Skill # 02

I can classify a study as observational (prospective or retrospective) or experimental, and determine and explain whether the study’s results can be generalized to the population and whether they suggest correlation or causation between the variables studied.

Researchers studying the relationship between honesty, age and self control conducted an EXPERIMENT on 160 children between the ages 5 and 15. Participants reported their age, sex, and whether they were a child or not. The researchers asked each child to toss a fair coin in private and to record the outcome (white or black) on a paper sheet, and said they would only reward children who report white.

The study CAN be used to establish casual relationship because this is an EXPERIMENT.

A study SURVEYED a random sample of otherwise healthy high school students found that they are more likely to get muscle cramps when they are stressed. The study also noted that students drink more coffee and sleep less when they are stressed.

This study CANNOT be used to conclude that increased stress causes muscle cramps because this is an (Prospective) OBSERVATIONAL study.

The transition to college life often brings changes in sleep patterns due to academic, social, and lifestyle factors. Researchers are interested in understanding the RETROSPECTIVE relationship between students' sleep habits during their first semester and their subsequent academic performance. The goal is to identify patterns that may inform strategies for promoting better sleep hygiene and academic success.

This study CANNOT create casual relationships because this is a (RETROSPECTIVE) observational study.

In this study, researchers aim to explore the potential impact of early life experiences on job satisfaction during mid-career. The focus is on understanding whether certain childhood factors, such as parental involvement in education and extracurricular activities, may contribute to long-term career satisfaction. The study seeks to uncover patterns that may inform interventions aimed at enhancing job satisfaction later in life.

This study CANNOT create casual relationships because this is a (RETROSPECTIVE) observational study.