Solution Manual for Research Methods, Design, and Analysis, 13th Edition

Chapter 2 Research Approaches and Methods of Data Collection Learning Objectives 2.1 Differentiate among the types of variables used in quantitative research. 2.2 Outline the features of the experimental research approach. 2.3 Summarize the criteria for establishing a cause-and-effect relationship. 2.4 Describe the advantages and limitations of the psychological experiment. 2.5 Summarize how nonexperimental quantitative research can demonstrate relationships among variables. 2.6 Describe the components, strengths, and limitations of qualitative research. 2.7 Explain the different major forms of mixed methods research. 2.8 Compare and contrast the six major methods of data collection. Chapter Outline Experimental research- Research based on manipulation to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships Manipulation- Researcher actively intervenes in the world by introducing a causal condition Nonexperimental research – Research that lacks manipulation and studies the world as it naturally occurs Quantitative research- Empirical research that relies on quantitative data and approaches – e.g., Ratings of attractiveness, number of times a rat presses a bar Numerical data- Data consisting of numbers Qualitative research- Research based on nonnumerical data Nonnumerical data- Data that consist of pictures, words, statements, clothing, written records or documents, or a description of situations and behavior • Creswell (1998) and Patton (1990) • Quantitative data provides an incomplete analysis of what is being investigated • Qualitative data adds an additional level of understanding Mixed methods research- Research in which quantitative and qualitative data or approaches are combined in a single study or set of related studies Variables in Quantitative Research 2.1 Differentiate among the types of variables used in quantitative research. Variable- A characteristic or phenomenon that can vary across or within organisms, situations, or environments – e.g., Political party (Republican, Democrat, or Independent) Constant- Something that does not vary – e.g., Political party (Independent only) 26 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Categorical variable- is a variable that varies by type or kind or categories of a phenomenon • e.g., Political party, gender, religion, college major, method of therapy Quantitative variable – variable that varies by degree or amount – e.g., Reaction time, height, age, anxiety level – A four level system of classifying variables is introduced in Chapter 5 Role Taken by the Variable – Independent variable (IV) • Variable that is presumed to cause changes in another variable • The variable manipulated by the experimenter • e.g., “new therapy” vs. “no therapy” control condition. – Dependent variable (DV) • Variable that is presumed to be influenced by one or more independent variables • The presumed effect or outcome – e.g., What are the IV and the DV in the relationship between smoking and lung cancer? • IV- smoking, DV- lung cancer – In experimental research • Cause-and-effect relationship – Relationship in which changes in one variable produce changes in another variable – Extraneous variables • A variable that competes with the independent variable in explaining the outcome. • Sometimes called third variables and confounding variables • e.g., Smoking confounding the relationship between coffee drinking and heart attacks – Mediating variable (intervening variable) • A variable that occurs in-between two other variables in a causal chain. • e.g., Smoking tissue damagelung cancer. 27 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. – Moderator variable • Variable that changes or “moderates” the relationship between an IV and a DV • e.g., If behavioral therapy worked better for males and cognitive therapy worked better for females, then gender would be a moderator variable • There are many moderator variables working in the natural causal world because our world tends to be quite complex. Experimental Research 2.2 Outline the features of the experimental research approach. Experimental research approach – A quantitative approach – Designed to discover and demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships – A benchmark to which other research approaches can be compared regarding causation. – Key feature – IV manipulated to see changes in the DV – Scientific vs. practical experimentation – Free of bias and that have controlled for extraneous variables. Causation 2.3 Summarize the criteria for establishing a cause-and-effect relationship. Causation – A term that people frequently use but don’t always carefully consider – Common sense suggests that causality refers to a condition in which one event generates another event – Causality is more complex. – You will see that manipulation is often implicit in the concept of causation – e.g., Parent punishing a child for coloring on a wall stops the child from coloring on walls Cause – The factor that makes something else exist or change – The intuitive definition of cause is too simplistic – Most causal relationships are dependent on many factors, including contextual factors • e.g., Depression can have many causes – Causal relationships are not fully deterministic but are probabilistic (Shadish, Cook, & Campbell, 2002). – The causal event may not fully cause the outcome but it increases the probability of the outcome. – When you want to study cause and effect, your first choice should be to conduct an experiment. Effect – The difference between what would have happened and what did happen when a treatment is administered – In an experiment, the difference between treatment and control groups – The group not receiving the treatment is used as the estimate of what the group that received the treatment would have been like if it had not received the treatment. 28 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Required Criteria for Making the Claim of Causation Three required criteria for making a justified claim of cause and effect 1. The researcher has to demonstrate that the independent variable and the dependent variable are related. 2. The researcher must demonstrate that the changes in the independent variable occurred before the changes in the dependent variable. 3. The researcher has to demonstrate that the relationship between the independent and dependent variables is not due to some other variable. – Example • Correlation between coffee drinking and likelihood of having a heart attack. The Psychological Experiment 2.4 Describe the advantages and limitations of the psychological experiment. The experiment – Strongest and most powerful way to meet the three required criteria for cause and effect – Establishes the presence or absence of a relationship by • Manipulating an independent variable under controlled conditions • Measuring the effect on a dependent variable. When conducting an experiment – The psychologist systematically manipulates one or more independent variables – Objectively observes the dependent variable to see what happens in response – Observe is all three criterion are met • The third required criterion is the most difficult to meet. • The researcher must  Control the experimental situation  Vary only the experimental conditions  Equate the groups using random assignment.  Make sure that no extraneous variables enter that might threaten the study. Example of an Experiment and its Logic – Testing the effectiveness of a new drug that is hypothesized to reduce generalized anxiety Where – O denotes observation/measurement of the DV – X denotes the IV – Subscript T denotes the treatment condition of the IV (drug with active ingredient) – Subscript P denotes the placebo condition of the IV (drug with no active ingredient) – RA stands for random assignment of participants to two groups 29 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. – Convenience or purposive sample of 100 people experiencing generalized anxiety – Randomly assign them to form two groups with 50 participants in each group. • No systematic difference between the groups on any variable, including anxiety level. – – – – IV- drug treatment vs. placebo drug DV- anxiety levels Results – the treatment group show lower anxiety after receiving the new drug than those in the control group What would you conclude? • You would be able to conclude that there is a causal relationship between the IV and DV We can make this conclusion because 1. We demonstrated the relationship between the independent and dependent variable 2. We ensured that changes in the IV preceded the changes in DV 3. We ruled out alternative explanations by equating the groups at the start of the study What if we could not use