Research Methods

Question 1

What are the two types of OBSERVATIONAL data collection?

Answer 1

• case studies

* field observational studies

Question 2

what are case studies?

Answer 2

People in rare situations, studied over time that do not allow for group studies; humanizes science

Question 3

What is the John Money case study?

Answer 3

Obtained a young male infant “David” who lost his genitals and sex reassignment surgery changed him to “Brenda”.

• now raised as a girl, Money claimed that gender identity is nurture-based and child can “learn” to accept another gender
• Money saw what he wanted in order to confirm his hypothesis, disregarding “Brenda’s” feelings of becoming “David”, a boy like he was born

Question 4

What are Field Observational Studies? What was example used in class? Give your own example.

Answer 4

Involve detailed observation of human (child, in this case) behaviour in real world environment (not stimulated).
*Class ex: observe aggression in boys vs girls. Found that experimenter bias can affect results –> ex: over notice forms of aggression in girls because it is not the norm.

Question 5

What are two types of correlational studies? What to remember about correlation?

Answer 5

• archival studies
• survey studies
• *Correlation does not lead to Austin!

Question 6

Archival Studies

Answer 6

looking through archives

ex: SAT scores vs SES = lower SES results in lower scores

Question 7

Survey Studies

Answer 7

surveying individuals from a population

*ex: intro/extroverted children and # of friends each may have

Question 8

Limits of Survey Studies?

Answer 8

• age can affect child’s reading/intellectual ability
• retrospective reports leads to memory bias and inaccuracies
• parent/teacher/peer reports may be biased

Question 9

Concepts of Experimental research?

Answer 9

• IV- being manipulated
• DV- being measured
• experimental control- set up is exactly the same to contro for variables
• random assignment- ensures groups are equalized in beginning and have a chance at any level of IV

Question 10

3 types of experiments?

Answer 10

true lab
field experiment
quasi experiment

Question 11

true lab

Answer 11

general lab setup with ideal conditions and variables that can be manipulated on demand; all very controlled

Question 12

field experiment

Answer 12

out in real world, can’t really control the environmental variables; only control over IV

Question 13

quasi experiment

Answer 13

like true lab but lacking component of random assignment on at least variable (age, gender, SES)
*NO CAUSATION

Question 14

Cross-Sectional

Answer 14

*data collected at one specific point in time
PRO: quick, cheap, easy, demonstrates age differences
CONS: cohort effect in play, cant say of development is/will be continuos or discontinuous

Question 15

Longitudinal

Answer 15

Data collected for same group of ppl repeatedly over period of time
PRO: tells of developmental course , links bw early experiences and later outcomes, eliminates some fo cohort effect
CONS: CE still present, expensive, time, practice effects, selective attrition (loss of certain kinds of participants)

Question 16

Sequential

Answer 16

*combines longitudinal and cross-sectional
PROS: benefits of long but less time and money, compare diff cohorts at diff ages, compare diff cohort’s pattern of development
CON: bit complicated, doesn’t completely solve CE

Question 17

Microgenetic Design

Answer 17

*same setting studied repeatedly in order to observe developmental changes
PRO: can actually watch development
CON: not sure if natural developmental process bc activities are intense and in short time period, confirmation bias (can be avoided)