Assignment Prompt & Instructions
descriptive/observational approaches to research.
– ## Week5resources.docx
– ## Week5instructions.docx
**## Week5resources.docx**
·
**“A Clear Day and No Memories”: Neurology, Philosophy, and Analogy in Kerry Tribe’s H.M.**
Goulish, M. (2013). “A clear day and no memories”: Neurology, philosophy, and analogy in Kerry Tribe’s H.M.
_Art Journal, 72_(3), 12–29.
·
[**Phineas Gage and his Frontal Lobe-The “American Crowbar Case”**](https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=shib&custid=natuniv&direct=true&db=mdc&AN=23074983&site=eds-live)
Guidotti, T. L. (2012). Phineas Gage and his frontal lobe-The “American Crowbar case”.
_Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, 67_(4), 249-250.
·
[**The Evolution of Charles Darwin**](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-evolution-of-charles-darwin-110234034/)
Sulloway, F. (December, 2005).
_The evolution of Charles Darwin._ Smithsonian Magazine.
·
[**The Feral Child Nicknamed Genie**](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-superhuman-mind/201707/the-feral-child-nicknamed-genie)
Brogaard, B. (2017, July 10). The feral child nicknamed Genie.
_Psychology Today._
**## Week5instructions.docx**
**Observational/Descriptive Research**
This week, you will learn more about the descriptive research methods scientists use to answer research questions that pertain to value or worth or how much of some variable is present. While reading about these different methods, begin to think more about how you might use each of these approaches with your specific research topic of interest.
Generally, observational or descriptive research is the simplest and easiest research design to use. With this type of research design, you are simply observing or describing observable behaviors. The design itself is entirely ‘hands-off’, meaning you are simply making a note of what occurs naturally, without any intervention on the part of the researcher (Gravetter & Forzano, 2018). You might have video and audiotapes to review when using this approach as a way to be less obvious to participants.
There are three basic types of descriptive research methods that psychologists frequently use, and these are
_naturalistic observation, surveys,_ and
_case studies_. In this week’s lesson, you will learn about each of these descriptive/observational research methods, along with the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
_Naturalistic observation_ is the descriptive approach Darwin used when he developed his theory of evolution while cruising in the
_Beagle_(the name of his ship) in the Galapagos Islands (Sulloway, 2005). He formulated his theory of natural selection and the concept of
_survival of the fittest_ through the descriptive method of naturalistic observation
_._
When conducting naturalistic observation, it is important to take steps to ‘blend right in’, while at the same time carefully observe whatever it is that you are studying. Your presence should go unnoticed, and as a result, you will not cause any sort of change in the behavior of the subjects you are observing. With naturalistic observation, you are trying to observe your subjects without making them aware that you are doing so. This is important to obtain a clearer picture of the truth or what is really happening. In other words, the
_normal_ or
_natural_ behavior of the participant. Otherwise, if they notice you are watching and paying attention, you may start to see noticeable changes in their behavior that do not reflect what they usually do. This is something called
_subject reactivity_, and it is what you want to avoid when using naturalistic observation as the participant behavior is no longer ‘natural’ (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). While you might not think that others' mere presence can change or influence someone’s behavior, you will be surprised to learn that it can make a huge difference.
The famous Hawthorne studies is perhaps one of the clearest examples of the issue of
_subject reactivity,_ with naturalistic observation as the research method (Intellicom, 2011). With this landmark study, scientists were interested in determining whether or not the lighting that was being used in the factory would make a difference in worker productivity. So, they went in and periodically changed the lighting in the workplace. They did so by climbing up on ladders and changing the light bulbs during working hours when the workers were present. Interestingly enough, they found that these changes led to increases in productivity for all employees, regardless of the lighting itself. They eventually realized that it was the attention they were giving the workers that led to this improved performance, not the lighting. In other words, the fact that someone was paying attention to them is what caused the change in the behavior to occur. This had nothing whatsoever to do with the lighting! This is something for you to consider when using naturalistic observation as your descriptive research method. For example, in the Hawthorne studies, it is hypothesized that if the researchers had entered at night when the employees were not there, it most likely would have had no effect on their productivity. No changes in the employee behaviors would be evident. Thankfully, however, this was not the case, and a lot was learned about research subjects and participant reactivity as a result of this famous study.
It is also important to remember with naturalistic observation, you can only study behaviors that are directly observable, meaning behaviors you can see or hear (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). You can not study a subject’s feelings, attitudes, values, or beliefs. This is a definite strength of the naturalistic observation design, for it is much more scientific and objective. However, at the same time, it is also a weakness in that you are limited to directly observable behaviors
_only_. What might you do if you want to explore an individual's attitudes, beliefs, or feelings? You could opt to use a different descriptive method called a
_survey_.