random assignment? – Some of the participants have a fear of medication – Most of the participants who feared medication ended up in the treatment condition – At the end of the study, perhaps the two groups did not differ in anxiety level – What can you conclude? • You would probably conclude that the drug was ineffective • The drug might have actually been effective, but the negative effect of fear of medication in the treatment group participants was greater in increasing their anxiety than was the drug’s effect in decreasing their anxiety. – Extraneous variables • can destroy the integrity of a research study that claims to show a cause-and-effect relationship • might compete with the IV in explaining the outcome. – Confounding variable- an extraneous variable that if not controlled for will eliminate the researcher’s ability to claim that the IV causes changes in the DV – e.g., The confounding variable was fear of medication, and made the study appear that the drug had no effect when it really did have some positive effect. Experimental Research Setting – Three primary settings for experiments • Laboratory experiment- an experiment that is conducted in the controlled environment of a laboratory  Greatest control over experimental conditions and extraneous variables • Field experiment- an experiment that is conducted in a real-life or natural setting  Trade off- experimental control decreases • Internet experiment- an experiment that is conducted over the Internet  Advantages- access to large diverse populations, access to inaccessible groups, ability to bring the experiment to the participant, high statistical power by access to large populations, cost savings because no lab is needed  Disadvantages- multiple submissions, lack of experimental control, self-selection, dropout • All research settings include the manipulation of an IV 30 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Advantages of Experimental Research 1. Causal Inference – Causal description- description of the consequences of manipulating an independent variable • – 2. – 3. – – – e.g., Lexapro decreases depression shown through causal connection of drug administration and change in symptoms Causal explanation- explaining the mechanisms through which a causal relationship operates • Identifying the mediating and moderating variables that produce the causal relationship. • Identifying a causal descriptive relationship is not sufficient. • Practical importance of causal explanation also important Ability to Manipulate Variables Experimental research is the only research method in which the researcher is able to actively manipulate one or more independent variables • e.g., IV- crowding (low, medium, and high crowding conditions)., DV- social comfort • e.g., Could add second IV of group homogeneity Control over Extraneous Variables Can be achieved by bringing the experiment into the laboratory Achieved by using random assignment and matching To equate the groups on all variables except for the independent variable Disadvantages of the Experimental Approach 1. Does Not Test Effects of Nonmanipulated Variables – Many independent variables cannot be controlled by an experimenter – e.g., We cannot deliberately manipulate people’s ages,their raw genetic material, gender, the weather, past events, or terrorists’ activities. – To investigate nonmanipulable variables; we must use nonexperimental research designs. 2. Artificiality – Experiments that are conducted in the laboratory – Precludes generalization to real-life situations – May not always apply broadly beyond the lab – Field experiments and nonexperimental research can help 3. Method of Scientific Inquiry – Experimental research strongest approach for showing causal description but weaker on causal explanation – Experimental research is sometimes combined with additional approaches for elucidating causal explanation – Weak on providing a window into participants’ subjective meanings and understandings in their own words and categories – To overcome criticisms of experimental research, combine experimental research with nonexperimental quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches Nonexperimental Quantitative Research 2.5 Summarize how nonexperimental quantitative research can demonstrate relationships among variables. 31 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. – Nonexperimental quantitative research (NQR)- type of quantitative research in which the independent variable is not manipulated by the researcher • Traditionally called correlational research • Treat the term “correlational research” as a synonym for NQR • Goal  to provide an accurate description or picture of a particular situation or phenomenon  to describe the size and direction of relationships among variables. • Can focus on prediction  Examples o Who will have problems in school so that preventative actions can be made o Who will do well on standardized tests for college selection committees – More advanced and sophisticated nonexperimental approaches focus on explanation • They attempt to identify causal relationships through attempting to establish time ordering of the IV and DV and controlling for extraneous variables – Used in combination with qualitative research to identify important variables and the relationships – Crucial for investigating variables that cannot be manipulated because it is impractical, impossible, or unethical to manipulate them. • e.g., Age, gender, personality, mental health, education, divorce, abuse – Most basic form of NQR • Focuses on description • Consists of measuring variables and determining the correlation or degree of relationship that exists • Becker, Alzahabi, & Hopwood (2013)  Interested in correlates of media multitasking  College students who reported greater media multi-tasking also reported higher rates of depression and social anxiety  Relationships remained significant after controlling for personality variables – Multiple variables are used in correlational studies to improve the researcher’s ability to make predictions • Examples  Adolescent alcohol use (Litt & Lewis, 2016)  Romantic relationship competence (Tan et al.,2016)  Youth relational aggression (Lau, Marsee, Lapre, & Halmos, 2016)  Suicide (Galynker et al., 2017) – Major weakness of the NQR/correlational approach is present when someone assumes that simply because two variables are related that one variable causes the other variable – Cannot claim causation unless all three criteria in Table 2.2 are realized, and this is very difficult in NQR/correlational research – “A simple correlation (based on nonexperimental data) does not indicate causation!” Fun example – Did you know that there is a relationship between the number of fire trucks responding to a fire and the amount of fire damage? – As the number of fire trucks increases, so does the amount of fire damage. – Should we conclude that increasing the number of fire trucks causes increased fire damage? No! – There is a third variable (i.e., an extraneous variable) operating here: It is the size of fire. – As the size of fire increases, so does the number of fire trucks 32 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. – It is the size of the fire that is actually causing the amount of fire damage not the number of trucks Third variable problem- occurs when observed relationship between two variables is actually due to a confounding extraneous variable. One more example – Tea drinking is correlated with lung cancer. – People who drink more tea are less likely to get lung cancer. – Is it the tea that is preventing lung cancer? No. – Tea drinkers have a lower risk for lung cancer because they smoke less. – It is very important to remember that you cannot conclude that two variables are causally related when all you know is that the variables are correlated. – Relationship is not enough evidence. – If you want to study causation, the best way is to use an experiment with random assignment to the groups. Advantages and Disadvantages of Nonexperimental Quantitative Research – Advantages • NQR can be used to describe relationships in the world and make predictions • Advanced types of NQR can be used to probe causation when manipulation of the independent variable  Is not possible, e.g.- manipulating someone’s age  Is not ethically acceptable, e.g.