Methods in Behavioral Research



Methods in Behavioral Research

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Chapter 1 Scientific Understanding of Behavior1. Why is it important for anyone in our society to have knowledge of research methods?2. A newspaper headline says that “Eating Disorders May Be More Common in Warm Places.” You read the article to discover that a researcher found that the incidence of eating disorders among female students at a university in Florida was higher than at a university in Pennsylvania. Assume that this study accurately describes a difference between students at the two universities. Discuss the finding in terms of the issues of identification of cause and effect and explanation of behavior. Chapter 2 Where to Start3. What information does the researcher communicate in each of the sections of a research article?Chapter 3 Ethical Research4. Participants in an experiment are given false feedback that they have an unfavorable personality trait or low ability level. What are the ethical issues raised by this procedure? What if participants are given false feedback that they possess a very favorable personality trait or a very high ability level? Are the ethical issues the same, or different? What are the reasons that an experimenter would subject participants to these types of situations? What safeguards should the experimenter undertake? Chapter 4 Studying Behavior5. A few years ago, newspapers reported a finding that Americans who have a glass of wine a day are healthier than those who have no wine. What are some plausible alternative explanations for this finding; that is, what variables other than wine could explain the finding? Explain why it is difficult to identify the cause and the effect in this study, and describe what might be a “third-variable” problem. Describe the importance of experimental control, and how this newspaper-reported finding might be set up as a proper experiment to discover if wine truly has an effect on health.Chapter 6 Observational Methods6. Describe how a researcher would collect and analyze naturalistic observation data of teenage attendees at open meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous.Chapter 7 Asking People about Themselves: Survey Research7. What are some factors to take into consideration when constructing questions for surveys (including both questions and response alternatives)?Please do not write the question, i just need the answers to the question. Please list the number to the question, then the answer. I don’t want you to list the question to save words for the answers.

1.It is necessary that methods of research are known to people in any society. This is because there is a need to ensure that people are informed. In turn, people will be able to live more meaningful lives. The press is involved in ensuring that information of a scientific nature is available to people. The information obtained should be used in an intelligent manner. The processes involved in scientific research, take place in the form of evaluation, formulation, conduction, as well as design.

2.The article sort to give an explanation as to why females, who are in warm places, are more likely to suffer from disorders caused by eating. Furthermore, it was proven that in the Florida University, the females were more prone to this disorder as compared to those in Pennsylvania. The issue in this article is the eating disorders and its relation to females studying in two different universities. The cause of the eating disorders is as result of temperature, which is high in Florida as compared to Pennsylvania. The effect of their being high temperatures is that the females are experiencing problems related to eating disorders. The behavior of the females in the different states as well as the warm weather is the reason for the eating disorder.

3.Every research article has different sections, which the researcher seeks to ensure is effectively communicated. The aim of carrying out the research should be known and this is through the effects of the issues that were raised. The method or procedure followed in determining the purpose of the research is next. At this stage, the researcher gathers useful data to be used in knowing what is the effect and cause of his study. After this comes the stage whereby the researcher comes up with findings as well as results of the research which was carried out. The behavior is known and this is after the data has proceeded to provide meaningful information. An explanation should be given in order to known what the findings mean. This information is critical in knowing the outcome of the research. An evaluation should be conducted to find out the credibility of the research. Each of these stages are essential as they enable those who are reading an article to know the methods, followed in coming up with a conclusion. Lastly, the credibility of the research is shown through the use of the information that has been provided.

4.Ethical concerns are raised when false feedback is given to participants concerning their ability levels, as well as their personality. This is because it is against the rules of ethics whereby, researchers are meant to be truthful, honest, and to ensure errors do not occur. So long as a participant is given information, which is not true, an ethical violation has occurred. This is regardless of whether the information is positive or negative. An experimenter might provide positive feedback if it will benefit them. If the experiment believes that they will not benefit they will give negative feedback. Experimenters should ensure that they follow the policies which exist concerning research matters.

5.There is a finding that those who do not have wine, by the glass on a daily basis are not as healthy as those who do. The other variables, which concern this matter are the way of life, as well as the wealth of the people who take the wine. These variables are known to increase people’s health. Since there are other variables, which affect the health of people, it is difficult to find the effect and cause. A problem of third variable is created whereby; the second and first variables are interfered with. This means it is not possible to confirm the credibility of this research article. In every experiment, the experimentors must be controlled to ensure that they do not provide information, which is not credible. This has adverse effects on people, as it might be interpreted in a negative manner. As a result of this article being published, other experimentors will use the other variables to prove if the information on the first article is true.

6.When using Naturalistic observation methods of research, the researcher will have to observe while at the environment, which is natural. Information is collected at the AA meetings and it cannot be manipulated. The methods, which are suitable, are through observer narratives and tally counts. Data of a sample nature should be collected and this will be used in the analysis. It is important that the teenagers are observed when there are different situations and settings.

7.It is essential that when coming up with surveys, the questions should be accurate. This ensures that those who are to answer know what it being asked precisely. Also, the questions should be relevant to the research. This will assist in coming up with answers which are also specific as well as beneficial to the survey. Other factors include honesty, free from plagiarism, among others.