Developmental Psychology Research Methods

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a way of knowing discussed in the text?

Intuition

Authority

Logic (correct)

Science

What is the primary purpose of the scientific method in developmental psychology?

To identify and address specific challenges faced by children in different cultures.

To systematically gather and analyze evidence to advance understanding of child development. (correct)

To prove pre-existing theories about child development.

To collect data to support personal opinions about child development.

What is the main distinction between descriptive and experimental research designs?

Descriptive research focuses on gathering data about specific events, while experimental research aims to establish cause-and-effect relationships. (correct)

Descriptive research is conducted in controlled environments, while experimental research occurs in natural settings.

Descriptive research involves manipulating variables, while experimental research relies on observation.

Descriptive research is used to study developmental changes over time, while experimental research focuses on specific behaviors.

Which research design is best suited for studying developmental changes over a long period?

Longitudinal design (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does internal validity refer to in research?

The extent to which the study's results are due to the manipulated variable and not other factors. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a hypothesis in psychological research?

To guide the research process and suggest potential relationships between variables. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an ethical guideline for research with human participants?

Deception (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between correlation and causation?

Correlation indicates a relationship between two variables, while causation implies a direct cause-and-effect link. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary limitation of correlational research?

It cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In experimental design, what is the purpose of a control group?

To serve as a baseline comparison, not exposed to the independent variable. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a confounding variable?

It is an extraneous variable that differs across levels of the independent variable, providing an alternative explanation for observed differences. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these must be true to establish a cause-and-effect relationship?

The variables are related, the cause must come before the effect, and the cause must be isolated. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a variable to be 'operationalized' in research?

It means the variable is defined and specified in a way that it can be measured in the study. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why is random assignment of participants to groups important in experimental design?

It minimizes pre-existing differences between groups which helps to isolate the effect of the independent variable. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In an experiment, if researchers are measuring the effects of a new drug on anxiety levels, what is the independent variable?

The new drug. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'double-blind' study?

A study where neither the participants nor the researchers know which group each participant is in. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What might be an indicator of marital satisfaction?

A score on a marital satisfaction scale. (D) Signup and view all the answers

If a study finds a correlation between exercise and stress levels, what must be done before concluding that exercise reduces stress?

Conduct an experiment to establish causality. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to establish a baseline measure of the dependent variable in an experiment?

To determine if any changes have occurred due to the independent variable. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the experimental research design?

To establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables. (C) Signup and view all the answers

If a researcher is studying the impact of different types of music on study performance, what is the independent variable?

The different types of music. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What would be a possible confounding variable in a study looking at the effect of exercise on stress levels?

A participant's diet that fluctuates during the study. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does validity refer to in the context of surveys?

The accuracy of the survey (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes reliability in surveys?

Consistency in responses across tests (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of correlational research?

To identify relationships between variables (D) Signup and view all the answers

In correlational studies, what is usually plotted on the x-axis?

Any chosen independent variable (B) Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a strong correlation in a scatterplot?

Dots form a clear and tight linear pattern (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does a positive correlation indicate?

Both variables increase or decrease together (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of a hypothesis in research?

It should be testable through scientific methods. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario represents a negative correlation?

Increased hours of sleep leading to decreased tiredness (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of research focuses on describing observed behaviors without testing relationships between variables?

Descriptive research (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is correlational research helpful despite its limitations?

It reveals the direction and strength of relationships (B) Signup and view all the answers

What might be a major weakness of observational studies?

They may influence participants' behavior. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What can scatterplots visually summarize?

The relationship between two variables (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of case studies in psychological research?

To explore an individual case in great detail. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly reflects the nature of surveys?

Surveys rely on self-reported data (B) Signup and view all the answers

A researcher is interested in examining the effects of historical events on different age groups. Which research design would be most appropriate?

Sequential design (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why is random sampling important in survey research?

It allows for accurate population estimates. (C) Signup and view all the answers

If a scatterplot shows no clear pattern among dots, what does this indicate?