- assigning adolescents to a smoking and nonsmoking condition • Most NQR/correlational research is not artificial and based on data as they naturally occur in the world which can lead to greater generalizability • NQR is sometimes easier to conduct with large samples of participants that are randomly selected from the target population – Disadvantages • Criteria 2 and 3 are very difficult to achieve without advanced designs because NQR lacks  Manipulation of an independent variable  Full control for extraneous variables based on random assignment Qualitative Research 33 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 2.6 Describe the components, strengths, and limitations of qualitative research. Qualitative research is an interpretive research approach that relies on multiple types of subjective data and investigates people in particular situations in their natural environment (Denzin & Lincoln, 2017). • Three components • Qualitative research is interpretive   Qualitative data consist of words, pictures, clothing, documents, or other nonnumerical information. The researcher continually attempts to understand the data from the participants’ subjective perspectives  Most important task of the qualitative researcher is to understand the insiders’ views  The researcher also takes the role of “objective outsider” and relates the interpretive–subjective data to the research purpose and research questions  The research questions and design are allowed to evolve, or possibly change, during the study because qualitative research is usually focused on exploring phenomena  Tends to be most useful for understanding and describing local situations and for theory generation  Schouten & McAlexander, 1995 o Participant observers of the subculture of consumerism associated with Harley-Davidson motorcycles. o Interpreted as conveying a sense “of power, fearsomeness, and invulnerability to the rider” (p. 54) • Qualitative research is multimethod  Individual’s account of a personal experience  Introspective analysis  An individual’s life story  Interviews with an individual  Observation of an individual or individuals  Written documents, photographs, and historical information  Triangulation- use of multiple data sources, research methods, investigators, and/or theories/ perspectives to cross-check and corroborate research data and conclusions  Schouten and McAlexander (1995) collected their data from formal and informal interviews, observations, and photographs of the Harley-Davidson bikers. • Qualitative research is conducted in the field or in the person’s natural setting and surroundings  e.g., A school classroom, the playground, a board meeting, or a therapy setting.  Schouten and McAlexander (1995) attended rallies of the Harley Owners Group (HOG), as well as biker swap meets and certain club meetings Strengths of qualitative research • The rich description and understanding of individuals and groups of individuals with a common identity. • Providing data from which researchers can generate and develop theoretical understandings of phenomena • Useful for the “logic of discovery” defined in the last chapter. • An excellent approach to explore new phenomena or to look at existing phenomena in new ways. • Excellent in describing in rich detail particular contexts, places, people, and groups.  During the past two decades, we have witnessed an increase in research that makes use of qualitative data  Organizational management, social psychology, health care, and education (Denzin & Lincoln, 2017; Goncalves, Rey-Marti, Roig-Tierno, & Miles, 2016; Shelton, Griffith, & Kegler, 2017) Weaknesses of qualitative research 34 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. • • • Is that it is difficult to generalize because the data are typically (but not always) based on local, particularistic data. Different qualitative researchers might provide very conflicting interpretations of the phenomena studied. Objective hypothesis testing procedures are not used. Mixed Methods Research 2.7 Explain the different major forms of mixed methods research. Mixed Methods Research- combining quantitative and qualitative research Three styles of mixed methods research (MMR) • Quantitatively driven MMR  A primarily quantitative research study where some supplemental qualitative data are collected to add additional understanding  Primary goals are still causation and generalization.  Interview and observational qualitative data are often added to provide contextual understanding of quantitative relationships seen in the quantitative data.  Qualitative data can indicate important variables that were overlooked, and provide some understanding of the complexity of the relationship.  The most popular form of MMR in psychology • Qualitatively driven MMR  A primarily qualitative research study where some supplemental quantitative data are added for increased understanding of the particular phenomenon or group.  Used by psychologists that conduct qualitative research but also understand that collecting some quantitative data can be helpful even in a qualitative study • Equal-status or integrative MMR  The goal is to capitalize on the strengths and weaknesses of both quantitative and qualitative research  Examples o A study that is trying to develop a general theory that can be adjusted to local contexts o A study that simply wants to understand the qualitative (subjective, intersubjective) and quantitative (objective) characteristics of a phenomenon (e.g., how to practice clinical psychology with individual patients) Major Methods of Data Collection 2.8 Compare and contrast the six major methods of data collection. Methods of data collection – technique for physically obtaining the data to be analyzed in a research study Six major methods of data collection 1. Tests- standardized or researcher constructed data collection instruments designed to measure personality, aptitude, achievement, and performance – Many tests are standardized and come with information on their reliability, validity, and norms for comparison 35 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. – – – – As a general rule, you should not construct a new test if one is already available. The best source of information about the tests is the published psychological research literature Useful source of tests and measures is The Directory of Unpublished Experimental Mental Measures (2008) Researchers must sometimes develop a new test to measure the specific knowledge, skills, behavior, or cognitive activity 2. Questionnaire – self-report data collection instrument completed by research participants – Measure participants’ opinions and perceptions and provide self reported demographic information. – Can be paper-and-pencil instruments or internet based – Can include closed-ended items and open-ended items 36 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. . 3. Interview- data collection method in which an interviewer asks the interviewee a series of questions, often with prompting for additional information – Conducted in face-to-face situations, over the telephone, or electronically over the Internet – Can be asynchronous or synchronous 37 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 4. Focus group- collection of data in a group situation where a moderator leads a discussion with a small group of people – A small and homogeneous group (of 6–12 people) – Focused on the discussion of a topic or issue. – Sessions generally last between 1 and 3 hours – Recorded using audio and/or videotapes. – Should not be viewed as a group interview because the emphasis is on small-group interaction and in-depth discussion among the participants about the issues being studied. – Especially useful for exploring ideas and obtaining in-depth information about how people think about an issue. 38 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 5. Observation- researcher watches and records events or behavioral patterns of people – It is important to collect observational data (in addition to attitudinal data) because what people say is not always what they do! – Naturalistic observation- observations done in real-world settings. – Laboratory observation – observations conducted in a lab or other controlled environment set up by the researcher. – Quantitative Research Observation • Time-interval sampling – observations are recorded during preselected time intervals • Event sampling- observations are recorded every time a particular event occurs – Qualitative Research Observations • Complete observer – the researcher observes from the “outside” and, if the setting is a public one, the researcher does not inform the participants that he or she is studying them. 39 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. • Observer-as-participant – the researcher spends a limited amount of time “inside” the situation and obtains informed consent to observe the participants for a research study. • Participant-as-observer – the researcher spends extensive time “inside” the group or situation and always informs the participants that they are being studied and obtains informed consent. • Complete participant – the researcher becomes a full participating member of the group. In most cases, the group must be informed and permission granted. – Things to remember 1. Make sure all observers are well trained. 