PSY 121 Exam 2 questions with
verified solutions
Quantitative Approach to observations - ANS ✔Deductive
looks at previous literature
Focuses on specific behaviors that can be easily quantified
Generalizes to one or more populations
Large sample
Rarely modifies instrument during study
Preferred when time and money are limited
Qualitative Approach to observations - ANS ✔Inductive approach
Avoids previous literature
Focuses on behavior in natural setting
Less interest in generalizing results
Small sample; limited setting
Modifies instrument during study
Preferred when little is known about the topic of interest
What are the 4 methods to Conducting Non-Experimental Research? - ANS ✔Naturalistic
Observation
Systematic Observation
Case Study
Archival Research
,Naturalistic Observation - ANS ✔Researcher makes observations in a natural setting (field)
-Observations are made over an extended period of time
-Researchers do NOT attempt to influence what occurs in the settings
-Used for describing and understanding how people in a social or cultural setting live, work and
experience the setting
Example: Instances of aggression that occurs in bars in a large city on weekend nights (Graham
et al., 2006)
Example: study of parent-child interaction
-May involve videotaping the parent and child in their home as they go about their daily routine
or perform an activity given to them by the researcher.
-These videotaped interactions can then be taken back to the laboratory and analyzed using a
variety of techniques in order to extract the desired information from them.
Description & Interpretation of Data in Naturalistic Observation - ANS ✔-Techniques include:
observing, listening, interviewing and surveying documents
-Analysis consists of a summary of the observations and interpretations of findings
-2 Goals: Describe the setting, events and people observed. Analyze what was observed -
generate hypotheses that explain the data*
Multiple confirmations-Events that occur several times, Information reported by two or more
people
-Data is primarily qualitative, but can be quantitative (ex. family size, age, income)
-Write a final report of results
Issues with Naturalistic Observation - ANS ✔Participation: Should the researcher be a
participant or non-participant in the setting?
-Nonparticipant=unbiased observations
-Participant=Can experience events in the same way as natural participants, Lose objectivity
-Concealment: Should the researcher conceal their purpose from other people in the setting?
-Nonconcealed Bias (reactivity)
, -Preferred ethically
-Concealed
-Valid data
Strengths / Limitations of Naturalistic Observation - ANS ✔Usefulness: Can NOT be used to
study all issues
-More useful for studying social settings
-Less useful for studying well-defined hypotheses
Difficult to conduct:
-Time consuming; difficult to schedule
Example: Aggression in bars study: 1,300 nights in 118 bars
-Complicated analysis: Sort through a great deal of data
-Develop hypotheses to explain data
-Make sure all data are consistent with hypotheses
-Must reanalyze and revise hypotheses
Limitation of naturalistic observation - ANS ✔Negative Case AnalysisAn examination of
observations that do not fit the hypotheses developed by the researcher
Revise hypotheses
-Throw out hypotheses and start the analysis process all over again
Systematic Observation - ANS ✔Careful observation of one or more behaviors in a particular
setting
Similar to naturalistic observations, but different in that:
-Only interested in a few specific behaviors
-Observations are quantifiable
-Prior hypotheses have been developed
verified solutions
Quantitative Approach to observations - ANS ✔Deductive
looks at previous literature
Focuses on specific behaviors that can be easily quantified
Generalizes to one or more populations
Large sample
Rarely modifies instrument during study
Preferred when time and money are limited
Qualitative Approach to observations - ANS ✔Inductive approach
Avoids previous literature
Focuses on behavior in natural setting
Less interest in generalizing results
Small sample; limited setting
Modifies instrument during study
Preferred when little is known about the topic of interest
What are the 4 methods to Conducting Non-Experimental Research? - ANS ✔Naturalistic
Observation
Systematic Observation
Case Study
Archival Research
,Naturalistic Observation - ANS ✔Researcher makes observations in a natural setting (field)
-Observations are made over an extended period of time
-Researchers do NOT attempt to influence what occurs in the settings
-Used for describing and understanding how people in a social or cultural setting live, work and
experience the setting
Example: Instances of aggression that occurs in bars in a large city on weekend nights (Graham
et al., 2006)
Example: study of parent-child interaction
-May involve videotaping the parent and child in their home as they go about their daily routine
or perform an activity given to them by the researcher.
-These videotaped interactions can then be taken back to the laboratory and analyzed using a
variety of techniques in order to extract the desired information from them.
Description & Interpretation of Data in Naturalistic Observation - ANS ✔-Techniques include:
observing, listening, interviewing and surveying documents
-Analysis consists of a summary of the observations and interpretations of findings
-2 Goals: Describe the setting, events and people observed. Analyze what was observed -
generate hypotheses that explain the data*
Multiple confirmations-Events that occur several times, Information reported by two or more
people
-Data is primarily qualitative, but can be quantitative (ex. family size, age, income)
-Write a final report of results
Issues with Naturalistic Observation - ANS ✔Participation: Should the researcher be a
participant or non-participant in the setting?
-Nonparticipant=unbiased observations
-Participant=Can experience events in the same way as natural participants, Lose objectivity
-Concealment: Should the researcher conceal their purpose from other people in the setting?
-Nonconcealed Bias (reactivity)
, -Preferred ethically
-Concealed
-Valid data
Strengths / Limitations of Naturalistic Observation - ANS ✔Usefulness: Can NOT be used to
study all issues
-More useful for studying social settings
-Less useful for studying well-defined hypotheses
Difficult to conduct:
-Time consuming; difficult to schedule
Example: Aggression in bars study: 1,300 nights in 118 bars
-Complicated analysis: Sort through a great deal of data
-Develop hypotheses to explain data
-Make sure all data are consistent with hypotheses
-Must reanalyze and revise hypotheses
Limitation of naturalistic observation - ANS ✔Negative Case AnalysisAn examination of
observations that do not fit the hypotheses developed by the researcher
Revise hypotheses
-Throw out hypotheses and start the analysis process all over again
Systematic Observation - ANS ✔Careful observation of one or more behaviors in a particular
setting
Similar to naturalistic observations, but different in that:
-Only interested in a few specific behaviors
-Observations are quantifiable
-Prior hypotheses have been developed
