Chp3 Final

Describing Research Activities Activities Phenomenology Case Studies Field Studies Archival Study Qualitative Research

Nonexperimental approaches are used in situations in which an experiment is not practical or desirable. They are also used to study behaviors in natural settings to explore unique or rare occurrences or to sample personal information.

Research is high in internal validity if we can demonstrate with certainty that the changes in behavior observed across treatment conditions were actually caused by differences in treatments. External validity is generalizability or applicability to people and situations outside the research setting.

Two Major Dimensions Research can be Describe

1. The degree of Manipulation of Antecedent Conditions Experiments are typically high in degree of manipulation; nonexperiments are usually low.

Describing Research Activities

Two Major Dimensions Research can be Describe

2. The degree of Imposition of Units is an equally important dimension. This term refers to the extent to which the researcher constraints, or limits, the responses a subect may contribute to the data.

Describing Research Activities

Five Common Nonexperimetal Approaches Used by sychologists

1. Phenomenology is the description of an individual!s immediate experience. Rather than loo"ing at behaviors and events that are external to us, we begin with personal experience as a source of data. #t falls near the low$low end.  %ntecedents are not manipulated, and data may consist of any immediate experience; no constraints are imposed.

Describing Research Activities

Five Common Nonexperimetal Approaches Used by sychologists

1. Phenomenology cannot be used to understand the causes of behavior. &i"e other nonexperimental designs, it describes, but cannot explain, behavior.

Describing Research Activities

Five Common Nonexperimetal Approaches Used by sychologists

2. Case tudies involves no manipulation of antecedent conditions. #t is used to study individuals. #t is a descriptive record of a single individual!s experiences, or behaviors, or both , "ept by an outside observer. There are few restrictions on the type of data to be included in a case study. 'any case studies would be expected to fall in the low$low portion.

Describing Research Activities

!a"din #$%%&' has arg(ed that case st(dies serve Five Major (rposes)

!irst" we may use a case study to ma"e inferences about the impact of life events, the origin of disorders, or developmental processes. econd" as we understand the impact of such events more fully, we may be able to devise more appropriate treatment techniques, as well as preventive measures.

Case *t(dies

!a"din #$%%&' has arg(ed that case st(dies serve Five Major (rposes)

Third" the case study is a perfect forum for investigating unique cases or rare problems. !ourth" case studies can provide evidence that casts doubt on theories or generally accepted practices. !ifth" case studies are sometimes a dramatic way to illustrate abstract concepts.

Case *t(dies

#e$iant Case Analysis (ases of deviant and normal individuals are compared for significant differences. These differences may have important implications for the etiology, or origin, of the psychopathology in question.

Case *t(dies

%etrospecti$e #ata are data collected on the present that are based on recollections of past events.

Case *t(dies

Five Common Nonexperimetal Approaches Used by sychologists

&. !ield studies are nonexperimental approaches used in the field or in real$life settings.  %ntecedent conditions are not manipulated in field studies, but the degree of constraint on responses varies considerably from study to study.

Describing Research Activities

Naturalistic '(ser$ation tudies is the technique of observing behaviors as they occur spontaneously in natural settings. This approach has been used extensively in animal behavior research, called ethology, to study behavior in the wild as well as in captivity.

Field st(dies

#n systematic observation, the researcher uses a prearranged strategy for recording observations in which each observation is recorded using specific rules or guidelines so that observations are more obective.

Field st(dies

Tendency of subects to alter their behavior or responses when they are aware of an observer!s presence, is "nown as reactivity. )bservers should remain as unobtrusive *inconspicuous+ as possible when they conduct naturalistic observations.

Field st(dies

Participant)'(ser$er tudies ere the researcher actually becomes part of the group being studied. The researcher may interact with subects as well as observe them to obtain information.

Field st(dies

-ote that a field study is not to be confused with a field experiment. % field experiment is a true experiment that in conducted outside the laboratory.

Field st(dies

Five Common Nonexperimetal Approaches Used by sychologists

*. Archi$al tudy is a descriptive research method in which already existing records are reexamined for a new purpose.

Describing Research Activities

Five Common Nonexperimetal Approaches Used by sychologists

+. ,ualitati$e %esearch relies on words rather than numbers for the data being collected; it focuses on self$reports, personal narratives and expression of ideas, memories, feelings and thought.

Describing Research Activities

 % paradigm is the set of attitudes, values, beliefs, methods and procedures that are generally accepted within a particular discipline at a certain point in time.

+(alitative Research

Five Common Nonexperimetal Approaches Used by sychologists

+. ,ualitati$e %esearch is used to study phenomena that are contextual, meaning they cannot be understood without the context in which they appear. These phenomena deserve to be studied within a rich bac"ground or unique environment.

Describing Research Activities

(ontemporary phenomenology, also called empirical phenomenology" might rely on the researcher!s own experiences or on experiential data provided by other sources.

+(alitative Research