2. Be sensitive to your appearance and how people being observed react to you. 3. Establish rapport, but do not promise anything you cannot deliver. 4. Be reflexive, unobtrusive, empathetic, and alert at all times. 5. Find an effective way to record what is observed (e.g., note taking, tape recordings). 6. Try to validate and corroborate what you think you are seeing. 7. Make observations in multiple settings. 8. Spend enough time in the “field” to obtain sufficient information. 6. Existing or Secondary Data- collection of data that were left behind or originally used for something different than the current research study – Documents- personal and official documents that were left behind  e.g., Letters, diaries, family pictures, official documents – Physical data- any material thing created or left behind by humans that might provide clues to some event or phenomenon 40 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.  e.g., The contents of someone’s trash, wear on the tiles in museums, wear on library books, and soil and DNA on clothes – Archived research data- data (usually quantitative) originally used for a different research project and stored in a way that others can use it  e.g., The Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) Multiple-choice questions 1. What is the main difference between experimental and nonexperimental research approaches? a. the former always uses qualitative data while the latter always uses quantitative data b. nonexperimental research is done by social scientists while natural scientists do experimental research 41 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. c. nonexperimental research involves manipulating variables but experimental research does not *d. experimental research is designed to establish cause-and-effect relationships but nonexperimental research focuses on describing something 2. ________ is when a researcher actively intervenes in the world by introducing a causal condition. a. Qualitative *b. Manipulation c. Quantitative d. Numerical 3. ________ studies collect numerical data, while ________ studies collect non-numerical data. a. Qualitative; quantitative b. Experimental; nonexperimental *c. Quantitative; qualitative d. Quantity ; quality 4. Which of the following is an example of data collected in a quantitative research study? a. pictures b. ratings of teacher effectiveness c. reaction time *d. b and c 5. Which of the following is NOT an example of data collected in a quantitative research study? a. number of words a one year old can understand b. parents’ ratings of their child’s language development c. the number of words a one year old can say *d. recording of a one year old talking 6. Which of the following is an example of a categorical variable? a. reaction time *b. gender c. age d. height 7. Which of the following is an example of a quantitative variable? a. gender b. religion *c. college GPA d. relationship status 42 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 8. According to Creswell (1998) and Patton (1990) which of the following is true? a. Quantitative data provides an incomplete analysis of what is being investigated. b. Researchers should choose to use either quantitative or qualitative data c. Qualitative data adds an additional level of understanding *d. a and c 9. ________ is research in which quantitative and qualitative data and approaches are combined in a single study. a. Multiple method *b. Mixed method c. Multi method d. Variable method 10. Dr. Smarsh wants to find out how many students on his campus are affiliated with different spiritual/religious groups. He sends out a survey to students through their email and has them report this information. Which of the following describes the type of information Dr. Smarsh is asking for from students? a. manipulation b. constant c. method *d. variable 11. Dr. Johnson wants to investigate eating disorders in teenage girls. She is only recruiting girls age 13-19 years. In this example, gender is a ________. a. variable *b. constant c. manipulation d. method 12. The ________ variable is the presumed cause of another variable while the _________ variable is the presumed effect. *a. independent; dependent b. dependent; independent c. independent; extraneous d. dependent; mediating 13. In a study designed to identify factors involved in helping behavior, a man on a crowded bus clutches his chest and falls to the floor. In one of the conditions of the study the man is clean shaven and wearing a suit; in the other condition he has a scraggly beard and is wearing a dirty t-shirt and jeans. The amount of time it takes for someone to help the man is recorded. In this example the independent variable is a. the amount of time it takes someone to help. *b. the appearance of the man. c. the participants in the study. 43 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. d. how crowded the bus is. 14. In a study designed to identify factors involved in helping behavior, a man on a crowded bus clutches his chest and falls to the floor. In one of the conditions of the study the man is clean shaven and wearing a suit; in the other condition he has a scraggly beard and is wearing a dirty t-shirt and jeans. The amount of time it takes for someone to help the man is recorded. In this example the dependent variable is *a. the amount of time it takes someone to help. b. the appearance of the man. c. the participants in the study. d. how crowded the bus is. 15. A(n) ________ variable is one that can compete with the independent variable in explaining the outcome of the experiment. a. independent *b. extraneous c. dependent d. moderating 16. A researcher is interested in the effects of teaching styles on learning. She randomly assigns students to either a lecture-based class taught at 8:00 a.m. or a discussion-based class taught at 2:00 p.m. Her results reveal that students in the discussion-based class performed better than those in the lecture-based class. In this example the time that the class is taught could be considered a(n) ________ variable, making it impossible to establish a causal connection between teaching method and classroom performance. a. independent b. dependent *c. extraneous d. mediating 17. A(n) ________ variable occurs in between two other variables in a causal chain. a. independent b. dependent c. extraneous *d. mediating 18. A(n) ________ variable changes the relationship between the IV and DV. a. independent *b. moderating c. extraneous d. mediating 19. Several recent studies have found that moderate drinkers of alcohol have lowered levels of heart disease risk than non-drinkers. It has been hypothesized that moderate drinking may reduce stress which in turn may lead to a reduction in the risk of heart disease. In this example lowered stress levels would be considered a(n) 44 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. ________ variable. a. independent b. dependent c. extraneous *d. mediating 20. A(n) ________ variable specifies how a causal relationship between two variables is different depending on a particular situation or circumstance. For example, if a researcher finds that a new experimental drug is effective in alleviating depression in young adult but not older adults. a. mediating *b. moderating c. extraneous d. independent 21. A(n) ________ variable is a variable that varies by type or kind. a. quantitative b. dependent *c. categorical d. mediating 22. A(n) ________ variable is a variable that varies by degree or amount. *a. quantitative b. dependent c. categorical d. mediating 23. Dr. Bassett includes a question on one of her Qualtrics surveys that asks college students to report their college major. Which type of variable is college major? a. quantitative b. dependent *c. categorical d. mediating 24. Dr. Harper is interested in anxiety as it relates to college life. She has students complete a 10 item standardized measure of anxiety and also asks them questions related to their life while completing college. Which type of variable is anxiety level? *a. quantitative b. dependent c. categorical d. mediating 45 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 25. According to your text there are three conditions for making justified claims of cause and effect. Which of the following is NOT one of these conditions? a. the independent and dependent variables must be related *b. the dependent variable must be manipulated by the researcher c. the independent variable must precede the dependent variable d. no other plausible explanations for the relation between the independent and dependent variables should exist 26. An effect is a. a reaction that a person makes b. the difference between what you want to happen and what does happen c. the difference between what does happen and what you want to happen *d. the difference between what would have happened in the absence of a treatment and what did actually happen with the treatment 27. A cause is *a. a factor that makes something else exist or change. b. fully determined by correlation. c. determined by change in the dependent variable. d. fully deterministic not probabilistic. 