AP Psych-Descriptive Methods

Descriptive Research- Psychologists observe and record behavior, no variable manipulation

Case Study

  • In depth study of a single person, group, or rare phenomenon

    • Case study of Phineas Gage, who had a metal rod driven through his head and suffered a major personality shift. Case study on frontal brain damage affecting personality

Cross-Sectional Case Study

  • Data from many different individuals at a single point in time (compared at the same time)

Longitudinal Study

  • One subject over an extended period of time

Strengths/Weakness of Longitudinal Study

  • Provides detailed analyses of new/rare phenomena

  • Not representative of the whole population (can’t generalize)

Naturalistic Observation

  • observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate or control the situation

Strengths/Weaknesses of Naturalistic Observation

  • Natural responses are more reflective of behavior

  • Loss of experimental control, no interaction

Survey

  • technique for gathering self-reported attitudes

  • Likert Scale:question type that measures attitudes, opinions, or perception by having respondents rate their level of agreement

Strengths/Weaknesses og Survey

  • A tremendous amount of data on a large group of people

  • Distorted results because of poorly phrased questions (Wording Effects) & response bias

Correlational Method

  • examines the relationship between variables that are not manipulated

Strengths/Weaknesses of Correlational Study

  • Correlations predict the possibility of cause-and-effect relationships

  • they cannot prove them (causation)

  • cannot determine which variable causes a change in the other

  • 3rd Variables/Illusory Correlations

Positive Correlation

  • Both variables increase or both decrease

Negative Correlation

  • One variable increases while the other decreases or vice versa

Correlational Studies

  • Used to see if there is a relationship between 2 variables

  • Studies do not involve manipulation of variables (non-experimental)

  • Uses scatterplot

  • Correlations predict the possibility of cause-and-effect relationships; they cannot prove them (causation)

  • Cannot determine which variables causes a change in the other

Correlation Coefficient (r):

  • Numbers range from 1.00 to -1.00

  • Strong relationship → closer to 1.00 or -1.00

  • Weak relationship → closer to 0