Unit 5: Chapter 8 Non-Experimental Research P. I

Question 1

Define non-experimental research and what is another name for it?

Answer 1

research in which an independent variable is not manipulated. (191)

Correlation Research

Question 2

How does a traditional experiment compare to correlation research?

Answer 2

In an experiment the researcher has enough control over the situation to decide which participants receive which conditions at which times (192)

Question 3

Correlation research

Answer 3

Nonexperimental research is often called correlational research because it seeks causes of behavior by looking for correlations among variables.1 (192)

Question 4

naturalistic observation

Answer 4

observational research of subjects in their natural environment carried out to disturb the subjects as little as possible (194)

Question 5

When do you consider doing a non-experimetnal method to conduct research?

Answer 5

-When little is known about the phenomenon
-When ethical concerns limit your ability to manipulate variables
-Third, non-experimental research can help to test the external validity of research findings established in the laboratory.

Question 6

inner observer reliability

Answer 6

when researchers independently agree on observations (CC)

Question 7

role demands

Answer 7

Participants willingness to prioritize adherence to a social role over acting upon personal needs, wants and discomforts (Ashton)

Question 8

observer bias

Answer 8

“Observer bias is the tendency of observers to not see what is there, but instead to see what they expect or want to see” Wikipedia

Question 9

Participant observation

Answer 9

A form of non experimental research under the category of observation research. It is similar to naturalistic observation except the researcher participates in the social circumstances they are observing.

Question 10

unobstrusive measures

Answer 10

another term for natural- istic observation, com- monly used in the social sciences (194)

Question 11

physical traces

Answer 11

unobtrusive measure of behavior that uses physical evidence (195)

Question 12

How can one increase their observer reliability?

Answer 12

-clarifying definitions with supporting concrete examples,
-training observers
-through observers practising conducting the observations and
-discussing any differences between their observations

Question 13

Hermeneutic approach

Answer 13

Social scientists have adopted the term hermeneutics to describe methodology that looks more at interpretation than causation.

Question 14

Qualitative research

Answer 14

Qualitative research is much less interested in the cause and effect of behavior than is research based on experimentation. Instead, qualitative research is interested in how individuals understand them- selves and make meaning out of their lives.

Question 15

What distinguishes between experimental and non-experimental research?

Answer 15

NE: Does not have control over variable assignment and manipulation, cannot determine cause and effect & must sacrifice some control to obtain data

Question 16

Why is non-experimental research often called correlation research?

Answer 16

Because it does not seek as direct a relationship between cause and effect (despite both types of research being concerned with correlation)

Question 17

Describe the common varieties of non experimental research

Answer 17

-Observational research
-Case study
-Archival research
-(survey?)

Question 18

Describe 3 different ways of sampling behaviour in observational research.

Answer 18

Researchers use three procedures to sample behaviours: time sampling, event sampling, and situation sampling. (course content CC)

Question 19

What is time sampling?

Answer 19

Time sampling refers to selecting various time intervals, either systematically (e.g., every 15 minutes) or randomly, for their observations. (CC)

Question 20

What is event samppling

Answer 20

Event sampling refers to recording each event that meets a predetermined definition (e.g., fighting), which tends to happen infrequently. (CC)

Question 21

What is situation sampling?

Answer 21

Situation sampling refers to observing behaviour in as many different locations (e.g., in school playground and at home) and under as many different circumstances and conditions as possible

Question 22

Define participant obseervation

Answer 22

This method is used when a researcher wants to study a small, often isolated group in which little is known about the group, or when the group’s activities are not generally accessible to the public. (CC)

Question 23

When is physical trace research useful? Describe two of the common types of trace research and provide an example of each.

Answer 23

When reactivity is an issue, physical trace is highly non-reactive

Physical traces are of two forms: use traces and products (patchy front lawn vs beer bottles)

Question 24

Propose a hypothesis that may be tested using physical traces.

Question 25

What are the advantages and disadvantages of testing hypotheses using physical traces about peoples behaviour

Answer 25

(not found)

Skip normal experimentation methods and it’s outside the labratory

not great certainty about cause end effect often(do bears scratch for fun? for territory? etc)

Question 26

Under what conditions are participant/observer research useful

Answer 26

When the participant is part of a niche group and when not enough is known to create a hypothesis

Question 27

Describe the ethical problems that participant-observer research proposes.

Answer 27

Issues of consent and deception (ie prentding to be someone you’re not/right to privacy)

Question 28

What are the advantages and disadvantages of conducting archival research

Answer 28

when data that speaks to your hypothesis already exists

-Data collection techniques are not scientific and often biased
-Data may have been collected under different definitions
-Some data may be subject to selected survival or recorded improperly

Question 29

Outline the steps in conducting content analysis. Illustrate the steps using your own example.

Answer 29

The first step is to identify a relevant archival source. The second step is to select a representative sample from the source. The last step is to code; that is, to define relevant descriptive categories and units of measure. (CC)

Question 30

What are the issues of analyzing archival data. Outline some steps researchers can take to mitigate those issues.

Answer 30

Do as much research as you can about the topic prior to even accesssing the archive, that way you can eliminate what is already available

Question 31

Outline the characteristics of case studies (pros and cons)

Answer 31

Pros: provide insight into causes of people’s behaviour that can be tested later. Case studies allow for the study of rare events.

Cons: Highly prone to observer bias and cannot separate the effects of extraneous variables

Question 32

What are the main actions of a pilot study?

Answer 32

-find a way to protect and record data