Lecture 2: NVC Research Methods

Question 1

6 steps of research in NVC (note that these apply to just about all research areas; general)

Answer 1

1. review literature
2. establish theoretical perspective
3. find methodology
4. collect data
5. analyze data
6. apply findings to real world situations

Question 2

4 functions of lit review

Answer 2

1. collection/verification of primary and secondary sources of info
2. interpreting info and coming to conclusions
3. synthesizing existing knowledge
4. assigning data into categories (arguments/hypotheses)

Question 3

primary vs secondary info sources

Answer 3

primary: original experiments
secondary: info from studies published in other journals, books, as part of their lit reviews

Question 4

t/f- during a lit review, you will rarely find contradicting info within a field

Answer 4

false- often will- going deeper into contradictions can help gain understanding as to why they exist

Question 5

5 important components (steps) of lit review (general)

Answer 5

1. examine info sources
2. make review exhaustive
3. look for studies that support hypothesis
4. look for studies that invalidate hypothesis
5. prepare note cards on each info source

Question 6

_____ lies are associated with MORE fidgeting, and ____ lies are associated with LESS fidgeting

a. prepared, spontaneous
b. spontaneous, prepared
c. harmful, harmless
c. harmless, harmful

Answer 6

b. spontaneous, prepared

Question 7

2 important theoretical perspectives in NVC

Answer 7

1. structural- each variable singled out and analyzed individually
2. functional- gestalt- looks at how variables operate together in a situation

Question 8

t/f- most theoretical perspectives change as both researchers and disciplines mature

Answer 8

true

Question 9

methodology includes…

a. stating research question and hypothesis
b. asking questions about the method (eg. “what counts as data?”)
c. (b) only
d. both a and b

Answer 9

d. both a and b

Question 10

t/f- theoretical perspectives generate specific approaches to looking at data in variety of NVC codes

Answer 10

true

Question 11

proxemics methodologies involve…

Answer 11

intimate, personal, social, and public space measurements that are often adopted in NVC research

Question 12

t/f- when at a “public” distance from each other (further away), people tend to produce fewer gestures

Answer 12

false- more gestures

Question 13

t/f- theoretical perspectives dictate how data and results are analyzed

Answer 13

true

Question 14

information in NVC is typically collected in one of these 4 forms:

Answer 14

1. lab investigations
2. surveys
3. field experiments
4. field studies

Question 15

of these 4 methods, which 3 generate quantitative data? which 1 generates qualitative?

1. lab investigations
2. surveys
3. field experiments
4. field studies

Answer 15

quantitative- 1-3

qualitative- 4

Question 16

BONUS: how do quantitative and qualitative data relate?

Answer 16

qualitative informs quantitative, and quantitative often leads to ideas re future studies that could yield qualitative data

Question 17

BONUS: a researcher observes participants engaging in NVC behaviour x. He reports his observations to a knowledgeable scholar, who then explores and evaluates the information, and draws conclusions. What type of data is being described here?

Answer 17

qualitative

Question 18

what is the main difference between these approaches to NVC research?

1. lab investigations
2. surveys
3. field experiments
4. field studies

Answer 18

degree of control over the variables being researched

Question 19

t/f- you cannot establish cause with field studies

Answer 19

true

Question 20

which of these approaches do many NVC researchers opt for? BONUS: why?

1. lab investigations
2. surveys
3. field experiments
4. field studies

Answer 20

3. field experiments

- some degree of control in a fairly natural environment

Question 21

2 important components of lab experimental research

Answer 21

1. manipulation of an IV (factor)

2. random assignment

Question 22

t/f- replication studies are an important part of experimental research

Answer 22

true

Question 23

“A manner to collect data in the field while maintaining some control over the research” best describes which research design?

1. lab investigations
2. surveys
3. field experiments
4. field studies

Answer 23

2. surveys

Question 24

2 types of survey participant recruitment methods mentioned in lecture:

Answer 24

1. random sampling

2. convenience sampling

Question 25

which of the following methods is good in investigating sensitive topics that people don’t like discussing?

1. lab investigations
2. surveys
3. field experiments
4. field studies

Answer 25

2. surveys

Question 26

which of the following methods is often the most economical method of data collection?

1. lab investigations
2. surveys
3. field experiments
4. field studies

Answer 26

2. surveys

Question 27

which of the following is NOT a limitation of surveys?

a. people aren’t great at accurately introspecting and providing info about their NVC
b. cannot establish cause
c. often expensive to implement

Answer 27

c. often expensive to implement

Question 28

which of the following are NOT a way of maintaining some degree of control in the survey method?

a. strategically selecting the sample
b. removing questions with conflicting response rates
c. being careful in developing questionnaires
d. all of these are are methods in maintaining control

Answer 28

b. removing questions with conflicting response rates

Question 29

t/f- field experiments involve very little control

Answer 29

false- largely controlled apart from sampling participants

Question 30

Bergun & Hope’s “Pretty Women” study involved having confederates go to shops either dressed up or down, and observed salespeople’s reactions. This is an example of a:

1. lab investigations
2. surveys
3. field experiments
4. field studies

Answer 30

3. field experiments: was manipulation (how the confederate was dressed)

Question 31

“Researcher enters a natural setting in hopes of answering general research questions” is a description of a:

1. lab investigations
2. surveys
3. field experiments
4. field studies

Answer 31

4. field studies

Question 32

t/f- Field studies have little control (with the exception of the objectivity of the researcher)

Answer 32

true

Question 33

_____ statistics involves taking info from a sample and trying to generalize to the population, and typically involve p < .05

Answer 33

inferential

Question 34

the data analysis method chosen for your research should be appropriate for:

a. your theoretical position
b. the type of data collected
c. both
d. neither

Answer 34

c. both

Question 35

which of the following can be communicated to demonstrate the usefulness of a study?

1) Where did the study break new ground?
2) How can the results of the study be useful in dealing with other communication phenomena?
3) What limitations are there with respect to the findings
4) What are some suggestions for future studies
5) All of the above

Answer 35

5) All of the above

Question 36

The accuracy of conclusions in NVC should be based upon:

a. How well you know the individual
b. How many times you have encountered the individual
c. How well you know nonverbal communication theories
d. All of these

Answer 36

d. All of these

Question 37

much of research in NVC is based on a large group of people and taking the mean. How might this affect our ability to make inferences about an individual person?

Answer 37

lots of individual variability in how people convey things via NVC, can be hard to apply group data to the population

Question 38

t/f- in field experiments, we can manipulate the degree or levels of the variable under study, but cannot control many other factors that would be controlled in the lab

Answer 38

true

Question 39

t/f- part of ethics in a study involves dissemination of the research you did

a. true
b. false- though this is important, it has nothing to do with ethics
c. false- this is dependent on the results and context

Answer 39

a. true