No correlation exists (A) Signup and view all the answers

In a longitudinal study, a researcher measures the same individuals at multiple points in time. What is a primary advantage of this approach?

It allows for the observation of age-related changes within the same participant (B) Signup and view all the answers

How can one interpret a correlation coefficient close to 1?

A strong positive relationship exists (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following methods involves researchers interacting with subjects to gather data?

Surveys (A) Signup and view all the answers

A study begins with 100 participants, and over 10 years 30 drop out. What is this issue called?

Attrition (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of cross-sectional research design?

It is not useful for studying behavioral changes over time. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What limitation exists with correlational research in the context of cause and effect?

It does not determine causation between the variables (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is typically a challenge when designing surveys?

Determining an unbiased way to word questions. (C) Signup and view all the answers

In the dartboard analogy, what does consistently hitting the bull’s-eye signify?

Both high reliability and high validity (A) Signup and view all the answers

A researcher notices that participants who are healthier and more educated are more likely to stay in a longitudinal study. Which issue is this a description of?

Selective attrition (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of research is primarily observational and does not test hypotheses?

Descriptive research (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a drawback of longitudinal studies?

They are prone to high attrition rates. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is often a limitation of self-report studies?

They can suffer from participant bias. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A researcher is studying changes in intelligence over the lifespan. If they give an intelligence test to individuals at the same time, but from different age groups, what kind of study design is this?

Cross-sectional design (A) Signup and view all the answers

In observational studies, what is a potential strength?

They show actual behavior in natural settings. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor might affect the validity of survey results?

The wording of survey questions. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of sequential research design?

It combines elements of longitudinal and cross-sectional designs. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is one method that researchers can use to address selective attrition in longitudinal studies?

Recruiting additional participants of the same cohort at each time point (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinctive feature of naturalistic observation?

It occurs in the natural environment of participants. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A researcher tests three groups of participants, Group A is 20 years old in 2020, then tests them again at 50 and 80, Group B is 20 years old in 2050 and tested at 50, and Group C is 20 in 2080. Which research design is this?

Sequential (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conclusions cannot typically be drawn from case studies?

Generalizations to broader populations. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the role of observational research?

To gather qualitative data without manipulating variables. (D) Signup and view all the answers

If a researcher is only testing the same individual at different points in time, and not different age groups, what kind of study is being conducted?

Longitudinal (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which study design is most prone to the influence of a historical event affecting an entire generation?

Cross-sectional research (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason that a researcher might start a longitudinal study with more participants than they expect to finish with?

To account for the likelihood of attrition (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does a sequential research design examine sociocultural and historical changes?

By comparing data from different age groups across different generations (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which research design is most likely to identify the developmental origins for observed change patterns?

Sequential design (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of an informed consent form in research?

To document that participants understand the experiment's expectations, risks, and their right to withdraw. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why might researchers use deception in an experiment?

To prevent participants' knowledge of the research question from influencing their behavior. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What action must researchers take when using deception in a study?

Provide a full debriefing with complete information about the study after its conclusion. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a major ethical violation in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?

Participants were not informed about the true nature of the experiment and were not offered treatment. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a key consequence of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?

The creation of stricter ethical guidelines for research involving human participants. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the case of a research participant under the age of 18, who must sign the informed consent form?

The participant's parents or legal guardians. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT provided to participants in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?

Full debriefing about the experiment (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the informed consent form guarantee about the data collected during the experiment?

Data will remain completely anonymous and confidential. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the study group in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?

Men who tested positive for syphilis. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What did participants in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study unwittingly spread to their families?

Syphilis (A) Signup and view all the answers

In an experimental design, what is the primary purpose of the control group?

To provide a baseline for comparison, not exposed to the independent variable (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which research design is most susceptible to cohort effects?

Cross-sectional (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key limitation of translating human behavior into a laboratory setting in an experimental study?

It may artificially constrain natural behaviors, impacting the study's ecological validity (C) Signup and view all the answers

A researcher aims to study the impact of a specific educational program on student development. Which research design would be the most appropriate if they want to track changes within individuals over time?

Longitudinal (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of sequential research designs compared to longitudinal designs?

Ability to examine both cohort and time-in-history effects (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does internal validity primarily address?

The trustworthiness of cause-and-effect relationships established by a study (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary concern when using longitudinal research designs?

Participant attrition (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does external validity specifically relate to in research?

The generalizability of the study's results to real-world settings (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of a cross-sectional research design?

It is less expensive and time-consuming than other developmental research designs (C) Signup and view all the answers

In research, ethnocentrism most directly affects which aspect of the research process?

Data interpretation (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does collaborative methodology aim to challenge traditional research approaches?

By valuing community insights and creating partnerships between researchers and community members. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In a cross-sectional study, what is a major limitation when interpreting results concerning age-related changes?

It cannot accurately determine cause-and-effect relationships over time because it measures age differences at one point in time (B) Signup and view all the answers

What are cohort effects, and how do they impact the interpretation of results in cross-sectional research?

They are variations in experiences, specific to a person's generation, which can be mistaken for age differences (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the Institutional Review Board (IRB)'s main purpose in research?

To ensure the ethical treatment of human participants. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of 'random assignment' in experimental research designs?

To ensure that all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to any condition of the study (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of 'cultural relativism' in the context of research?

To understand behaviors within the context of a culture's values and norms. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why might a sequential study be preferred over a purely longitudinal study when researching developmental changes?

Sequential studies allow researchers to disentangle age, cohort, and time-in-history effects. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best illustrates a study that suffers from low internal validity?

A lab study where the effects of the independent variable cannot be established as the direct cause of observed changes (D) Signup and view all the answers

If a researcher finds an effect in a controlled lab study but the findings do not seem applicable to real-life situations, what type of validity would be considered low?

External Validity (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal research methods?

Longitudinal studies track individuals over time, while cross-sectional studies examine different groups at one time. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'practice effects' within the context of research?

The modifications in participants' performance because of repeated engagement with study tasks. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the experimental model provided, what represents the independent variable?

The type of video game (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential reason for the 'time in history effects' limitation of longitudinal designs?

The changes in societal or environmental experiences during a study affecting results. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of `white noise` administration, as depicted in the flowchart?

To control for extraneous variables and reduce experimental bias (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it problematic to assume that differences in intelligence between 20, 50 and 80 year olds in a cross-sectional study are due solely to age related changes?

Changes over time for individuals cannot be determined due to the study design's cross-sectional nature (A) Signup and view all the answers

If a researcher’s interpretations of research data are heavily influenced by their own cultural background, they are exhibiting:

Ethnocentrism (D) Signup and view all the answers

If a study that finds a cause and effect between two variables, is repeated by another research team, and fails to produce the same effect, this would be most problematic for the study's:

External and Internal Validity (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which approach is most likely to use community members as active participants in designing research and interpreting results?

Community-Based Participatory Action Research (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy would be most effective to directly assess how intelligence changes over an individuals lifespan?

A longitudinal study that follows the same individuals over multiple decades (A) Signup and view all the answers

A researcher is conducting a sequential study and identifies a significant difference in a variable between older participants from one cohort and younger participants from a different cohort. What is the most appropriate conclusion from this?

The difference could be due to a cohort effect and/or a developmental effect. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method of knowing that relies on 'personal experience'?

Scientific method (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between reliance on intuition and scientific inquiry according to the text?

Intuition is subjective and open to bias, while science aims for objectivity and falsifiability. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of confirmation bias?

It shows how our beliefs affect our information seeking and interpretation (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a step in the scientific method?

Reaching a definitive conclusion (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a literature review in scientific research?

To gather information on previous studies addressing the research question (A) Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes science from other ways of knowing?