_Surveys_ are also considered a descriptive approach to research for they allow the researcher to explore more subjective inner behaviors like a participant’s attitudes, beliefs, or values. In other words, it includes their thoughts and feelings, which are not directly observable. While this is a definite strength to the use of the survey research method, there are problems with this approach as well. More specifically, people will frequently lie or try to ‘look good’ to the researcher – even when surveys are anonymous. This is something called
_social desirability_, and it is a genuine concern when using surveys. This issue is particularly relevant when the topic is a sensitive one (e.g., asking if they have ever engaged in illegal behavior). With surveys, researchers will typically provide participants with a statement of some sort, and they will then be asked to assess their level of agreement on a Likert-type scale of 1 to 5, or some other scale. Surveys
are a popular research method because they are easy to use and relatively effective in assessing an individual’s inner behaviors.
The last method of descriptive or observational research included in this week’s lesson is called a
_case study_. A case study is a more in-depth exploration of a single subject, and it is typically only used when you have an individual who is different or unique in some way (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). For example, Genie the Wild Child's case is a very famous case study about a young girl who was kept isolated from the world for the first 12 years of her life (Broggard, 2017). Because of this isolation, she basically had no language development. As a result of the research on
_Genie_, scientists came to realize that language development must occur during a critical time of overall childhood development. Otherwise, it will be delayed and difficult to obtain.
Another famous case study includes that of Phineas Gage, the man with the railroad tine through his skull who lived but experienced significant changes in his personality due to his injury (Guidotti, 2012). Even though he lived to talk about it, he would often go into fits of rage because of the damage to his brain's amygdala. Because of this accident and the case study, it is now known that the amygdala is what processes negative emotions like fear and anger. Another famous case study is that of patient H. M., who had part of his hippocampus removed to prevent him from having seizures (Goulish, 2013). As a result of his surgery, his seizures were controlled, but he could not form any new memories (anterograde amnesia). Due to the learning that occurred with patient H. M., scientists learned that the part of the brain called the hippocampus is vital for memory formation and retention.
There are many more famous case studies within psychology that you can read about if you are interested. Do you think that you might want to do something like this for your research? Who would you study? Why would they be of interest to you? What would make them original or unique in some way that would justify conducting a case study?
In addition to case studies, there is another method of descriptive research called the
_archival research approach_. Here, the researcher examines prior records of existing data, such as statistics that have been published by the government on a topic, or other historical artifacts such as pictures, documents, or even clothes (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). Something that is representative of a historical period would be an excellent example here. An important question to consider – particularly today – is there data you could use for your topic? You might be surprised to learn that there is an abundance of research available for you to review and analyze if you have interest that you can gain access to through publicly available datasets. Ask your professor for more information about this if you are interested, and review the archives to the NCU SSBS 2020 Research Conference for more discussion on just this topic!
References
Brogaard, B. (2017, July 10). The feral child nicknamed Genie.
_Psychology Today_.
Goulish, M. (2013). “A clear day and no memories”: Neurology, philosophy, and analogy in Kerry Tribe’s H.M.
_Art Journal, 72_(3), 12–29.
Gravetter, F. J., & Forzano, L. B. (2018).
_Research methods for the behavioral sciences_ (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Guidotti, T. L. (2012). Phineas Gage and his frontal lobe-The “American Crowbar case”.
_Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, 67_(4), 249-250.
INTELECOM (Producer). (2011).
_Western Electric Hawthorne studies: Results and conclusions_ [Video file]. Films on Demand.
Sulloway, F. (December, 2005). The evolution of Charles Darwin.
_Smithsonian Magazine_.
**Assignment**
Select one of the descriptive/observational approaches to research that you read about this week. Then, describe and detail this approach, and prepare a written assessment to discuss how you might use this approach to explore a topic of interest.
Be sure to address the following:
· Explain why you selected this method to study your chosen topic of interest.
· Interpret the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
· Indicate what you might do to work around these weaknesses.
· Verify whether this approach is more aligned with a qualitative or a quantitative approach to research, and then explain why.
Next, identify and explain at least one other descriptive/observational approach you might consider using when researching your topic, describe the strengths and weaknesses of this approach, what you might do to work around weaknesses, and why you would want to use it to explore your topic further. Determine whether this design is more in line with a qualitative or a quantitative approach to research, and then explain why.
Include the key similarities and differences between the two descriptive/observational approaches in a chart within your paper. You may also present this information as a graphic or other visual aid.
Length: 5-7 pages, including chart or graphic, but not including title and reference pages
References: Include a minimum of 3 scholarly resources.
Your assignment should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards
**Feedback from week 4:**
You demonstrate a strong understanding of the different types of research questions as well as some of the methods that we use to answer each different type. As you move forward in weeks 5 and 6, you will explore these methods in more detail.
