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Descriptive Studies
Scientists gather evidence to support their hypotheses by using DIFFERENT METHODS depending on What QUESTION they want
to answer.
Objectives
• Discuss descriptive studies • Describe case studies• Analyze observational studies• Compare and contrast Tests and surveys
Types of Descriptive on left
Who’s going to participate?...Select participants
• Subjects for the study. Scientist NEED FOR MEASUREMENTS
• Representative sample- A group of participants that accurately represents the larger population the researcher is interested in.
• F.E. drug use among college sophomores. • Not practical every soph in nation • So use selection process to ensure, gender,
sociocultural, and religious div.• Tall order
Rep. sample
Sample Size
• Less important than reps.• Use who is available, college students• May be bad because sample is who is
available
Descriptive Methods Objective#2
• Allow researchers to describe and predict behavior but not necessarily to choose one explanation over competing ones
1. Case studies (case history) detailed description of a particular individual, based on careful observation or on psychological testing
Case Studies: many examples in class
• Info about childhood, dreams, experiences, relationships, hopes
• Clinicians, academic researchers• Can children who miss out on language
development catch up later?• Can’t isolate children then test• 13 yr old Genie; isolated beaten= No
pronouns, past tense, possession
Positives/Negatives
• Produce detailed picture of person• Good source of hypotheses, Extreme case can
shed light on situation that is unethical in another form (genie)
• DRAWBACKS: Info missing or hard to interpret, F.E. Genie mental defect? D.K.
• Report selective memories, inaccurate memories.
• Unrepresentative of the group, bias
2. Observational Studies#objective3
• Researcher observes, measures, records, behaviors while taking care to avoid intruding on the people (or animals) being observed
• 2 unlike observational studies • Naturalistic Observation- find out how people
or other animals act in their normal social environments
• School, home, playgrounds, office• However need to be sneaky
Natural Environment
On the other hand
• Could Prefer laboratory observation- more control, sophisticated equipment, clear line of vision
• F.E. measure how infants react when parents leave.• Bring kids in, parents can leave= measure• However lab setting= may act differently• More for describing than explaining behavior• Why kid cries not sure? Only based on observation
not inside head
Lab Observation
3. Tests
• Psychological tests (assessment instruments) procedures for measuring and evaluating personality traits, emotional states, aptitudes, interests, abilities and values
• Objective tests- measure beliefs, feelings behaviors; which individual is aware
• Projective tests- Tap unconscious feelings, motives (ink blot)
Objective test
Projective test? What do you see
What Happened?
What’s going on here?
Thoughts?
You are Projecting right now!
Qualities of a good tests/ types of tests
• Personality test• Achievement test• Vocational aptitude test• Education, military, industry• Standardized- where uniform procedures exist
for giving and scoring a test. • Norms- established standards of performance• Norms determine high and low
Standard Test= Same
Qualities of a good test
• Reliable- Must produce same results from time to time, 1 place to the next
• Valid- Must measure what it is designed to measure
• Criteria- Ability to predict independent measures
• 7 types of lover in Cosmo…just some cool questions NOT good test!
Your target for a test
Survey- #4
• Questionnaires, interviews, that gather information directly about their experiences, attitudes, opinions
• F.E. Gallup or Roper Polls or FAMILY FUED• Positive- Big sample, internet, diverse• Ask directly
Questions
Negatives Surveys
• Who are you polling? conservative talk show?• Volunteer bias- People who feel strongly may
seek out surveys HOWEVER people feeling other way may not participate
• People lie! Especially touchy sub.• F.E. Alfred Kinsey. How many times have you
masturbated? Vs. have you ever masturbated
You guys voting for Jobs or cuts?
QUESTIONS?
• Compare and contrast Objective/ Subjective tests
• Describe case studies; observations (2), surveys