10 Questions
What is a limitation of the laboratory-observation method?
Observer effect: participants may act differently when being studied
What did Masters and Johnson study through direct observation?
Sexual response cycles
Why did Masters and Johnson conduct a 12-year direct observation study?
To observe the physiological response of sexual excitement and orgasm
What was the sample size of the individuals observed by Masters and Johnson?
694 people
Why is random sampling difficult to obtain in laboratory-observation studies?
It usually involves small samples
What is the primary purpose of a survey?
To collect information about the attitudes, beliefs, experiences, or behaviors of a large number of people
What is a potential limitation of survey data due to inaccurate memory?
Difficulties with estimates
What is the impact of volunteer bias on survey data?
It results in inaccurate answers
Why may participants in a survey purposefully distort their responses?
Due to 'social desirability response'
What can lead to wrong conclusions based on survey information?
Misleading statistics
Study Notes
Laboratory-Observation Method
- A limitation of the laboratory-observation method is that it can lack generalizability to real-life situations.
Masters and Johnson's Study
- Masters and Johnson studied human sexual behavior through direct observation.
- They conducted a 12-year direct observation study to gather data on human sexual response.
- The sample size of the individuals observed by Masters and Johnson was approximately 700.
Limitations of Laboratory-Observation Studies
- Random sampling is difficult to obtain in laboratory-observation studies because participants may not be representative of the population.
Surveys
- The primary purpose of a survey is to gather self-reported data from a sample of individuals.
- A potential limitation of survey data is that it may be inaccurate due to faulty memory.
- Volunteer bias can impact survey data, as participants may not be representative of the population.
- Participants may purposefully distort their survey responses due to social desirability bias or fear of judgment.
- Selective memory, social desirability bias, and other biases can lead to wrong conclusions based on survey information.
Test your knowledge of the laboratory-observation method with this quiz. Explore the advantages and limitations of this research approach, and gain insights into its use in studying behaviors in natural and laboratory settings.
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