In week 5, you will explore descriptive and observational methods that may be used to answer either descriptive or associative research questions, so choose one of the questions below and identify that question in the week 5 assignment before discussing two descriptive or observational methods that you may use to answer it.
Descriptive: What is the average happiness level among married versus unmarried adults aged
30 to 50?
Associative: Is there a correlation between marital status and reported happiness levels among adults aged 30 to 50?
**## Week5instructions.docx**
**Observational/Descriptive Research**
This week, you will learn more about the descriptive research methods scientists use to answer research questions that pertain to value or worth or how much of some variable is present. While reading about these different methods, begin to think more about how you might use each of these approaches with your specific research topic of interest.
Generally, observational or descriptive research is the simplest and easiest research design to use. With this type of research design, you are simply observing or describing observable behaviors. The design itself is entirely ‘hands-off’, meaning you are simply making a note of what occurs naturally, without any intervention on the part of the researcher (Gravetter & Forzano, 2018). You might have video and audiotapes to review when using this approach as a way to be less obvious to participants.
There are three basic types of descriptive research methods that psychologists frequently use, and these are
_naturalistic observation, surveys,_ and
_case studies_. In this week’s lesson, you will learn about each of these descriptive/observational research methods, along with the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
_Naturalistic observation_ is the descriptive approach Darwin used when he developed his theory of evolution while cruising in the
_Beagle_(the name of his ship) in the Galapagos Islands (Sulloway, 2005). He formulated his theory of natural selection and the concept of
_survival of the fittest_ through the descriptive method of naturalistic observation
_._
When conducting naturalistic observation, it is important to take steps to ‘blend right in’, while at the same time carefully observe whatever it is that you are studying. Your presence should go unnoticed, and as a result, you will not cause any sort of change in the behavior of the subjects you are observing. With naturalistic observation, you are trying to observe your subjects without making them aware that you are doing so. This is important to obtain a clearer picture of the truth or what is really happening. In other words, the
_normal_ or
_natural_ behavior of the participant. Otherwise, if they notice you are watching and paying attention, you may start to see noticeable changes in their behavior that do not reflect what they usually do. This is something called
_subject reactivity_, and it is what you want to avoid when using naturalistic observation as the participant behavior is no longer ‘natural’ (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). While you might not think that others' mere presence can change or influence someone’s behavior, you will be surprised to learn that it can make a huge difference.
The famous Hawthorne studies is perhaps one of the clearest examples of the issue of
_subject reactivity,_ with naturalistic observation as the research method (Intellicom, 2011). With this landmark study, scientists were interested in determining whether or not the lighting that was being used in the factory would make a difference in worker productivity. So, they went in and periodically changed the lighting in the workplace. They did so by climbing up on ladders and changing the light bulbs during working hours when the workers were present. Interestingly enough, they found that these changes led to increases in productivity for all employees, regardless of the lighting itself. They eventually realized that it was the attention they were giving the workers that led to this improved performance, not the lighting. In other words, the fact that someone was paying attention to them is what caused the change in the behavior to occur. This had nothing whatsoever to do with the lighting! This is something for you to consider when using naturalistic observation as your descriptive research method. For example, in the Hawthorne studies, it is hypothesized that if the researchers had entered at night when the employees were not there, it most likely would have had no effect on their productivity. No changes in the employee behaviors would be evident. Thankfully, however, this was not the case, and a lot was learned about research subjects and participant reactivity as a result of this famous study.
It is also important to remember with naturalistic observation, you can only study behaviors that are directly observable, meaning behaviors you can see or hear (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). You can not study a subject’s feelings, attitudes, values, or beliefs. This is a definite strength of the naturalistic observation design, for it is much more scientific and objective. However, at the same time, it is also a weakness in that you are limited to directly observable behaviors
_only_. What might you do if you want to explore an individual's attitudes, beliefs, or feelings? You could opt to use a different descriptive method called a
_survey_.
_Surveys_ are also considered a descriptive approach to research for they allow the researcher to explore more subjective inner behaviors like a participant’s attitudes, beliefs, or values. In other words, it includes their thoughts and feelings, which are not directly observable. While this is a definite strength to the use of the survey research method, there are problems with this approach as well. More specifically, people will frequently lie or try to ‘look good’ to the researcher – even when surveys are anonymous. This is something called
_social desirability_, and it is a genuine concern when using surveys. This issue is particularly relevant when the topic is a sensitive one (e.g., asking if they have ever engaged in illegal behavior). With surveys, researchers will typically provide participants with a statement of some sort, and they will then be asked to assess their level of agreement on a Likert-type scale of 1 to 5, or some other scale. Surveys
are a popular research method because they are easy to use and relatively effective in assessing an individual’s inner behaviors.
The last method of descriptive or observational research included in this week’s lesson is called a
_case study_. A case study is a more in-depth exploration of a single subject, and it is typically only used when you have an individual who is different or unique in some way (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). For example, Genie the Wild Child's case is a very famous case study about a young girl who was kept isolated from the world for the first 12 years of her life (Broggard, 2017). Because of this isolation, she basically had no language development. As a result of the research on
_Genie_, scientists came to realize that language development must occur during a critical time of overall childhood development. Otherwise, it will be delayed and difficult to obtain.
Another famous case study includes that of Phineas Gage, the man with the railroad tine through his skull who lived but experienced significant changes in his personality due to his injury (Guidotti, 2012). Even though he lived to talk about it, he would often go into fits of rage because of the damage to his brain's amygdala. Because of this accident and the case study, it is now known that the amygdala is what processes negative emotions like fear and anger. Another famous case study is that of patient H. M., who had part of his hippocampus removed to prevent him from having seizures (Goulish, 2013). As a result of his surgery, his seizures were controlled, but he could not form any new memories (anterograde amnesia). Due to the learning that occurred with patient H. M., scientists learned that the part of the brain called the hippocampus is vital for memory formation and retention.
There are many more famous case studies within psychology that you can read about if you are interested. Do you think that you might want to do something like this for your research? Who would you study? Why would they be of interest to you? What would make them original or unique in some way that would justify conducting a case study?
In addition to case studies, there is another method of descriptive research called the
_archival research approach_. Here, the researcher examines prior records of existing data, such as statistics that have been published by the government on a topic, or other historical artifacts such as pictures, documents, or even clothes (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). Something that is representative of a historical period would be an excellent example here. An important question to consider – particularly today – is there data you could use for your topic? You might be surprised to learn that there is an abundance of research available for you to review and analyze if you have interest that you can gain access to through publicly available datasets. Ask your professor for more information about this if you are interested, and review the archives to the NCU SSBS 2020 Research Conference for more discussion on just this topic!
References
Brogaard, B. (2017, July 10). The feral child nicknamed Genie.
_Psychology Today_.
Goulish, M. (2013). “A clear day and no memories”: Neurology, philosophy, and analogy in Kerry Tribe’s H.M.
_Art Journal, 72_(3), 12–29.
Gravetter, F. J., & Forzano, L. B. (2018).
_Research methods for the behavioral sciences_ (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Guidotti, T. L. (2012). Phineas Gage and his frontal lobe-The “American Crowbar case”.
_Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, 67_(4), 249-250.
INTELECOM (Producer). (2011).
_Western Electric Hawthorne studies: Results and conclusions_ [Video file]. Films on Demand.
Sulloway, F. (December, 2005). The evolution of Charles Darwin.
_Smithsonian Magazine_.
**Assignment**
Select one of the descriptive/observational approaches to research that you read about this week. Then, describe and detail this approach, and prepare a written assessment to discuss how you might use this approach to explore a topic of interest.
Be sure to address the following:
· Explain why you selected this method to study your chosen topic of interest.
· Interpret the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
· Indicate what you might do to work around these weaknesses.
· Verify whether this approach is more aligned with a qualitative or a quantitative approach to research, and then explain why.
Next, identify and explain at least one other descriptive/observational approach you might consider using when researching your topic, describe the strengths and weaknesses of this approach, what you might do to work around weaknesses, and why you would want to use it to explore your topic further. Determine whether this design is more in line with a qualitative or a quantitative approach to research, and then explain why.
Include the key similarities and differences between the two descriptive/observational approaches in a chart within your paper. You may also present this information as a graphic or other visual aid.
Length: 5-7 pages, including chart or graphic, but not including title and reference pages
References: Include a minimum of 3 scholarly resources.
Your assignment should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards
**Feedback from week 4:**
You demonstrate a strong understanding of the different types of research questions as well as some of the methods that we use to answer each different type. As you move forward in weeks 5 and 6, you will explore these methods in more detail.
In week 5, you will explore descriptive and observational methods that may be used to answer either descriptive or associative research questions, so choose one of the questions below and identify that question in the week 5 assignment before discussing two descriptive or observational methods that you may use to answer it.
Descriptive: What is the average happiness level among married versus unmarried adults aged
30 to 50?
Associative: Is there a correlation between marital status and reported happiness levels among adults aged 30 to 50?
**## Week5resources.docx**
·
**“A Clear Day and No Memories”: Neurology, Philosophy, and Analogy in Kerry Tribe’s H.M.**
Goulish, M. (2013). “A clear day and no memories”: Neurology, philosophy, and analogy in Kerry Tribe’s H.M.
_Art Journal, 72_(3), 12–29.
·
[**Phineas Gage and his Frontal Lobe-The “American Crowbar Case”**](https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=shib&custid=natuniv&direct=true&db=mdc&AN=23074983&site=eds-live)
Guidotti, T. L. (2012). Phineas Gage and his frontal lobe-The “American Crowbar case”.
_Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, 67_(4), 249-250.
·
[**The Evolution of Charles Darwin**](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-evolution-of-charles-darwin-110234034/)
Sulloway, F. (December, 2005).
_The evolution of Charles Darwin._ Smithsonian Magazine.
·
[**The Feral Child Nicknamed Genie**](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-superhuman-mind/201707/the-feral-child-nicknamed-genie)
Brogaard, B. (2017, July 10). The feral child nicknamed Genie.
_Psychology Today._
**## Week5instructions.docx**
**Observational/Descriptive Research**
This week, you will learn more about the descriptive research methods scientists use to answer research questions that pertain to value or worth or how much of some variable is present. While reading about these different methods, begin to think more about how you might use each of these approaches with your specific research topic of interest.
Generally, observational or descriptive research is the simplest and easiest research design to use. With this type of research design, you are simply observing or describing observable behaviors. The design itself is entirely ‘hands-off’, meaning you are simply making a note of what occurs naturally, without any intervention on the part of the researcher (Gravetter & Forzano, 2018). You might have video and audiotapes to review when using this approach as a way to be less obvious to participants.
There are three basic types of descriptive research methods that psychologists frequently use, and these are
_naturalistic observation, surveys,_ and
_case studies_. In this week’s lesson, you will learn about each of these descriptive/observational research methods, along with the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
_Naturalistic observation_ is the descriptive approach Darwin used when he developed his theory of evolution while cruising in the
_Beagle_(the name of his ship) in the Galapagos Islands (Sulloway, 2005). He formulated his theory of natural selection and the concept of
_survival of the fittest_ through the descriptive method of naturalistic observation
_._
When conducting naturalistic observation, it is important to take steps to ‘blend right in’, while at the same time carefully observe whatever it is that you are studying. Your presence should go unnoticed, and as a result, you will not cause any sort of change in the behavior of the subjects you are observing. With naturalistic observation, you are trying to observe your subjects without making them aware that you are doing so. This is important to obtain a clearer picture of the truth or what is really happening. In other words, the
_normal_ or
_natural_ behavior of the participant. Otherwise, if they notice you are watching and paying attention, you may start to see noticeable changes in their behavior that do not reflect what they usually do. This is something called
_subject reactivity_, and it is what you want to avoid when using naturalistic observation as the participant behavior is no longer ‘natural’ (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). While you might not think that others' mere presence can change or influence someone’s behavior, you will be surprised to learn that it can make a huge difference.
The famous Hawthorne studies is perhaps one of the clearest examples of the issue of
_subject reactivity,_ with naturalistic observation as the research method (Intellicom, 2011). With this landmark study, scientists were interested in determining whether or not the lighting that was being used in the factory would make a difference in worker productivity. So, they went in and periodically changed the lighting in the workplace. They did so by climbing up on ladders and changing the light bulbs during working hours when the workers were present. Interestingly enough, they found that these changes led to increases in productivity for all employees, regardless of the lighting itself. They eventually realized that it was the attention they were giving the workers that led to this improved performance, not the lighting. In other words, the fact that someone was paying attention to them is what caused the change in the behavior to occur. This had nothing whatsoever to do with the lighting! This is something for you to consider when using naturalistic observation as your descriptive research method. For example, in the Hawthorne studies, it is hypothesized that if the researchers had entered at night when the employees were not there, it most likely would have had no effect on their productivity. No changes in the employee behaviors would be evident. Thankfully, however, this was not the case, and a lot was learned about research subjects and participant reactivity as a result of this famous study.
It is also important to remember with naturalistic observation, you can only study behaviors that are directly observable, meaning behaviors you can see or hear (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). You can not study a subject’s feelings, attitudes, values, or beliefs. This is a definite strength of the naturalistic observation design, for it is much more scientific and objective. However, at the same time, it is also a weakness in that you are limited to directly observable behaviors
_only_. What might you do if you want to explore an individual's attitudes, beliefs, or feelings? You could opt to use a different descriptive method called a
_survey_.
_Surveys_ are also considered a descriptive approach to research for they allow the researcher to explore more subjective inner behaviors like a participant’s attitudes, beliefs, or values. In other words, it includes their thoughts and feelings, which are not directly observable. While this is a definite strength to the use of the survey research method, there are problems with this approach as well. More specifically, people will frequently lie or try to ‘look good’ to the researcher – even when surveys are anonymous. This is something called
_social desirability_, and it is a genuine concern when using surveys. This issue is particularly relevant when the topic is a sensitive one (e.g., asking if they have ever engaged in illegal behavior). With surveys, researchers will typically provide participants with a statement of some sort, and they will then be asked to assess their level of agreement on a Likert-type scale of 1 to 5, or some other scale. Surveys
are a popular research method because they are easy to use and relatively effective in assessing an individual’s inner behaviors.
The last method of descriptive or observational research included in this week’s lesson is called a
_case study_. A case study is a more in-depth exploration of a single subject, and it is typically only used when you have an individual who is different or unique in some way (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). For example, Genie the Wild Child's case is a very famous case study about a young girl who was kept isolated from the world for the first 12 years of her life (Broggard, 2017). Because of this isolation, she basically had no language development. As a result of the research on
_Genie_, scientists came to realize that language development must occur during a critical time of overall childhood development. Otherwise, it will be delayed and difficult to obtain.
Another famous case study includes that of Phineas Gage, the man with the railroad tine through his skull who lived but experienced significant changes in his personality due to his injury (Guidotti, 2012). Even though he lived to talk about it, he would often go into fits of rage because of the damage to his brain's amygdala. Because of this accident and the case study, it is now known that the amygdala is what processes negative emotions like fear and anger. Another famous case study is that of patient H. M., who had part of his hippocampus removed to prevent him from having seizures (Goulish, 2013). As a result of his surgery, his seizures were controlled, but he could not form any new memories (anterograde amnesia). Due to the learning that occurred with patient H. M., scientists learned that the part of the brain called the hippocampus is vital for memory formation and retention.
There are many more famous case studies within psychology that you can read about if you are interested. Do you think that you might want to do something like this for your research? Who would you study? Why would they be of interest to you? What would make them original or unique in some way that would justify conducting a case study?
In addition to case studies, there is another method of descriptive research called the
_archival research approach_. Here, the researcher examines prior records of existing data, such as statistics that have been published by the government on a topic, or other historical artifacts such as pictures, documents, or even clothes (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). Something that is representative of a historical period would be an excellent example here. An important question to consider – particularly today – is there data you could use for your topic? You might be surprised to learn that there is an abundance of research available for you to review and analyze if you have interest that you can gain access to through publicly available datasets. Ask your professor for more information about this if you are interested, and review the archives to the NCU SSBS 2020 Research Conference for more discussion on just this topic!
References
Brogaard, B. (2017, July 10). The feral child nicknamed Genie.
_Psychology Today_.
Goulish, M. (2013). “A clear day and no memories”: Neurology, philosophy, and analogy in Kerry Tribe’s H.M.
_Art Journal, 72_(3), 12–29.
Gravetter, F. J., & Forzano, L. B. (2018).
_Research methods for the behavioral sciences_ (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Guidotti, T. L. (2012). Phineas Gage and his frontal lobe-The “American Crowbar case”.
_Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, 67_(4), 249-250.
INTELECOM (Producer). (2011).
_Western Electric Hawthorne studies: Results and conclusions_ [Video file]. Films on Demand.
Sulloway, F. (December, 2005). The evolution of Charles Darwin.
_Smithsonian Magazine_.
**Assignment**
Select one of the descriptive/observational approaches to research that you read about this week. Then, describe and detail this approach, and prepare a written assessment to discuss how you might use this approach to explore a topic of interest.
Be sure to address the following:
· Explain why you selected this method to study your chosen topic of interest.
· Interpret the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
· Indicate what you might do to work around these weaknesses.
· Verify whether this approach is more aligned with a qualitative or a quantitative approach to research, and then explain why.
Next, identify and explain at least one other descriptive/observational approach you might consider using when researching your topic, describe the strengths and weaknesses of this approach, what you might do to work around weaknesses, and why you would want to use it to explore your topic further. Determine whether this design is more in line with a qualitative or a quantitative approach to research, and then explain why.
Include the key similarities and differences between the two descriptive/observational approaches in a chart within your paper. You may also present this information as a graphic or other visual aid.
Length: 5-7 pages, including chart or graphic, but not including title and reference pages
References: Include a minimum of 3 scholarly resources.
Your assignment should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards
**Feedback from week 4:**
You demonstrate a strong understanding of the different types of research questions as well as some of the methods that we use to answer each different type. As you move forward in weeks 5 and 6, you will explore these methods in more detail.
In week 5, you will explore descriptive and observational methods that may be used to answer either descriptive or associative research questions, so choose one of the questions below and identify that question in the week 5 assignment before discussing two descriptive or observational methods that you may use to answer it.
Descriptive: What is the average happiness level among married versus unmarried adults aged
30 to 50?
Associative: Is there a correlation between marital status and reported happiness levels among adults aged 30 to 50?
**## Week5resources.docx**
·
**“A Clear Day and No Memories”: Neurology, Philosophy, and Analogy in Kerry Tribe’s H.M.**
Goulish, M. (2013). “A clear day and no memories”: Neurology, philosophy, and analogy in Kerry Tribe’s H.M.