28. Mary has determined that height and weight are related to each other. On average taller individuals weight more. Which of the criteria for making the claim of causation does this confirm? *a. Criterion 1 b. Criterion 2 c. Criterion 3 d. none of the criteria 29. Bob has determined that lightning precedes (comes before) thunder. Which of the criteria for making the claim of causation does this confirm? a. Criterion 1 *b. Criterion 2 c. Criterion 3 d. none of the criteria 30. Which of the following research designs is the most powerful and strongest way to meet the three criteria to establish cause and effect? a. correlation b. regression c. survey *d. experiment 46 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 31. Which of the following does NOT happen when conducting an experiment? a. Manipulation of an independent variable *b. Subjectively observe the dependent variable to see what happens. c. Measuring the effect on a dependent variable. d. Controlling the experimental situation 32. If random assignment is NOT used in an experiment which of the following variables can destroy the integrity of the research study? *a. confounding variable b. independent variable c. dependent variable d. control variable 33. Experimental research, as opposed to nonexperimental research, allows us to make statements about causeand-effect relationships. Why is this so? a. Experimental research involves studying only how two variables covary. b. Experimental research uses statistical analysis. *c. In experimental research, we can observe the effects of manipulating variables under controlled conditions. d. Experimental research uses objective observations. 34. Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of a psychological experiment? a. it involves objective observation b. variables are manipulated in a highly controlled environment *c. it always takes place in a laboratory d. one or more factors are varied while the rest are held constant 35. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of the experimental approach? *a. proving your hypothesis is correct b. inferring a causal relationship c. manipulating precisely one or more variables d. controlling extraneous variables 36. Causal ________ is a description of the consequences of manipulating an independent variable, while causal ________ is explaining the mechanisms through which a causal relationship operates. a. explanation; descriptive b. narrative; illumination *c. descriptive; explanation d. identification; relationship 37. Which of the following helps to create the advantage of “control over extraneous variables” in experimental research? 47 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. a. bringing the experiment into the laboratory b. using random assignment c. equating the groups on all variables except the IV *d. all of the above 38. What is the most critical aspect of the experimental method that allows us to make statements about cause and effect based on experimental data? a. real-life setting b. operationalism c. objectivity *d. control 39. As noted in your text, one disadvantage of the experimental approach is the inability to: a. control extraneous variables b. establish cause and effect *c. assess the effects of variables that cannot be manipulated d. make objective observations 40. According to your text, what is probably the most commonly cited disadvantage of using laboratory experiments to learn about human behavior? *a. because they tend to be done in highly controlled settings, their results may not be generalizable to the real world b. with their mechanistic approach to human behavior, they ignore the participants’ thoughts and emotions c. operational definitions reduce the abstract concept to a trivial level, making broad interpretations difficult at best d. because they tend to use other species, the results are usually irrelevant to human behavior. 41. Which of the following would not be considered a field experiment? a. effects of computer-based instruction on computing confidence in a teacher training program *b. effects of music on laboratory memory performance among introductory psychology students c. effects of self-selected incentives on productivity among auto workers d. effects of television violence on playground aggression among kindergarteners. 42. What is the main difference between experimentation done in a field setting and experimentation done in a laboratory? a. in field experimentation, variables are not manipulated b. in field experimentation, no attempt is made to control extraneous variables *c. in field experimentation, the setting is “real life” and not contrived d. in field experimentation, one can study only a small number of people 43. Compared with field research, which of the following is true about laboratory research? 48 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. a. laboratory research achieves greater naturalism b. laboratory research allows for greater generalizability of research *c. laboratory research achieves a greater degree of control over extraneous variables d. field research does not allow for direct manipulation of variables 44. An advantage of doing experiments in the laboratory over the field setting is that a. participants can be randomly assigned in the lab. *b. more extraneous variables can be held constant in the lab. c. variables can be manipulated in the lab. d. there is no selection bias in the lab. 45. Why might laboratory experiments be criticized as less than valuable and potentially problematic? a. they are subjective and that leads to a lack of confidence in results *b. laboratory-based results may not generalize to the “real world” c. knowledge gained in a lab is not informative d. we can never really understand human behavior 46. An increasing number of researchers are conducting experiments over the Internet because of the advantages it affords. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using the Internet to conduct and experiment? a. ease of access to culturally diverse populations b. having access to a large sample of individuals c. a tremendous cost savings over other types of experiments *d. there can be multiple submissions to the study by the same person 47. An increasing number of researchers are conducting experiments over the Internet because of the advantages it affords. Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of using the Internet to conduct and experiment? *a. the experiment is brought to the participant instead of the participant coming to the experiment b. there is a less experimental control c. there is a greater probability of self-selection d. there is a greater probability of dropout of participants 48. Which of the following experimental research settings does NOT include the manipulation of an IV? a. laboratory experiments b. field experiments c. internet experiments d. all of the above include the manipulation of an IV 49. Nonexperimental quantitative research is particularly useful for *a. describing relationships and making predictions b. deciding which variable causes which effect. 49 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. c. manipulating the IV d. controlling relevant environmental variables. 50. Which of the following is a disadvantage of nonexperimental quantitative research? a. an inability to determine if two variables are associated b. we cannot determine the strength of a relationship c. nonexperimental quantitative research tends to be artificial *d. we cannot establish cause and effect with a correlational study. 51. In chapter 1, we learned that the main objectives of scientific research are description, explanation, prediction, and control. Nonexperimental quantitative research is particularly well suited for which objectives? *a. description and prediction b. explanation and control c. prediction and control d. description, explanation, prediction, and control 52. The “third variable” issue refers to *a. the possibility that two variables are correlated because both are caused by a third variable. b. the ambiguity introduced when doing more complex research with more than two variables. c. not considering “age” as a variable when doing developmental research. d. the influence of the IV in quantitative experimental research. 