Research Methods and Reasoning Types

Types of Research Methods

Observational Research

  • Naturalistic Observation:
    • Definition: A research method where individuals are observed in their natural environments without any manipulation by the researcher.
    • Example: Observing risk-taking behavior of teenagers in various settings such as:
    • Sledding hill
    • Rock climbing wall
    • Ice skating rink
    • Bumper car ride
    • Method: Researcher operationally defines what constitutes risk-taking behavior and records instances of this behavior across settings.

Reasoning Types

  • Deductive Reasoning:
    • Definition: A logical process where conclusions are drawn from a set of premises or facts.
    • Example: "If quadrilaterals have four sides, and a square is a quadrilateral, then a square must have four sides."

Survey Research

  • Definition: A method used for collecting data by asking questions to individuals, typically to understand their behaviors, experiences, or opinions.
  • Example: Formulating questions about students' study habits, gaining permission, and emailing these questions to all campus students.
    • This method allows for the collection of data on a larger scale and can reveal trends or common practices.

Clinical or Case Studies

  • Definition: An in-depth study of an individual or group, typically focusing on a specific condition or phenomenon.
  • Example 1: Studying Jeannie, a child found at age 13 who had experienced minimal human interaction, to explore the critical aspects of language development.
  • Example 2: Observing separated identical twins, Ryan and Connor, to investigate the influence of different environments on their behaviors.

Archival Research

  • Definition: A research method that involves analyzing existing records or data collections that were previously gathered.
  • Example: Accessing academic records of individuals enrolled in college over the past decade to determine completion times for degrees.

Longitudinal Research

  • Definition: A research method involving repeated observations of the same variables over a period of time, often to study changes and developments.
  • Example: A study where researchers follow pregnant women taking prenatal vitamins and track their children’s development until age 18 to assess the long-term effects of the vitamins.

Correlation Research

  • Definition: A method of analysis that examines the relationship between two or more variables to determine if they are related and the nature of that relationship.
  • Positive Correlation Example: High school students with better academic grades tend to have higher SAT scores.
  • Negative Correlation Example: As snowfall increases, the number of people driving decreases.
  • Cause and Effect Relationships:
    • Definition: A relationship where changes in one variable directly cause changes in another variable.
    • Example: Increased teacher praise for appropriate on-task behaviors results in greater on-task behavior among students.