Reserch Methods

Question 1

Difficulties in applying reserch to practice

Answer 1

• Different communities, different goals
• Research often doesn’t give clear-cut answers that can be used for practice
• Difficult to generalize research across populations, contexts, situations
• Research findings may be difficult to understand for those not in the field, are not always presented in accessible formats, and can be misrepresented/misinterpreted
• Barriers in implementation: funding, time, compliance, systems, etc.
• Different “deadlines” for results
• Researchers often not rewarded for applying research

Question 2

Reserch methods

Answer 2

• Descriptive designs
• Correlational design
• Experimental design

Question 3

Descriptive design

Answer 3

• Observe and collect data
• Goal to describe variables/experiences in their current state

Question 4

Correlational design

Answer 4

• Determine whether there is a relationship between 2 variables
• Do children who differ on variable 1 also differ on variable 2?
• Variables are not manipulated, just measured
• Correlation ≠ causation
  -Third variables

Question 5

pro

Answer 5

• Researcher doesn’t manipulate anything→measure people as they are (more generalizable to real-life?)
• Learn about relationships between variables

Question 6

cons

Answer 6

• Cannot learn about cause & effect
• Correlation ≠ causation

Question 7

Experimental designs

Answer 7

• Able to examine cause-effect relations
• Research manipulates the independent variable → participants are randomly assigned to different groups
• Do differences in the independent variable cause differences in the dependent variable?

Question 8

pros

Answer 8

Can learn about cause & effect

Question 9

cons

Answer 9

• Must be able to assign randomly participants to different conditions
• Can be ethically difficult to conduct
• May be less externally valid = may not be as valuable when applied to the real world
  ex mimkinng harsh punishment but is it similar to the real world?
• In order to make conclusions about cause and effect, one must eliminate all confounds

Question 10

Longitudinal Design

Answer 10

Same participants tested repeatedly at different ages (same group/different times)

Question 11

cons

Answer 11

• cohort issues: is there something specific about this generation?
• issue of participants continuing/not giving up

Question 12

Cross-Sectional Design

Answer 12

• Different groups of participants tested at different ages around the same time (different groups/same time)

Question 13

ETHICS: RISKS VS BENEFITS

Answer 13

• Do the benefits to be gained from a study outweigh any Potential risks?

-Physical risk
-Psychological risk

Question 14

Responsibility

Answer 14

Does the weight of research findings justify applying them to privately/publicly funded programs?