The Descriptive Research Strategy

Question 1

What is the main goal of the descriptive research strategy?

Answer 1

To describe individual variables to capture interesting, naturally occuring behaviour

Question 2

What are the 3 different types of descriptive research designs?

Answer 2

1. Observational
2. Survey
3. Case study

Question 3

How is the descriptive research strategy different from experimental or nonexperimental research strategies?

Answer 3

It does not concern the relationship between variables

Question 4

What does a researcher do in the observational research design?

Answer 4

They observe and systematically record the behaviour of individuals to describe such behaviour

Question 5

What is behavioural observation?

Answer 5

Direct observation and systematic recording of behaviours

Question 6

What two measurement problems arise when using behavioural observation?

Answer 6

1. Behaviours must not be disrupted to avoid demand characteristics
2. Observation and measurement requires some subjectivity by the observer

Question 7

What is known as the process of repeatedly exposing individuals to the observer’s presence until it no longer is a novel stimulus?

Answer 7

Habituation

Question 8

What are behaviour categories?

Answer 8

Categories of behaviour to be observed determined before the observation process

Question 9

There are 3 techniques to convert observations into numerical scores to describe individuals and groups. What are these 3 quantifying observations?

Answer 9

1. Frequency method - counting instances of each specific behaviour in a specific time period
2. Duration method - recording how much time is spent engaged in a specific behaviour
3. Interval method - dividing observation period into segments, then recording if the specific behaviour happened in each segment

Question 10

There are 3 different types of sampling observations. What are they?

Answer 10

1. Time sampling - a sequence of observing and recording behaviours
2. Event sampling - identifying one behaviour to observe for an interval, then moving to another behaviour for another interval
3. Individual sampling - identifying one participant to observe for an interval, then moving to another

Question 11

What does content analysis involve?

Answer 11

Using techniques of behavioural observation to measure the occurrence of specific events in fictional or artificial sources like TV shows or books that demonstrate replicas of behaviours

Question 12

What type of research involves looking at historical records to measure behaviours or events that happened in the past?

Answer 12

Archival research

Question 13

When a researcher records and observes behaviour in a natural setting without intervention, what type of observation are they engaging in?

Answer 13

Naturalistic observation

Question 14

Why does naturalistic observation have high degrees of external validity?

Answer 14

The behaviours are examined in real-world settings as opposed to laboratories

Question 15

In order to engage in participant observation, what must the researcher do?

Answer 15

They must engage in the same activities as the people being observed in order to observe and record their behaviour

Question 16

What is the type of observation that observes the behaviour in settings arranged specifically to facilitate the occurrence of certain behaviours?

Answer 16

Contrived/structured observation

Question 17

What is an ethical concern over observational research?

Answer 17

If participants are unaware that they are being observed, the researcher may be violating a person’s privacy and right to participate in the study

Question 18

True or false: every study that has a survey is considered a survey research design.

Answer 18

False

Question 19

What is the defining element of the survey research design?

Answer 19

The results of the survey are used to simply describe the variables being studied

Question 20

What is the goal of a survey research design?

Answer 20

To obtain a “snapshot” of the particular group at a given time about their personal beliefs, behaviours, etc.

Question 21

There are 3 general types of self-report questions. What are they?

Answer 21

1. Open-ended questions - few restrictions that allow for broad answers
2. Restricted questions - multiple choice questions that allow for specific answers
3. Rating-scale questions - selecting a choice based on a predetermined scale from very negative to very positive

Question 22

A rating-scale type question that participants mark their answer with a circle or X at the location corresponding to their response is often called what?

Answer 22

A Likert scale

Question 23

The opposite ends of a Likert scale are referred to as what?

Answer 23

Anchors

Question 24

What is the participant’s tendency to answer most if not all questions the same way called?

Answer 24

Response set

Question 25

What are the 4 most common methods of distributing surveys?

Answer 25

1. Internet
2. Mail
3. Telephone
4. In-person

Question 26

What does a case study design involve?

Answer 26

The in-depth study and detailed description of a single individual or small group

Question 27

When a case study does not include treatment or intervention, what is it called?

Answer 27

A case history

Question 28

What type of approach involves the intensive study of a single individual?

Answer 28

Idiographic approach