_Art Journal, 72_(3), 12–29.
·
[**Phineas Gage and his Frontal Lobe-The “American Crowbar Case”**](https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=shib&custid=natuniv&direct=true&db=mdc&AN=23074983&site=eds-live)
Guidotti, T. L. (2012). Phineas Gage and his frontal lobe-The “American Crowbar case”.
_Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, 67_(4), 249-250.
·
[**The Evolution of Charles Darwin**](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-evolution-of-charles-darwin-110234034/)
Sulloway, F. (December, 2005).
_The evolution of Charles Darwin._ Smithsonian Magazine.
·
[**The Feral Child Nicknamed Genie**](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-superhuman-mind/201707/the-feral-child-nicknamed-genie)
Brogaard, B. (2017, July 10). The feral child nicknamed Genie.
_Psychology Today._
**## Week5instructions.docx**
**Observational/Descriptive Research**
This week, you will learn more about the descriptive research methods scientists use to answer research questions that pertain to value or worth or how much of some variable is present. While reading about these different methods, begin to think more about how you might use each of these approaches with your specific research topic of interest.
Generally, observational or descriptive research is the simplest and easiest research design to use. With this type of research design, you are simply observing or describing observable behaviors. The design itself is entirely ‘hands-off’, meaning you are simply making a note of what occurs naturally, without any intervention on the part of the researcher (Gravetter & Forzano, 2018). You might have video and audiotapes to review when using this approach as a way to be less obvious to participants.
There are three basic types of descriptive research methods that psychologists frequently use, and these are
_naturalistic observation, surveys,_ and
_case studies_. In this week’s lesson, you will learn about each of these descriptive/observational research methods, along with the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
_Naturalistic observation_ is the descriptive approach Darwin used when he developed his theory of evolution while cruising in the
_Beagle_(the name of his ship) in the Galapagos Islands (Sulloway, 2005). He formulated his theory of natural selection and the concept of
_survival of the fittest_ through the descriptive method of naturalistic observation
_._
When conducting naturalistic observation, it is important to take steps to ‘blend right in’, while at the same time carefully observe whatever it is that you are studying. Your presence should go unnoticed, and as a result, you will not cause any sort of change in the behavior of the subjects you are observing. With naturalistic observation, you are trying to observe your subjects without making them aware that you are doing so. This is important to obtain a clearer picture of the truth or what is really happening. In other words, the
_normal_ or
_natural_ behavior of the participant. Otherwise, if they notice you are watching and paying attention, you may start to see noticeable changes in their behavior that do not reflect what they usually do. This is something called
_subject reactivity_, and it is what you want to avoid when using naturalistic observation as the participant behavior is no longer ‘natural’ (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). While you might not think that others' mere presence can change or influence someone’s behavior, you will be surprised to learn that it can make a huge difference.
The famous Hawthorne studies is perhaps one of the clearest examples of the issue of
_subject reactivity,_ with naturalistic observation as the research method (Intellicom, 2011). With this landmark study, scientists were interested in determining whether or not the lighting that was being used in the factory would make a difference in worker productivity. So, they went in and periodically changed the lighting in the workplace. They did so by climbing up on ladders and changing the light bulbs during working hours when the workers were present. Interestingly enough, they found that these changes led to increases in productivity for all employees, regardless of the lighting itself. They eventually realized that it was the attention they were giving the workers that led to this improved performance, not the lighting. In other words, the fact that someone was paying attention to them is what caused the change in the behavior to occur. This had nothing whatsoever to do with the lighting! This is something for you to consider when using naturalistic observation as your descriptive research method. For example, in the Hawthorne studies, it is hypothesized that if the researchers had entered at night when the employees were not there, it most likely would have had no effect on their productivity. No changes in the employee behaviors would be evident. Thankfully, however, this was not the case, and a lot was learned about research subjects and participant reactivity as a result of this famous study.
It is also important to remember with naturalistic observation, you can only study behaviors that are directly observable, meaning behaviors you can see or hear (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). You can not study a subject’s feelings, attitudes, values, or beliefs. This is a definite strength of the naturalistic observation design, for it is much more scientific and objective. However, at the same time, it is also a weakness in that you are limited to directly observable behaviors
_only_. What might you do if you want to explore an individual's attitudes, beliefs, or feelings? You could opt to use a different descriptive method called a
_survey_.
_Surveys_ are also considered a descriptive approach to research for they allow the researcher to explore more subjective inner behaviors like a participant’s attitudes, beliefs, or values. In other words, it includes their thoughts and feelings, which are not directly observable. While this is a definite strength to the use of the survey research method, there are problems with this approach as well. More specifically, people will frequently lie or try to ‘look good’ to the researcher – even when surveys are anonymous. This is something called
_social desirability_, and it is a genuine concern when using surveys. This issue is particularly relevant when the topic is a sensitive one (e.g., asking if they have ever engaged in illegal behavior). With surveys, researchers will typically provide participants with a statement of some sort, and they will then be asked to assess their level of agreement on a Likert-type scale of 1 to 5, or some other scale. Surveys
are a popular research method because they are easy to use and relatively effective in assessing an individual’s inner behaviors.
