PS300: Research Methods I
Unit 9 Assignment
Please review each scenario and then answer the corresponding questions for each.
Dr. Geller has a new client that has a very rare disorder that not much is known about. She wants to conduct a study to learn more about the disorder.
· Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why?
· Describe briefly how she could structure her study.
· What are strengths and limitations of this study method?
· What is observer bias?
· How could this affect the study results?
· How could a researcher work around this?
Dr. Hu wants to conduct a study to see if music therapy causes a reduction in compulsive behavior in patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
· Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why?
· Describe briefly how she could structure her study.
· What are strengths and limitations of this study method?
· What is attrition as a source of study error?
· How could this affect the study results?
· How could a researcher work around this?
A teacher wants to collect data to see if scheduled movement breaks help her class to show less off-task behavior during lectures and tests.
· Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why?
· Describe briefly how she could structure her study.
· What are strengths and limitations of this study method?
· What is subject reactivity?
· How could this affect the study results?
· How could a researcher work around this?
A researcher wants to see if smokers consume alcohol more frequently than non-smokers do.
· Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why?
· Describe briefly how she could structure her study.
· What are strengths and limitations of this study method?
· What is instrumentation error?
· How could this affect the study results?
· How could a researcher work around this?
A researcher wants to gather data on whether diet or exercise are associated with life satisfaction.
· Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why?
· Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why?
· Describe briefly how she could structure her study.
· What are strengths and limitations of this study method?
· What is non-response bias?
· How could this affect the study results?
· How could a researcher work around this?
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