Me Hi Mimi How Are You Doingmt Im Good Thanks For Askingme Than ✓ Solved

Me: Hi Mimi, how are you doing? MT: I’m good thanks for asking. Me: Thank you for coming to meet with me today. I wanted to remind you that you can decide not to participate in this interview at any time. Everything we speak about is confidential, however, I will be using this information to help me write a paper.

Are you still willing to participate? MT: Yes I’m fine with that. (she then signed the consent and we began the interview) Me: Thank you. What loss experience have you had that you are ready to discuss with me today? MT: I lost my mother back in 2019. Me: What was that experience like for you?

MT: That experience was a tough one for sure. It definitely molded who I am today. Dealing with my mom's loss was rough. Me: Do you feel like dealing with her loss is on-going? Or is it something you feel you have accepted and dealt with it?

MT: Some days I feel I deal with it and some days I don’t. I just take it day by day. I have those days where I wish I could pick up the phone and talk to her, but I know that I can’t. I feel like it’s an on-going battle for me. Me: Healing is something that’s on-going, grief doesn’t have a time frame.

Your feelings are valid because death is not something you just get over. Especially when you lose someone close to you. How old were you at the time you lost your mom? MT: I was 28 years old Me: Oh okay, who else did this loss affect? MT: My older brother, my aunt and my grandmother of course because that was her youngest daughter.

This is the second daughter my grandmother had to bury so she seemed a little better this time around, but she still cries. It even affected my dad and I was shocked by that because they haven’t been together in years, but my mom’s death affected him alot. Me: Do you feel at times you have to suppress your feelings to support your loved ones? MT: I feel like sometimes I do. Me: What are some times you felt you suppressed your own feelings?

MT: I would say a few weeks ago when I was talking to my niece, she was saying that she misses my mom, and it was hard for me not to cry, but I didn’t cry because I didn’t want her to cry or see me crying. Me: What are some things that people have said to you trying to be supportive, but ended up triggering you or upset you instead? MT: That’s a good question. I don’t think I have experienced that. However, one of my professors works at a breast cancer research center, and she didn’t know that my mom passed away from breast cancer, and she kept bringing it up every class.

I ended up breaking down and I emailed her and let her know. She apologized and referred me to a grief counselor. Other than that I haven’t experienced what you asked. Me: Oh okay. Is everyone in your family comfortable with talking about the death of your mom?

Or is it something that’s not really talked about? MT: We don’t really talk about it as much. I feel like my mom did her best to prepare us when she would remind us that she had stage 4 breast cancer. She showed me what I needed to do and teach me how to take care of things while she’s gone, even when I was in denial. My grandmother talks about her from time to time.

She will say she misses my mom, or say she had a dream about my mom, but we don’t really talk about it. Me: How does that affect you? MT: Not talking about it? ME: yes MT: umm some things I just hold in because I don’t want to talk about it. I feel like if I talk about her I’m going to cry, and I don’t want to cry.

Me: Do you feel that crying is something negative? MT: No, I think it’s a positive thing.But I work alot and I don’t want to cry at work. I’ll be thrown off balance if I start to cry. Me: Crying can allow you to release and you can regroup and reset once you let it out. Do you feel you avoid dealing with her death?

MT: Yes I feel like I do that by working so much. Before my mom got sick, I used to work with her, but not as strenuous. Once she got sick I picked up a third job, and as she worsened, I worked more and more. Now that she’s not here I work like crazy still. That can be tough because I feel like I'm shoving things under the rug.

I would rather fill my time up with work. Me: How has that affected you? MT: It’s tiring and I overwork but I keep doing it. Sometimes I feel like I don’t have a life because all I do is work. But I feel like if I’m not working all the time I’m going to think about my mom.I don’t know if I’m mentally prepared for that.

And that’s scary so I don’t want to do something out of the ordinary. Me: What I’m hearing is that you would rather work then explore your own life because you’re afraid you don’t know how to face life without your mom. Is that correct? MT: Yeah something to that degree. Well for the most part I feel like I’ve done pretty well with my mom not being here, but like I said all I do is work.

And I don’t want to keep working all the time. Me: What was the most difficult part of the loss for you? MT: I would say all of it. I can’t pinpoint what was more difficult than the other. All of it was difficult, but I learned to manage it all.

Me: Do you feel like you’re managing although you work to keep your mind occupied? MT: sometimes no, sometimes yes. It’s like having your good and bad days. Me: When your mom passed away, what do you feel you lossed? MT: unconditional love.

Like my dad loves me, but it’s not the same. That’s a very big part of it. And my mom used to remind me to do things and she would call me if I’m not home between 11-12 at night. And my dad sometimes calls me days later. And that’s something I’m not used to yet.

And I asked my dad why he doesn’t treat me like my mom, because she was always there. So that was a great loss because I’m used to her calling me and conversing with me. I’m trying to get through it, but I miss that. Me: So you’re used to someone checking on you? MT: yes.

And I’m sure my dad doesn’t mean any harm, but he’s not used to doing it because my mom was the one to do it because I lived with her. I lived with her my whole life. Me: That sounds difficult. I’m sorry for your loss, thank you for sharing. MT: I’m still learning how to let go, but it;s hard for me to let go completely because that’s my mom.

I take it one step at a time. Me: What do you feel you need to let go? MT: Some of her things. I packed up the entire apartment and it’s in my storage unit. And I know I know I need to let things go because I can’t keep it forever.

But I feel that if I let her things go it’s going to trigger me. I gotta try to find the help to let go of her things. Even my brother asked for certain stuff and I said no. If I let go I don’t know what it’s going to do to me. Me: umm I see.

How did you express your emotions when you lost your mom? MT: I started writing in a journal or talking to my nana. I also talk to other people who lost their mom, that’s very helpful. Me: How have your emotions progressed over time? MT: I’ve grown since my mom passed.

I depended on her for everything , but she also prepared me. I feel like I’m making it work, but I still have some work to do. I moved into my dad's house because I didn’t want to keep feeling alone. When my mom passed away I had my dog, but he’s not a human, I couldn’t talk to him. So I put myself back in school to finish my BSW, and moved in with my dad to save money and so that I wouldn’t be alone.

Me: Do you still feel alone living with your dad? MT: Yes because I don’t see him as much due to always working. We have a lot of phone conversations. Me: It sounds like you're taking steps towards healing. MT: Yes my mom was preparing me, but nothing can prepare you for something like losing your mom.

Me: How did other people respond to the loss? MT: my brother was numb, my grandma has her days. My brother and I aren’t speaking which makes it difficult for me. But my grandma did express that she is happy God took my mom before COVID because we wouldn’t have been able to be there for her in the hospital during the pandemic. That made both of us smile when she noted that.

Me: Were you affected by their response to her death? MT: No because we all knew it was coming. Me: At what point did you feel your loss was worked through or resolved? MT: It’s never resolved. Me: Right and I think we mentioned that previously.

What was the hardest thing to keep doing after the loss? MT: Living in the apartment and hearing other people talk about things they were doing with their moms because my mom is no longer here. Me: Is there anything positive in your experience with this loss that you can reflect on? MT: I promised her I would go back to school, and I did. I am in school now getting my BSW.

And I am also doing well with taking care of my repsonsibilities. That’s about it. Me: You were able to handle your responsibilities although you thought you couldn't do it without her. MT: umhum. Me: Nice MT: It is frustrating when people say things like “I don’t know what to say or do†there’s nothing anyone can say or do to make it better besides picking up the phone or listening when I call.

Losing my mom helped me see that I have a lot of strength. I was weak before because my mom did everything for me, including cleaning my room. Me: WOW. MT: LOL yes I know. Me: How hard was it for you to participate in this interview?

MT: I would say it wasn’t hard, but I’m not used to discussing her death to this magnitude. I usually just tell people she died from breast cancer and that’s it. It’s always on the surface. This interview has shown me that maybe if I join some sort of support group It may help me alot, because I actually feel a little better after talking about it. Me: That’s great.

Thank you so much for your participation and I wish you all the best on your dealing journey. Within words for each DQ, elaborate using the reference link attached to cite the source. Using other sources is okay, if you include a citation from the book link provided as well. DQ1) In your own words, define naturalistic observation . Discuss examples of when a naturalistic observational study would be the most appropriate design to select.

What are two sources of bias during an observation period? DQ2) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the following nonexperimental research methods: (a) naturalistic observations, (b) surveys, and (c) correlational studies. If you were asked to use one of these designs in a study next week, which nonexperimental design would you select and why? * Reference Chapters 5 (sec. 5.1-5.4), 7, and 8 in Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences. **Ask for login credentials for GCU Library for book access.

