PSY 326 Case studies, archival research, and observational research
DQ
Descriptive Research. Evaluate and briefly discuss the three descriptive designs presented in Chapter 3 (case studies, archival research, and observational research). Be sure to discuss the strengths and weaknesses associated with each approach. Which of these three approaches do you think
is the best descriptive design and why? Finally, recommend research questions or topics for which each of these designs would be effective in investigating.
Critique of a Research Study
Critique of a Research Study. Read the full texts of the study you selected in Week One and the sources you included in your Week Two bibliography. Evaluate each source and write a critique of the study using the textbook and articles from the Week Two assignment to support your
evaluation. Use the following section headings and content in your paper.
I. Introduction
• State the purpose of the paper. Clearly identify the study being critiqued, by title and authors.
Summarize the research question, hypothesis (if a quantitative study), and background information on the topic from the study’s literature review. Did the authors present a well- balanced summary of current knowledge about the topic? Is there any apparent bias in the literature review?
Survey Research.
Survey Research. For this discussion, choose a research area you would like to learn more about. Design a study using one of the survey approaches introduced in Chapter 4 of your course textbook. Include the following in your post:
Briefly describe the main points of your study.
Apply aspects of the scientific method to your study by including the type of sampling you will
use in your research design and why you chose the approach that you did to study this topic.
Include two sample questions that will be a part of your study. Explain why each of these would
be good questions based on the principles presented this week.
Analyze the ethical principles which may affect your study. What are the specific ethical
concerns associated with your research question or approach?
Finally, suggest ways to improve the response rate or participation levels in your study.
Experimental Versus Quasi-Experimental Designs
Experimental Versus Quasi-Experimental Designs. After reading Chapter 5 in the course text compare and contrast the similarities and differences between experimental and quasi-experimental designs. Describe the different ways in which an independent variable can be manipulated.
Demonstrate application of the scientific method and ethical principles by explaining what dictates the selection of design (experimental versus quasi-experimental) and the type of manipulation used in a research study. Finally, give an example of a situation that could be studied with an
experiment or quasi-experiment and assess the appropriateness of one design over the other in light of practical and ethical concerns.
Data Analysis
Data Analysis. Assume that you applied the method proposed in the research study you designed for the first discussion activity this week and now have the data. Which of the methods used for analyzing survey data would you use and why? Be sure to explain why the approach that you are
proposing to use for data analysis is consistent with the survey research method that you employed. In addition, identify the measurement scale (nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio) of the data you obtained and differentiate the research terminology used.
Dr. Grey is conducting a research study in which she has assigned her participants to conditions prior to the experiment. She has flipped a coin to determine if each participant is in condition A or B until she has an equivalent number of participants in each condition. What procedure has
this investigator used?
____________________ is a criterion for judging external validity which indicates the research replicates the psychological conditions of the real world
A(n) ___________ occurs when the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable depends on the level of another independent variable
______________ assesses the degree to which our results can be attributed to our independent variables.
Kyle has completed an experiment on whether knowing a person’s sexual orientation influences appraisal of that person. Half his participants are told a job candidate is gay while the other half are told he is straight. They all watch the same interview and assess his suitability for a specific
job. Kyle discovers that 75% participants in the “gay” condition are male, while only 30% in the “straight” condition are male. Which of the following best describes this gender difference?
Quiz
Dr. Grey is conducting a research study in which she has assigned her participants to conditions prior to the experiment. She has flipped a coin to determine if each participant is in condition A or B until she has an equivalent number of participants in each condition. What procedure has
this investigator used?
____________________ is a criterion for judging external validity which indicates the research replicates the psychological conditions of the real world
A(n) ___________ occurs when the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable depends on the level of another independent variable
______________ assesses the degree to which our results can be attributed to our independent variables.
Kyle has completed an experiment on whether knowing a person’s sexual orientation influences appraisal of that person. Half his participants are told a job candidate is gay while the other half are told he is straight. They all watch the same interview and assess his suitability for a specific
job. Kyle discovers that 75% participants in the “gay” condition are male, while only 30% in the “straight” condition are male. Which of the following best describes this gender difference?
Final Paper
Design a research study on the topic of the study selected in Week One and critiqued in Week Three. Your design should seek to resolve the limitations you identified in the study you critiqued. Your paper must address all of the components required in the “Methods” section of a research
proposal:
State the research question and/or hypothesis.
Specify the approach (qualitative or quantitative), research design, sampling strategy, data collection procedures,
and data analysis techniques to be used.
If the design is quantitative, also describe the variables, measures, and statistical tests you would use.
Analyze ethical issues that may arise and explain how you would handle these issues.
Your Final Paper must be eight to ten pages in length (excluding title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Utilize a minimum of six peer-reviewed sources that were published within the last 10 years, in addition to the
textbook, that are documented in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. The sources should consist of the following: