Nonexperimental Research Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is a defining characteristic of nonexperimental research?

  • It exclusively uses qualitative methods.
  • It involves random assignment of participants.
  • It manipulates the independent variable.
  • It cannot provide strong evidence of causation. (correct)

In nonexperimental research, when is it appropriate to investigate noncausal relationships?

  • When participants can be randomly assigned.
  • When a strong causal relationship is already established.
  • When the independent variable can be easily manipulated.
  • When ethical concerns prevent manipulation of variables. (correct)

Which type of research focuses on the statistical relationship between two variables without manipulation?

  • Single variable research
  • Qualitative research
  • Quasi-experimental research
  • Correlational research (correct)

What is one weakness of single variable research design, such as the pretest-posttest design?

<p>It lacks control groups for comparison. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method is commonly used in qualitative research to uncover prevalent themes?

<p>Thematic analysis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of nonexperimental research involves manipulation of the independent variable without random assignment?

<p>Quasi-experimental research (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a useful application for exploratory nonexperimental research?

<p>Understanding participants' thoughts and opinions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a type of nonexperimental research mentioned?

<p>Survey research (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of research design is used when a researcher conducts interviews to learn about unmarried teenage fathers' feelings and summarizes them?

<p>Qualitative Research (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which research design is exemplified by measuring impulsivity in drivers and its relationship with traffic tickets?

<p>Correlational Research (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of correlational research regarding independent and dependent variables?

<p>They do not apply in correlational research designs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the described study where patients are assigned to hypnosis or exercise treatments, what type of research design is being applied?

<p>Experimental Research (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common issue in naturalistic observation that researchers must consider?

<p>Participant Inclusion Criteria (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should researchers avoid to ensure the accuracy of their observations in naturalistic research?

<p>Hawthorne Effect (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of correlational research when exploring relationships between variables?

<p>It cannot determine causal relationships (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a characteristic of correlational research?

<p>Control of extraneous variables (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of quasi-experimental research related to group assignment?

<p>Random assignment of participants is not feasible. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a confounding variable that can affect quasi-experimental design outcomes?

<p>Differences in participant backgrounds. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a pretest-posttest design, what does the presence of a control group allow researchers to do?

<p>Interpret treatment effects more accurately. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is spontaneous remission in the context of psychological treatment?

<p>Natural improvement in symptoms without intervention. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential problem when using a pretest-posttest design?

<p>History effects. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does an interrupted time series design allow researchers to analyze?

<p>Longitudinal trends and developments over time. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes a non-equivalent group design?

<p>Groups are formed without random assignment leading to dissimilarities. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of combining treatment and control groups in quasi-experimental research?

<p>More accurate assessment of treatment effects. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Nonexperimental Research

Research that lacks manipulation of the independent variable (IV), random assignment of participants, and control over extraneous variables. It cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Applications of Nonexperimental Research

Useful for exploring relationships, investigating situations where manipulation is impossible, and gathering initial information. It can be used to understand the existing state of things or identify trends.

Single Variable Research

Studies focusing on a single variable (e.g., measuring self-esteem) without manipulation or comparison groups. It is often used to describe a phenomenon or track changes over time.

Weakness of Single Variable Research

Limited in drawing cause-and-effect conclusions. It does not establish what caused the change in the single variable observed.

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Correlational Research

Examines the statistical relationship between two or more variables. There is no manipulation of the IV or random assignment.

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Quasi-experimental Research

Similar to experimental research, but participants are not randomly assigned to conditions. This provides some control over variables, but cannot ensure equal groups.

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Qualitative Research

Focuses on understanding the underlying reasons and motivations for human experiences. It uses non-numerical data and explores subjective experiences to uncover patterns and themes.

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Thematic Analysis

A qualitative research method where researchers analyze text data to identify patterns and themes that emerge repeatedly.

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Archival Data

Data that has already been collected for a different purpose, often used in correlational research.

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Content Analysis

A systematic approach to analyzing text, speech, or other media by identifying and analyzing its content, such as keywords, phrases, or ideas.

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Non-equivalent Group Design

A type of quasi-experimental design where groups are not comparable due to a lack of random assignment.

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Pretest-Posttest Design

A quasi-experimental design where the dependent variable is measured before and after a treatment or intervention.

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History (Threat to Validity)

An external event that occurs during a research study and could potentially influence the outcome.

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Maturation (Threat to Validity)

Changes that occur naturally over time, such as growth or learning, that could influence the outcome of a study.

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Regression Toward the Mean (Threat to Validity)

The tendency for extreme scores on a measure to become closer to the average score when measured again.

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Naturalistic Observation

Observing people's behavior in their natural environment, without manipulation or intervention. This gives an authentic glimpse into how people act in real-life situations.

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Extraneous Variables

Variables that are not the focus of the study but could potentially influence the relationship being examined. These are factors that might be messing with the results.

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Hawthorne Effect

The tendency for people to change their behavior when they know they are being observed. This effect can skew research findings if participants act differently than they normally would.

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Habituation

The process of getting used to the observer's presence over time. This helps reduce the Hawthorne effect and allows participants to behave naturally.

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Participant Inclusion Criteria

Specific characteristics that participants must meet to be included in a research study. This ensures a consistent and relevant participant pool for the study.

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Sampling

The process of selecting a group of participants from a larger population for a research study. It's important to choose participants who represent the population so the findings generalize to the broader group.

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Measurement

The process of defining and quantifying the behaviors or characteristics being observed in a research study. This ensures consistent and accurate data collection.

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Study Notes

Nonexperimental Research Overview

  • Nonexperimental research lacks the ability to definitively prove cause-and-effect relationships.
  • It's used when manipulating the independent variable (IV) or randomly assigning participants to different conditions isn't feasible or ethical.
  • This research type serves an important purpose in exploring relationships and patterns.

Types of Nonexperimental Research

  • Single variable research: Focuses on a single variable, often used in pretest-posttest designs.

    • Example 1: A new math curriculum is introduced, and student math achievement is measured before and after. Improved scores are attributed to the curriculum.
    • Weakness: Other factors can influence the results, not solely the curriculum.
    • Example 2: Measuring self-esteem of children who have been bullied. This could show a correlation but not a cause-and-effect relationship. Self-esteem could be influenced by multiple factors.

  • Correlational research: Investigates the statistical relationship between two or more variables.

    • Focus: Statistical relationships, no manipulation, and no random assignment
    • Example: Measuring impulsivity in drivers and correlating it with the number of traffic tickets they have received.

  • Quasi-experimental research: The independent variable is manipulated, but participants can't be randomly assigned to groups.

    • Pros: Determines the direction of causation because the IV is manipulated.
    • Cons: Confounding variables can't be accounted for, as there is no random assignment.
    • Types:
      • Non-equivalent group design: Groups are different in ways that aren't controlled for (e.g., neurotic vs. non-neurotic personality groups).
      • Pretest-posttest design: The dependent variable is measured before and after manipulation.
        • Important Considerations: Problems can include history, maturation, regression toward the mean (people tend to score closer to the average on subsequent occasions), and spontaneous remission (improvement without treatment).
        • Examples: Measuring student attitudes before and after an anti-drug program.
      • Interrupted time series design: Tracks trends and developments over time, useful for longitudinal analysis. A treatment is introduced and monitored by tracking data over time.
      • Combination design: Includes a treatment group receiving a specific treatment and a control group not receiving the treatment. This compares the impact on the treatment group to the control group.

  • Qualitative research: Focuses on understanding motivations and experiences. Findings are non-numerical, not derived from statistical procedures.

    • Key focus: Uncovering underlying reasons, prevalent trends in thoughts, and opinion using methods that gather rich narrative descriptions.
    • Examples:
      • Examining patient perceptions of doctors in a hospital.
      • Understanding young women's experiences on dating sites.
      • Exploring non-experts' views on climate change.
    • Method: Thematic analysis is a common method, where researchers identify common themes in collected qualitative data (e.g., interview transcripts).

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Chapter 7: Nonexperimental Research PDF

Description

Explore the key aspects of nonexperimental research, including its types and limitations. Understand how this research method is crucial for examining relationships and patterns when experimental designs are not feasible. Delve into examples of single-variable and correlational research to see their implications.

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