The last method of descriptive or observational research included in this week’s lesson is called a
_case study_. A case study is a more in-depth exploration of a single subject, and it is typically only used when you have an individual who is different or unique in some way (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). For example, Genie the Wild Child's case is a very famous case study about a young girl who was kept isolated from the world for the first 12 years of her life (Broggard, 2017). Because of this isolation, she basically had no language development. As a result of the research on
_Genie_, scientists came to realize that language development must occur during a critical time of overall childhood development. Otherwise, it will be delayed and difficult to obtain.
Another famous case study includes that of Phineas Gage, the man with the railroad tine through his skull who lived but experienced significant changes in his personality due to his injury (Guidotti, 2012). Even though he lived to talk about it, he would often go into fits of rage because of the damage to his brain's amygdala. Because of this accident and the case study, it is now known that the amygdala is what processes negative emotions like fear and anger. Another famous case study is that of patient H. M., who had part of his hippocampus removed to prevent him from having seizures (Goulish, 2013). As a result of his surgery, his seizures were controlled, but he could not form any new memories (anterograde amnesia). Due to the learning that occurred with patient H. M., scientists learned that the part of the brain called the hippocampus is vital for memory formation and retention.
There are many more famous case studies within psychology that you can read about if you are interested. Do you think that you might want to do something like this for your research? Who would you study? Why would they be of interest to you? What would make them original or unique in some way that would justify conducting a case study?
In addition to case studies, there is another method of descriptive research called the
_archival research approach_. Here, the researcher examines prior records of existing data, such as statistics that have been published by the government on a topic, or other historical artifacts such as pictures, documents, or even clothes (Gravetter & Foranzo, 2018). Something that is representative of a historical period would be an excellent example here. An important question to consider – particularly today – is there data you could use for your topic? You might be surprised to learn that there is an abundance of research available for you to review and analyze if you have interest that you can gain access to through publicly available datasets. Ask your professor for more information about this if you are interested, and review the archives to the NCU SSBS 2020 Research Conference for more discussion on just this topic!
References
Brogaard, B. (2017, July 10). The feral child nicknamed Genie.
_Psychology Today_.
Goulish, M. (2013). “A clear day and no memories”: Neurology, philosophy, and analogy in Kerry Tribe’s H.M.
_Art Journal, 72_(3), 12–29.
Gravetter, F. J., & Forzano, L. B. (2018).
_Research methods for the behavioral sciences_ (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Guidotti, T. L. (2012). Phineas Gage and his frontal lobe-The “American Crowbar case”.
_Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, 67_(4), 249-250.
INTELECOM (Producer). (2011).
_Western Electric Hawthorne studies: Results and conclusions_ [Video file]. Films on Demand.
Sulloway, F. (December, 2005). The evolution of Charles Darwin.
_Smithsonian Magazine_.
**Assignment**
Select one of the descriptive/observational approaches to research that you read about this week. Then, describe and detail this approach, and prepare a written assessment to discuss how you might use this approach to explore a topic of interest.
Be sure to address the following:
· Explain why you selected this method to study your chosen topic of interest.
· Interpret the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
· Indicate what you might do to work around these weaknesses.
· Verify whether this approach is more aligned with a qualitative or a quantitative approach to research, and then explain why.
Next, identify and explain at least one other descriptive/observational approach you might consider using when researching your topic, describe the strengths and weaknesses of this approach, what you might do to work around weaknesses, and why you would want to use it to explore your topic further. Determine whether this design is more in line with a qualitative or a quantitative approach to research, and then explain why.
Include the key similarities and differences between the two descriptive/observational approaches in a chart within your paper. You may also present this information as a graphic or other visual aid.
Length: 5-7 pages, including chart or graphic, but not including title and reference pages
References: Include a minimum of 3 scholarly resources.
Your assignment should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards
**Feedback from week 4:**
You demonstrate a strong understanding of the different types of research questions as well as some of the methods that we use to answer each different type. As you move forward in weeks 5 and 6, you will explore these methods in more detail.
In week 5, you will explore descriptive and observational methods that may be used to answer either descriptive or associative research questions, so choose one of the questions below and identify that question in the week 5 assignment before discussing two descriptive or observational methods that you may use to answer it.
Descriptive: What is the average happiness level among married versus unmarried adults aged
30 to 50?
Associative: Is there a correlation between marital status and reported happiness levels among adults aged 30 to 50?
– 1
– 2