53. The third variable problem refers to a. correlations that are not reliable. b. correlations that are not valid *c. correlations between two variables that exist only because of their relations with another variable d. correlations must include a minimum of three factors to be reliable. 54. Ramon determines that in his neighborhood “amount of ice cream consumed” and “number of violent crimes” are positively correlated — the more ice cream consumed, the more crimes are committed. He concludes that something in ice cream leads people to commit violent crimes. What has Ramon overlooked? *a. the “third variable” problem as some other variable could lead to an increase in both ice cream consumption and violent crime b. the reactive effect as the people in his neighborhood were probably aware that he was observing them, and altered their behavior toward what they thought he wanted to see c. his observations are qualitative and therefore inappropriate d. he collected his data only after-the-fact 55. If we find that two variables are correlated, which of the following conclusions would be unjustified? *a. we know that changes in one of the variables cause changes in the other b. we know that we can predict to some extent the value of one variable if we know the value of the other c. we know that the two variables covary, i.e., change in value together 50 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. d. we know that we have quantified a relationship between the two variables 56. Although we cannot establish causality from nonexperimental quantitative research, statistical techniques are available to help clarify relationships. One of these is known as ________ and involves identifying multiple variables that are related to a single outcome either directly or indirectly (through mediating variables). *a. path analysis b. triangulation c. multiple covariance d. test of inference 57. Advanced types of nonexperimental quantitative research can be used to probe causation when manipulation of the IV is a. not possible b. not ethically acceptable *c. a and b d. neither a or b 58. Dr. Frasier is a developmental research psychologist who is interested in providing evidence that children process word information (DV) differently depending on their age (IV). Which of the following designs can Dr. Frasier conduct? a. qualitative research design *b. nonexperimental research design c. mixed method design d. true experimental design 59. Dr. Walton is a biological psychologist interested in the effect of alcohol (IV) on memory (DV). Dr. Walton realized she cannot conduct a true experimental design that includes random assignment of alcohol doses to participants. Which of the following is the reason Dr. Walton has to conduct a nonexperimental quantitative research design? a. A true experimental design is not at all possible b. A true experimental design is not practical *c. A true experimental design is not ethically acceptable. d. A true experimental design is too expensive. 60. Qualitative research can be described in the following way: a. it is objective, involves multiple methods, and focuses on people in subcultures b. it is opinionated, involves two specific methods, and focuses on cultures, not people c. it is emotional, involves historical methods, and focuses on people with odd cultural practices *d. it is interpretive, involves multiple methods, and focuses on people in their natural environment 61. Qualitative research is interpretive, which involves *a. extracting information from non-numerical data. 51 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. b. using objective measurements. c. quantifying non-numerical data. d. using only rating scales 62. ________ research is primarily descriptive and useful in theory generation ________ while research is more useful in testing hypotheses. a. Quantitative; qualitative *b. Qualitative; quantitative c. Experimental; correlational d. Cross-sectional; longitudinal 63. Dr. Parker is interested in the culture of individuals who attend comic conventions and attends many conventions to attempt to understand the perspective of the participants. Dr. Parker takes on the role of ________ and relates the subjective data to the purpose and questions of the research. a. subjective observer *b. objective outsider c. participant outsider d. subjective interviewer 64. Dr. Abbott is conducting a qualitative research study on elementary school playgrounds. She wants to gain as much information as possible related to elementary school playgrounds. She uses multiple sources of data from elementary school students, teachers, and administrators as well as collaborates with other investigators in other school districts. She and her collaborators conduct interviews, take photographs, and observe individuals during playground time. Which of the following qualitative research concepts is Dr. Abbott utilizing? a. interpretation b. context dependency c. local hypothesis generation *d. triangulation 65. Qualitative researchers use many methods in part to a. find one that produces the expected outcome. b. make the process more like an experiment. *c. provide a better understanding of the phenomenon being investigated. d. verify their quantitative observations. 66. Which of the following is NOT a strength of qualitative research a. a useful approach to explore new phenomena b. excellent way to describe a phenomena in rich detail *c. easy to generalize finding to other contexts or locations d. useful approach to look at existing phenomena in a new way 67. Qualitative research findings are _____ to generalize because the data are typically based on local particular 52 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. data. *a. difficult b. easy c. neutral d. slow 68. Which of the following could be considered a weakness of qualitative research? a. because it is typically conducted in an artificial laboratory setting the findings may not apply to the real world b. results from qualitative research are overly objective – not allowing for interpretation of individual participants perspectives c. it is not particularly useful for generating theoretical ideas *d. different researchers may provide different interpretations of the same data 69. Of the three styles of mixed methods research (MMR) which is primarily quantitative and is supplemented with qualitative data for additional understanding? *a. quantitatively driven MMR b. qualitatively driven MMR c. equal status MMR d. integrative MMR 70. Of the three styles of mixed methods research (MMR) which is primarily qualitative and is supplemented with quantitative data for additional understanding? a. quantitatively driven MMR *b. qualitatively driven MMR c. equal status MMR d. integrative MMR 71. Of the three styles of mixed methods research (MMR) which is equal parts quantitative and qualitative data? a. quantitatively driven MMR b. qualitatively driven MMR *c. integrative MMR d. divergent MMR 72. Dr. Antal is researching a new therapy technique for victims of sexual assault through the use of journaling about their trauma. In her final published manuscript on her study she reports many quantitative aspects of her data including comparing a journal and non journal group of participants. She also reports some excerpts from the journals to give the research some context. She sees all aspects of her reported results as equally important. Which type of mixed methods research (MMR) would you consider her study? a. quantitatively driven MMR b. qualitatively driven MMR *c. integrative MMR d. divergent MMR 53 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 73. Which of the following methods of data collection is used to measure personality, aptitude, achievement, or performance? a. observation b. focus groups *c. tests d. secondary data 74. Which of the following is a weakness of using tests at a method of data collection? a. expense b. reactivity c. biased questions *d. all of the above 75. Which of the following is NOT a strength of using tests as a method of data collection? a. standardization *b. expense c. group administration d. comparability 76. Which of the following is the most favorable direction to take when using tests as a method of data collection? a. develop your own test b. find an already developed test and create your own version of it. *c. look for a valid and reliable test in publish psychological research literature d. pay an undergraduate student to develop a test for you 77. Dr. Konrad is conducting a research study in which he is collecting information on attitudes and opinions from a large group of individuals using both closed and open ended questions. Which of the following methods of data collection is Dr. Konrad most likely using? a. interview b. focus group c. existing data *d. questionnaire. 