Paper for above instructions

Understanding Naturalistic Observation and Non-Experimental Research Methods

DQ1: Defining Naturalistic Observation

Naturalistic observation is a research method that involves observing subjects in their natural environment without any manipulation or interference from the researcher. The primary goal of this observational design is to gather data regarding participants' behavior as it occurs spontaneously in a real-world setting (Gravetter & Forzano, 2018). For instance, naturalistic observation would be suitable in developmental psychology when studying how children interact in a playground setting. Observing children in their natural play environments enables researchers to see genuine behaviors that may not be apparent in a controlled setting, allowing researchers to collect data on social interactions or communication differences among age groups.
Another example could involve observing consumer behavior in a retail setting. Researchers can analyze how customers navigate aisles and make purchasing decisions without interfering. This unintrusive observation could provide vital insights into consumer habits, allowing for targeted marketing strategies later on (Best, 2017).
While naturalistic observations can provide rich qualitative data, they are not without drawbacks, particularly in the areas of bias. Two common sources of bias during an observation period include:
1. Observer Bias: This occurs when the researcher's personal beliefs, expectations, or experiences influence their observations or interpretations of the data. For instance, if a researcher has strong opinions about a particular behavior, they may consciously or unconsciously look for evidence that confirms their beliefs while ignoring conflicting data (Fowler, 2019).
2. Hawthorne Effect: This phenomenon arises when individuals modify their behavior simply because they are being observed. For example, a teacher may alter their usual teaching style if they know they are being watched for a research project, leading to results that do not reflect typical behavior (McCarney et al., 2007).

DQ2: Advantages and Disadvantages of Nonexperimental Research Methods

a) Naturalistic Observations

Advantages:
- Ecological Validity: This method allows researchers to gather data that reflects real-life behaviors, increasing the reliability of the findings (Creswell, 2014).
- Rich Qualitative Data: Naturalistic observations can provide in-depth insights into nuanced behaviors that structured methods may overlook.
Disadvantages:
- Lack of Control: The inability to control variables makes it challenging to determine cause-and-effect relationships (Trochim, 2021).
- Limitations in Replicability: Due to the uncontrolled environment, replicating a study may result in different outcomes.

b) Surveys

Advantages:
- Wide Reach: Surveys can collect data from large populations, enhancing the generalizability of the findings. They are cost-effective and can be administered quickly (Dillman et al., 2009).
- Anonymous Responses: Participants may feel more comfortable providing honest feedback when anonymity is guaranteed.
Disadvantages:
- Response Bias: Participants may respond in socially desirable ways rather than truthfully, impacting the study's validity (Fowler, 2019).
- Limited Depth: Surveys often rely on closed-ended questions that cannot capture the full complexity of participants' experiences and emotions.

c) Correlational Studies

Advantages:
- Feasibility: Correlational studies are relatively easy to conduct, providing preliminary insights into relationships among variables (Creswell, 2014).
- Ethical Considerations: This design does not require manipulation of variables, making it ethical in circumstances where experimentation would be unfeasible.
Disadvantages:
- No Cause-and-Effect Determination: Correlational studies can only suggest relationships but cannot provide proof of causation (Trochim, 2021).
- Spurious Relationships: Relationships identified may be affected by confounding variables, leading to misinterpretations.
If asked to select one nonexperimental design for a study in the upcoming week, I would choose naturalistic observation. This method would provide rich qualitative insights into participants' behavior in a real-world setting, especially useful in understanding complex social interactions or customer behavior, where manipulation could inherently bias the results. For instance, in studying how people interact with new technologies, observing them in their homes or workplaces would yield valuable information that tightly controlled studies might overlook (Gravetter & Forzano, 2018).

Conclusion

Naturalistic observation and nonexperimental methods provide unique advantages and challenges in behavioral science research. While they evoke rich qualitative insights and help understand complex human behavior, researchers must be wary of biases and limitations inherent in their designs. A carefully structured approach, considering the goal of the study, can maximize the strengths of these research methodologies.

References

1. Best, J. W. (2017). Research in Education. Pearson.
2. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.
3. Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2009). Internet, Phone, Mail, and Mixed-Mode Surveys: The Tailored Design Method. Wiley.
4. Fowler, F. J. (2019). Survey Research Methods. Sage Publications.
5. Gravetter, F. J., & Forzano, L. B. (2018). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences. Cengage Learning.
6. McCarney, R., Warner, J., & Iliffe, S. (2007). The Hawthorne Effect: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 7(1), 29-38.
7. Trochim, W. M. K. (2021). The Research Methods Knowledge Base. Cengage Learning.
8. American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association.
9. Hammersley, M. (2013). What is Qualitative Research? Bloomsbury Publishing.
10. Babbie, E. (2016). The Practice of Social Research. Cengage Learning.