of view

Question 16

how could we potentially remedy the issues with self report/observational studies

Answer 16

• non-obtrusive measures: PPs not aware they are involved (however, there are serious ethical issues here)
• archival records or behavioural trace methods

Question 17

what is a case study

Answer 17

gathering of extensive information about the life/specific event of individual/or a specific group of individuals