78. Which of the following is NOT a weakness of using questionnaires as a method of data collections? *a. high validity and reliability b. nonresponse to some items c. socially desirable responses d. low response rate 79. ________ are a paper and pencil self report method of collecting attitude and opinion information, while ________ are a face to face self report method for collecting the same information. 54 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. *a. Questionnaires; interviews b. Tests; interviews c. Interviews; questionnaires d. Questionnaires; focus groups 80. Which of the following is a strength of a face to face interview over a paper and pencil questionnaire? a. high measurement validity b. high reactivity *c. opportunity for clearing up ambiguity in responses d. less expensive 81. Which of the following is a weakness of interviews as a method of data collection a. allows for probing and follow up questions from the interviewer *b. can be expensive and time consuming c. telephone interviews can give the researcher quick turnaround d. high validity with interview protocols 82. Focus groups are useful in which of the following types of research? a. experimental *b. qualitative c. quantitative d. correlational 83. ________ observation is done in the real world, while ________ observation is done in a controlled environment. a. Laboratory; naturalistic b. Event; time-sampling c. Participant; complete *d. Naturalistic; laboratory 84. Which of the following is NOT a weakness of observation as a major method of data collection? a. reactivity *b. typically dominated by one participant c. can be expensive d. data analysis can be time consuming. 85. During ________ sampling observations are recorded during preselected time intervals, but during ________ sampling observations are recorded every time a particular event occurs. a. complete; observer b. naturalistic; laboratory c. focus; test 55 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. *d. time interval; event 86. Dr. Knight is conducting a qualitative research study on the culture of individuals who get tattoos. She is currently debating on which type of observations she wants to conduct as part of her study. If she chooses to be a complete ________ she will observe from the outside and not inform the participants that she is studying them. But she may choose complete ________ in which she becomes a full member of the group and informs them of her observations in order to gain permission. a. participant; observer *b. observer; participant c. member; bystander d. bystander; member 87. Which of the following methods of data collection is subject to reactivity? a. questionnaires b. interviews c. focus groups *d. all of the above 88. ________ data is data that was left behind by another research or collected for some other purpose. a. Primary b. Interview *c. Secondary d. Observation 89. Tammy decided to explore public health data to find the percentage of individuals who have contracted sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as part of her thesis on program evaluation of educational materials available to college students on STDs. This is an example of using a. correlational data b. qualitative data c. interview data *d. existing data 90. ________ is data that originally was used for a different research project and was stored in a way that others can use it. a. observations *b. archived data c. documents d. physical data Vocabulary Define the following terms: 56 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Archived research data Categorical variable Causal description Causal explanation Causation Cause Cause-and-effect relationship Confounding variable Constant Correlational research Dependent variable (DV) Document Effect Equal-status or integrative MMR Event sampling Existing or secondary data Experimental research Extraneous variable Field experiment Focus group Independent variable (IV) Internet experiment Interview Laboratory experiment Laboratory observation Manipulation Mediating variable Method of data collection Mixed methods research Moderator variable Naturalistic observation Nonexperimental quantitative research (NQR) Nonexperimental research Nonnumerical data Questionnaire Tests Third variable problem Time-interval sampling Triangulation Variable Numerical data Observation Physical data Psychological experiment Qualitative research Qualitatively driven MMR Quantitative research Quantitative variable Quantitatively driven MMR 57 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Essay questions 1. Identify two non-experimental research techniques discussed in your textbook. Describe the major advantages and limitations of each. 2. Compare and contrast quantitative and qualitative research. Give an example of each and then give an example of a research study that combines both in one study. 3. Describe a simple experiment (do not use one discussed in your text) and identify the independent and dependent variables. 4. Define and distinguish mediating and moderating variables. 5. Explain the phrase “cause and effect.” 6. How does your book define a psychological experiment? Discuss each of the four important components of this definition. 7. List and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the experimental approach. 8. One of the advantages of the experimental approach is the ability to control extraneous variables. What are extraneous variables? Describe a simple experiment illustrating how extraneous variables might be controlled. Why is the control of extraneous variables important? 9. Experiments are sometimes criticized because they often take place in highly artificial laboratory settings where the experimenter has a lot of control over the environment. Explain why this is actually an advantage in establishing a causal relationship between two variables. 10. How does a field experiment differ in practice from naturalistic observation? How does a field experiment differ from a laboratory experiment? What are the strengths and weaknesses associated with field experimentation? 11. Compare and contrast laboratory experiments, field experiments and Internet experiments. Include the relative advantages and disadvantages of each. 12. What is the distinguishing characteristic of nonexperimental quantitative research? Identify the methods presented in your text as examples of nonexperimental quantitative research. 13. What is the third variable problem, and why is it critical to the understanding of the misuse of correlational evidence to imply causation? 14. What is natural manipulation research? Explain how natural manipulation research is similar to and different from correlational research. 15. What is qualitative research? What are the strengths and limitations of this type of research? 16. Explain the three types of missed methods research? Give an example of each type. 58 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 17. What are the most commonly used tests in psychological research? What are some strengths and weaknesses of using tests as a method of data collection? 18. What is a questionnaire? Give an example question that you might find on a questionnaire. What are some strengths and weaknesses of using questionnaires as a method of data collection? 19. How do questionnaires and interviews differ? What are some advantages of interviewing over using a questionnaire? 20. What type of research takes advantage of the focus group method of data collection? Describe a basic focus group. What are some strengths and weaknesses of using focus groups as a method of data collection? 21. Describe and give an example of the four types of qualitative observation. 22. Give some examples of existing or secondary data. What are some strengths and weaknesses of using existing or secondary data as a method of data collection? Classroom Exercise Suggestions 1. One of the primary goals of this chapter is to provide students with an overview of the many different research approaches and data collection methods available to researchers. Remind students that much of the information contained in the chapter will be explored more fully in other sections of the text. To bring home the point that many topics can be explored in multiple ways, you might use one of the activities below: • Ask the class to generate ideas of student behaviors that they would be interested in studying (e.g., chatting on Facebook, partying, couples holding hands etc.). Lead the discussion toward a single behavior that could be researched. After a behavior is selected, this should lead to a discussion of operational definitions as you define precisely the behavior that will be studied. This is a good opportunity to point out that many psychological constructs can be operationalized in multiple ways. After the target behavior has been properly defined, have students think of the different research approaches presented in the chapter and how they might use these to study the behavior. Depending on the behavior chosen, students should have no trouble identifying several different methods that could be used. Finally, you should also prompt them to relate each method to an objective of science (description, prediction, etc.) presented in Chapter 1. • As an alternative to the activity above, you might provide groups of students with a simple hypothesis and ask them to brainstorm ideas of how it could be tested. Providing each group with the same hypothesis will give you (and the other students) an opportunity to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each suggested multiple research approaches. • I use one or both of the activities above and then continue to reference them throughout the semester. As we discuss more advanced designs, our original research idea becomes more and more complex. 