Descriptive Studies

Scientists gather evidence to support their hypotheses by using DIFFERENT METHODS depending on What QUESTION they want

to answer.

Objectives

• Discuss descriptive studies • Describe case studies• Analyze observational studies• Compare and contrast Tests and surveys

Types of Descriptive on left

Who’s going to participate?...Select participants

• Subjects for the study. Scientist NEED FOR MEASUREMENTS

• Representative sample- A group of participants that accurately represents the larger population the researcher is interested in.

• F.E. drug use among college sophomores. • Not practical every soph in nation • So use selection process to ensure, gender,

sociocultural, and religious div.• Tall order

Rep. sample

Sample Size

• Less important than reps.• Use who is available, college students• May be bad because sample is who is

available

Descriptive Methods Objective#2

• Allow researchers to describe and predict behavior but not necessarily to choose one explanation over competing ones

1. Case studies (case history) detailed description of a particular individual, based on careful observation or on psychological testing

Case Studies: many examples in class

• Info about childhood, dreams, experiences, relationships, hopes

• Clinicians, academic researchers• Can children who miss out on language

development catch up later?• Can’t isolate children then test• 13 yr old Genie; isolated beaten= No

pronouns, past tense, possession

Positives/Negatives

• Produce detailed picture of person• Good source of hypotheses, Extreme case can

shed light on situation that is unethical in another form (genie)

• DRAWBACKS: Info missing or hard to interpret, F.E. Genie mental defect? D.K.

• Report selective memories, inaccurate memories.

• Unrepresentative of the group, bias

2. Observational Studies#objective3

• Researcher observes, measures, records, behaviors while taking care to avoid intruding on the people (or animals) being observed

• 2 unlike observational studies • Naturalistic Observation- find out how people

or other animals act in their normal social environments

• School, home, playgrounds, office• However need to be sneaky

Natural Environment

On the other hand

• Could Prefer laboratory observation- more control, sophisticated equipment, clear line of vision

• F.E. measure how infants react when parents leave.• Bring kids in, parents can leave= measure• However lab setting= may act differently• More for describing than explaining behavior• Why kid cries not sure? Only based on observation

not inside head

Lab Observation

3. Tests

• Psychological tests (assessment instruments) procedures for measuring and evaluating personality traits, emotional states, aptitudes, interests, abilities and values

• Objective tests- measure beliefs, feelings behaviors; which individual is aware

• Projective tests- Tap unconscious feelings, motives (ink blot)

Objective test

Projective test? What do you see

What Happened?

What’s going on here?

Thoughts?

You are Projecting right now!

Qualities of a good tests/ types of tests

• Personality test• Achievement test• Vocational aptitude test• Education, military, industry• Standardized- where uniform procedures exist

for giving and scoring a test. • Norms- established standards of performance• Norms determine high and low

Standard Test= Same

Qualities of a good test

• Reliable- Must produce same results from time to time, 1 place to the next

• Valid- Must measure what it is designed to measure

• Criteria- Ability to predict independent measures

• 7 types of lover in Cosmo…just some cool questions NOT good test!

Your target for a test

Survey- #4

• Questionnaires, interviews, that gather information directly about their experiences, attitudes, opinions

• F.E. Gallup or Roper Polls or FAMILY FUED• Positive- Big sample, internet, diverse• Ask directly

Questions

Negatives Surveys

• Who are you polling? conservative talk show?• Volunteer bias- People who feel strongly may

seek out surveys HOWEVER people feeling other way may not participate

• People lie! Especially touchy sub.• F.E. Alfred Kinsey. How many times have you

masturbated? Vs. have you ever masturbated

You guys voting for Jobs or cuts?

QUESTIONS?

• Compare and contrast Objective/ Subjective tests

• Describe case studies; observations (2), surveys