Quantitative Observations

Question 1

Demand Characteristics

Answer 1

Aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave the way they think an observer wants or expects them to behave.

Question 2

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 2

A technique for gathering scientific knowledge by unobtrusively observing people in their natural environments.

Question 3

Two Issues with Naturalistic Observation

Answer 3

1. If an event does not occur naturally or very often.

2. If an event only occurs through interaction.

Question 4

Surveys are good for observing:

Answer 4

Attitudes, beliefs, then behaviours, in that order.

Question 5

Measures to Avoid Demand Characteristics

Answer 5

Privacy, anonymity, involuntary reactions, blindness.

Question 6

Privacy

Answer 6

No one is watching or looking.

Question 7

Anonymity

Answer 7

Removing name, giving number. The participant cannot be held accountable for their actions, and are more likely to act naturally.

Question 8

Example of Involuntary Reaction

Answer 8

Pupils dilating when excited.

Question 9

Blind Studies

Answer 9

Keep true purpose of research study hidden through cover stories or filler items/measures (lying to participant).

Question 10

Observer Expectations Can Influence:

Answer 10

• How something is observer.

- How someone behaves.

Question 11

Double Blind Study

Answer 11

An observation whose true purpose is hidden from both the researcher and the participant. Can be facilitated through the use of computers or research assistants.

Question 12

Correlation

Answer 12

Used to determine relation and causation, and explain why. The co-relationship or pattern of co-variation between wo variables, each which has been measured several times.

Question 13

Variable

Answer 13

A property whose value can vary and change. Example, insulted or not insulted and agreed to give time or not.

Question 14

Two Types of Correlation Coefficient

Answer 14

Positive and negative correlation.

Question 15

Positive Correlation

Answer 15

More-more or less-less (spinach increasing longevity).

Question 16

Negative Correlation

Answer 16

More-less or less-more (bacon decreasing longevity.

Question 17

r

Answer 17

Measures direction and strength of relationship between two variables.

Question 18

r=1

Answer 18

Perfect positive relationship.

Question 19

r=-1

Answer 19

Perfect negative relationship.

Question 20

r=0

Answer 20

No relationship.

Question 21

Natural Correlation

Answer 21

A correlation observed between naturally occuring variables.

Question 22

Example of: all variables that are causally related are correlated, but not all variables that are correlated are causally related.

Answer 22

Three possibilities (X=watching violent TV, Y=aggressiveness, Z=lack of parental supervision).
o X can cause Y,
o Y can cause X, or
o Z can cause X and Y.

Question 23

Third Variable Correlation

Answer 23

Two variables (X and Y) are correlated only because each is causally related to a third variable (Z).

Question 24

Observational Techniques

Answer 24

Matched samples and matched pairs.

Question 25

Third Variable Problem

Answer 25

When measuring natural correlations you can NEVER eliminate the possibility of third variable correlation.