Learning Objectives for Chapter Six – Introduction to Descriptive Methods

 

Pages 143-149

 

1.            Outline³ two reasons why descriptive methods cannot test causal hypotheses.

2.            Identify which of the following research goal(s) can be achieved using descriptive methods: description, prediction, explanation, and control.

3.            Discuss² how descriptive methods can help researchers predict what will happen. Provide³ an example that is not from your text.

4.            Defend⁴ the following statement, “we need science when describing behavior.”

a.   Provide³ four reasons in defense of the above statement.

b.   Generate⁵ a brief explanation why each of these four reasons is important.

5.            Defend­⁴ the following statement, “the key to getting a representative sample is to get a large and random sample.” Discuss² what each of the following terms mean as you generate your answer:

a.   representative

b.   random

 

 

Pages 150-157

 

6.            You did an experiment looking at the effect of chocolate consumption on memory.  You also collected data on age, gender and birth order.  Later, you decide to see if birth order was related to memory.

a.   Explain² why this research (birth order and recall) would be considered ex post facto.

b.   Suppose this ex post facto research suggested that first-born children had better memory than later-born children.

                                            i.      Construct³ a question to assess the study’s external validity.

                                              ii.      Construct³ a question to assess the study’s construct validity.

                                               iii.     Construct³ a question to assess the study’s internal validity.

7.            Define¹ the term archival data.

8.            Describe² and provide³ an example of each of the following:

a.   collected and coded data

b.   collected but uncoded data

9.            Define¹ content analysis and explain² why it is valuable.

10.        Describe² an example of archival data. Criticize² or praise² the internal, external, and construct validity of archival data.

11.        Examine⁴ the relationship between archival data and the psychologist’s desire to understand the individual.

12.        Provide³ an example of each of the following:

a.   naturalistic observation

b.   participant observation.

13.        Compare⁴ and contrast⁴ naturalistic and participant observation.

a.   How are they similar?

b.   How are they different (be sure to address their different strengths and weaknesses)?

14.        Imagine you were going to use observation to study rudeness. Decide⁶ whether you would use participant observation or naturalistic observation. Justify⁶ your decision.

15.        Describe² two problems with using observation. For each problem, discuss² how you could minimize the problem.

16.        Imagine you were to study extroversion and had to choose between using observation or using tests. Compare⁴ the advantages and disadvantages of each in terms of internal, external, and construct validity. Then, decide⁶ which method you would use and justify⁶ your decision.

 

 

Pages 157-167

 

17.        Define¹ positive correlation, negative correlation, and zero correlation.

18.        Explain² how you can determine from a scatterplot graph whether the correlation (degree of relationship) between 2 variables is positive, negative, or zero.

19.        Generate⁵ a graph that illustrates the following data on scores on an assertiveness scale and scores on an extroversion scale:

assertiveness  = 8, extroversion = 59

assertiveness = 11, extroversion = 63

assertiveness = 10, extroversion = 57

assertiveness = 7, extroversion = 54

assertiveness = 12, extroversion = 64

 

20.        Distinguish⁴ between a relationship described by a Pearson r with a positive sign and one described by a negative sign.

21.        Explain² the difference between a strong correlation and a weak correlation.

22.        Fill in four tables like the table below with the hypothetical results of four studies that looked at the relationship between participants’ skill at winning at the game “Paper, scissors, stone” and participants’ grade-point average. Generate⁵ results that would express

a.   A strong positive correlation

b.   A strong negative correlation

c.    A weak positive correlation

d.   A weak negative correlation

 

 

	Participant’s number of wins in “paper, rock, scissors” game
Participant’s Grade Point Average
	Below Average	Above Average
Below Average
Above Average

 

23.        Define¹ coefficient of determination. Explain² how to calculate the coefficient of determination from the Pearson r.

24.        Explain² (by calculating the coefficient of determination) why

a.   A negative correlation of  -.50 does not indicate a weaker relationship than a positive correlation of +.50

b.   A correlation of -.50 is stronger than a correlation of +.30

c.    A correlation of –50 indicates a stronger relationship than a correlation of -.30

d.   A correlation of +0.1 indicates a weak relationship between variables.

 

 

Pages 167-176

 

25.        Explain² why obtaining a correlation of .30 in your sample might not indicate that the two variables are correlated in the population.

26.        Explain² why

a.   the correlation between two variables is more likely to be significantly different from 0 in a study obtaining a correlation coefficient of .90 between the two than in a study obtaining a correlation coefficient of .10.

b.   the correlation between two variables is more likely to be significantly different from 0 in a study obtaining a study based on 100 participants that obtains a correlation coefficient of .30 between two variables than in a study based on 10 participants that obtains the same .30 correlation.

27.        Explain² the importance of having a random sample of a population for enabling you to know whether you can generalize your results to the population.

28.        Define¹ median split. Use⁴ a median split (based on introversion scores) to place the following participants into groups.

Participant	Introversion score	Happiness score
Juan	10	6
Sarah	5	7
Albert	4	8
Maria	9	9

 

29.        Compare⁴ and contrast⁴ the advantages and disadvantages of using a median split—instead of testing whether the correlation is significantly different from zero— to look at the relationship between introversion and happiness. (Be sure to discuss power in your response.)

30.        Explain² why, in terms of power, “statistical tests that use more information, provide more information.” Then, rank⁶ the power of the following: (a) ANOVA, (b) t test based on a medium split, (c) t test to determine the significance of a correlation coefficient.

31.        Defend⁴ the following statement, “with correlational research, significant results do not allow you to make cause-effect statements.”

32.        Explain² why you might obtain a significant correlation between two variables even though the variables are not really related (a “false alarm”). Then, explain² what you could do to avoid such a false alarm.

33.        Generate⁵ four reasons why you might fail to find a relationship between variables even though such a relationship exists.