Observational research method
Observational research method
Observational research method would be suitable because it includes case studies, ethnographic studies, ethological studies, etc. The primary characteristic of each of these types of studies is that phenomena are being observed and recorded. Often times, the studies are qualitative in nature. For example, a psychological case study would entail extensive notes based on observations of and interviews with the client. A detailed report with analysis would be written and reported constituting the study of this individual case. For example, an ethological study interaction of children as they play with each other may include measures of behavior durations i.e. the amount of time the children are engaged in a specified behavior. This measure of time would be quantitative. Observational research can be problematic if not conducted well. Clearly, there are many problems with internal validity. One can describe the individual(s) being observed but one cannot make any sort of causative conclusions based on the observations. Additionally, construct validity can be impacted by lack of background work before the observations or study, observer and experimenter biases or expectencies, etc. In developmental psychology, this form of research is often early work in the exploration of a developmental topic. In this research approach, behaviors are counted, correct answers or errors are counted, and other types of measures are recorded in terms of quantity. Observational research involves both experimental and non-experimental research. Ethical issues Observational research focus on protecting individuals that receive an intervention. For example, an intervention may involve training participants in group communication where a great deal of self-disclosure is required. Self-disclosure is a technique whereby people are encouraged to discuss their feelings, attitudes, and experiences (some of which may be quite personal). Does there searcher have the right to use such a treatment? Dealing with this question is a personal decision on the part of the researcher.
1. As a researcher, I am interested in learning whether or not there is a connection between sleep and test scores. I want to know if an increase in sleep improves test scores, for example. What type of research method would I use, and why? What ethical concerns might present an issue when conducting this type of research? True Experiments: The true experiment is often thought of as a laboratory study. However, this is not always the case. A true experiment is defined as an experiment conducted where an effort is made to impose control over all other variables except the one under study. It is often easier to impose this sort of control in a laboratory setting. True experiments have often been erroneously identified as laboratory studies. To understand the nature of the experiment, we must first define a few terms: Experimental or treatment group – this is the group that receives the experimental treatment i.e. the group that we use to examine the relationship between sleep and improvement of test scores, manipulation, or is different from the control group on the variable under study. Control group – this group is used to produce comparisons. The treatment of interest is deliberately withheld or manipulated to provide a baseline performance with which to compare the experimental or treatment group’s performance. Independent variable – this is the variable that the experimenter/researcher manipulates in a study. It can be any aspect of the environment that is empirically investigated for the purpose of examining its influence on the dependent variable which is the variable that is measured in a study. The experimenter does not control this variable. A major ethical concern would be double blind where by n
