Week 7 --- Nonexperimental / Survey Research

nonexperimental research

• examines variables for an association w/ other variables

• independent variable is NOT manipulated

observational research

• looking at the effects of being exposed to a particular variable

• variable must be observed as it occurs naturally

independent variable

cause

dependent variable

effect

extraneous variables

external, likely also influences the dependent variable, but is not the interest of the study

establishing causality

1. concomitant variation (concurrent)

2. temporal priority (X must cause, Y must effect)

3. rule out spurious causes (other variables that could be relevant)

ecological study

applies to a group of people

presence of a disease

case series

describe the characteristics of a population with a disease / unusual symptoms

cross-sectional study

looking at several groups within one point in a period of time

case control study

group w disease + group without disease

cohort study

tracking a group with a common characteristic and monitoring health outcomes over time

types of nonexperimental research

observational and survey research

survey research

• participants are given a series of questions

• collects experiences, attitudes, beliefs, opinions, etc

survey design

• survey title

• introduction

  • aims/purpose of the study, sources of funding for the study, etc

• professional contact info

• survey

• thanks/conclusion

survey questions

• simple, understandable, concise

• avoid of bias or assumptions

• no leading questions

• one at a time

pilot testing

the first round of practice for a survey

double-barred questions

• to be avoided

• complex questions that do not have a simple answer