2. At this point in the semester, it will be difficult for most students to decipher scientific journal articles, but one easy way to help them distinguish different research methods is by utilizing popular media reports of scientific research. This also encourages students to exercise their critical thinking skills – an important goal of the course. There are several ways you might incorporate this in your discussion: 59 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. • Have students bring to class popular media reports of scientific research (e.g., from magazines, newspapers, or from online sites like Google news). Ask students to indicate the type of research approach used (e.g., experimental or correlational), the most important results of the study, and any explicit or implied implications of the findings. In many cases. Students will find it difficult to determine the type of research design that was used in the original study (e.g., correlational or experimental). They may also find unwarranted implications of causality – for instance. When the original research design was simply correlational. • Jonathan Mueller maintains a very good Web site containing links to media reports (and often misrepresentations) of scientific research. In many instances, research findings from correlational studies are reported in a way that implies causality. In addition to the article links, this site also includes multiple student activities that would be appropriate to accompany your discussion of this chapter. http://jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/100/correlation_or_causation.htm • Finally, Hall and Seery (2006) present an activity in which students compare media reporting of a research finding to the original source. They report that the activity is effective in making students more aware of the limitations of media reporting of research findings. Hall, S.S. & Seery, B.L. (2006). Behind the facts: Helping students evaluate media reports of psychological research. Teaching of Psychology, 33, 101-104. 3. The text points out that nonexperimental quantitative research is helpful in accomplishing the scientific objectives of description and prediction. To extend this discussion, you might describe how nonexperimental quantitative research often stimulates hypotheses that are tested in an experimental manner – thus establishing causality and accomplishing the objective of explanation. For example, correlational research finding a positive association between playing violent video games and aggressive behavior is difficult to interpret because of issues of direction of effect and potential third variables. However, these findings have stimulated a wealth of experimental research investigating the precise nature of the causal relationship. For the correlational findings below, have students generate ways to test the relationship experimentally. The discussion should naturally lead to issues of random assignment and control of extraneous variables. This may also serve as a preview of ethical issues involved in using random assignment. • Students who sit at the front of the classroom make better grades than those that sit in the back. • Researchers have found a positive relationship between the degree of satisfaction couples feel in their relationship and the amount of time they spend together. • There is a negative relationship between exercise and anxiety. • Participation in leisure activities has been associated with a lower risk of dementia in older adults. 4. The Society for Teaching of Psychology has an online Teaching of Psychology Idea Exchange page. This link http://topix.teachpsych.org/w/page/19980983/Correlations is to a page dedicated entirely to spurious correlations and may be helpful in discussing the third variable problem. 5. Simons and Levin (1998) demonstrate change blindness in a field experiment. A video demonstrating the field study can be found at the YouTube link below. 60 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. qNJZw Simons, D. J., & Levin, D. T. (1998). Failure to detect changes to people during a real-world interaction. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 5(4), 644-649. doi:10.3758/BF03208840 6. The Web site Clips for Class (www.clipsforclass.com) has an extensive list of videos for use in many different psychology classes. Under the Research tab there are several videos that could help students in this chapter. They are listed below with descriptions found on the Web site and suggested questions for students after watching each clip. • Research Methods  This video covers the different research methods in psychology: introspection, case studies, survey research, archival research, and experimental research.  What is the oldest research method? Why was the method effective? In what ways was it limited? The headless professor mentions archival research in his lesson. What is it? How can it be done on the Internet? Give an example or two. Surveys often provide correlational data. Can experimental research be done on paper? Explain your reasoning. • Get a Research Method  Differences between qualitative and quantitative research are covered in this spoof of the humorous Apple commercials. This student project does mention some limitations of each, but appears to be biased toward qualitative research.  Using this commercial as your evidence, which research method do you favor—quantitative or qualitative? Why? Evaluate the limitations noted in this short commercial. Which of the limitations is most distressing to you as a researcher? Why? • Kinsey- Movie Trailer  A montage of movie scenes is presented, but of note are the scenes depicting the research method the interview. Kinsey introduces himself and trains his research assistants on how to act when participants are being interviewed.  Kinseys interview techniques provided vivid data on the sexual practices of people in the late 1940s and 1950s.  What advice do you think he gave his research assistants on how to interview participants effectively? What advantages and disadvantages would you anticipate with data obtained from face-to-face interviews? The Worlds Deepest Bin TheFunTheory.com (example of a field experiment)  TheFunTheory.com conducts an experiment in order to get park passersby to throw their trash in a bin by making it a fun activity.  The experimenter installs a motion-detection device that triggers an entertaining sound when rubbish is thrown into the bin. During a one day period 72 k of trash is thrown into the bin; a nearby trash bin receives less than half that amount. What kind of experiment is being conducted in this video? Independent and Dependent Variables  This video explains the difference between independent and dependent variables using the example of the length of your hair based on how many days it has been since you got a haircut. What other common task could you make into a dependency relationship? • • 61 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 7. YouTube video explaining research using The Strange Situation developed by Mary Ainsworth. Good demonstration of structured laboratory observation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsewNrHUHU 8. The Discovering Psychology series (2001) provides an online viewing of the video “Understanding Research.” Description from the Web site “This program examines how we know what we know. You’ll explore the scientific method, the distinction between fact and theory, and the different ways in which data are collected and applied, both in labs and in real-world settings.” http://www.learner.org/series/discoveringpsychology/02/e02expand.html 62 Copyright © 2020 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.