Science is falsifiable, meaning it can be tested and rejected by evidence (C) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the scientific method, what is the relationship between a theory and a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction derived from a broader theory. (A) Signup and view all the answers

The text suggests that relying solely on authority figures can be problematic because

Authority figures might have biases or motivations that influence their claims. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following exemplifies the concept of confirmation bias?

A person who believes in astrology and only remembers the times it was accurate. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why is science considered a valuable way of knowing?

It provides a systematic approach to minimize bias (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of relying on intuition for understanding the world?

Intuition can lead to inaccurate or biased conclusions. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it crucial for scientists to report their findings to others?

To share knowledge and be scrutinized by the scientific community. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the best example of a scientific hypothesis?

If I exercise regularly, I will lose weight. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the scientific method contribute to the advancement of knowledge?

By providing a systematic process for testing ideas and refining understanding. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of conducting a research study?

To gather information to answer a research question. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ways of Knowing

Intuition involves relying on gut feelings, emotions, or instincts, not facts or logical reasoning
Authority involves accepting ideas from trusted figures (parents, media, etc.) without independent verification
Science is a systematic process of learning that involves testing ideas against evidence, is falsifiable, and can be systematic in its comparisons, to guard against bias

The Scientific Method

The scientific method tests ideas (theories and hypotheses) against the real world to advance knowledge
Key steps include: research question, literature review, method, study conduction, result interpretation, conclusion, limitations, and information sharing
A theory explains observed phenomena and makes predictions
A hypothesis is a testable prediction based on a theory; often in the form of an "if-then" statement

Research Methods

Descriptive research aims to describe behaviors; it can include observational studies, case studies, and surveys
Observational studies directly observe participants in their natural settings or controlled environments
Case studies provide in-depth analyses of individuals or situations, good for investigating unique phenomena.
Surveys gather self-reported data from large samples, allowing researchers to estimate population characteristics
Correlational research measures relationships between variables, but does not establish cause-and-effect
- Plotting relationships with scatterplots helps visualize these
- Correlation coefficients (r) quantify the strength and direction of correlations
- Correlation does not equal causation; confounding variables might be involved
Experimental research manipulates an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable, helping establish cause and effect

Developmental Research Designs

Cross-sectional designs compare groups of different ages at the same time, revealing age differences but not necessarily age changes over time (susceptible to cohort and time-of-measurement effects)
Longitudinal designs follow the same group of individuals over time, revealing developmental change but are prone to participant attrition and practice effects (limited to a specific cohort and time of history)
Sequential designs combine cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches, following different cohorts over time enabling examination of age changes and cohort effects (allows for comparisons across different cohorts in different time frames)

Validity and Reliability

Internal validity is the extent to which a study establishes a cause-and-effect relationship, relying heavily on the methods utilized
External validity refers to the generalizability of study findings to real-world situations
Reliability concerns the consistency of responses or measurements

Ethical Considerations

Ethical research is guided by principles of human dignity, respect, and safety (must show ethical soundness)
Informed consent: Participants must understand the study, and any potential risks or benefits before voluntarily agreeing to participate.
Deception may be necessary, but if so, the participants must receive a complete debriefing afterwards, providing them with all relevant information (the reasoning for the deception/how/why)
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) oversee research involving human participants, aiming to prevent harm and ensure ethical conduct.
Past unethical studies like the Tuskegee Syphilis study highlight the need for strong ethical guidelines and standards.
Cultural sensitivity and community-based participatory research are also important, involving stakeholders and collaborators (especially in addressing complex social issues)

Research Challenges

Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out evidence that supports existing beliefs, ignoring contradictory evidence
Sampling challenges involve representative sampling and avoiding bias to get a accurate picture of the population.
The Hawthorne effect is the tendency of participants to change their behavior when they know they are being observed. Selective attrition (certain participant types dropping out) and practice effects (changes due to repeated measures) must be accounted for.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key concepts and methods used in developmental psychology research. This quiz covers the scientific method, various research designs, validity, and ethical guidelines. Assess your understanding of critical distinctions such as correlation versus causation.