Ps300 Research Methods Iunit 9 Assignmentplease Review Each Scenario ✓ Solved

PS300: Research Methods I Unit 9 Assignment Please review each scenario and then answer the corresponding questions for each. Scenario 1 Dr. Geller has a new client that has a very rare disorder that not much is known about. She wants to conduct a study to learn more about the disorder. · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why? · Describe briefly how she could structure her study. · What are strengths and limitations of this study method? · What is observer bias? · How could this affect the study results? · How could a researcher work around this?

Scenario 2 Dr. Hu wants to conduct a study to see if music therapy causes a reduction in compulsive behavior in patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why? · Describe briefly how she could structure her study. · What are strengths and limitations of this study method? · What is attrition as a source of study error? · How could this affect the study results? · How could a researcher work around this? Scenario 3 A teacher wants to collect data to see if scheduled movement breaks help her class to show less off-task behavior during lectures and tests. · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use?

Why? · Describe briefly how she could structure her study. · What are strengths and limitations of this study method? · What is subject reactivity? · How could this affect the study results? · How could a researcher work around this? Scenario 4 A researcher wants to see if smokers consume alcohol more frequently than non-smokers do. · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why? · Describe briefly how she could structure her study. · What are strengths and limitations of this study method? · What is instrumentation error? · How could this affect the study results? · How could a researcher work around this? Scenario 5 A researcher wants to gather data on whether diet or exercise are associated with life satisfaction. · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use?

Why? · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why? · Describe briefly how she could structure her study. · What are strengths and limitations of this study method? · What is non-response bias? · How could this affect the study results? · How could a researcher work around this? 1

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PS300: Research Methods I Unit 9 Assignment

Scenario 1

Study Method Choice: Given the rarity of the disorder, a case study methodology would be ideal for Dr. Geller. Case studies allow for an in-depth examination of a single subject or a small group, particularly beneficial in situations where little information exists.
Study Structure: Dr. Geller could structure her study by conducting thorough interviews with the client to gather personal history, experiences with the disorder, and any treatment methods previously tried. Additionally, she could observe the client’s behavior over an extended period and perhaps consult family members or caregivers for insights (Flick, 2018).
Strengths and Limitations: The strengths of case studies include acquiring detailed information that could generate new hypotheses. However, limitations include the lack of generalizability due to the study focusing on a single case, and potential researcher bias (Yin, 2014).
Observer Bias: This occurs when the researcher’s expectations influence the observations or data collected. In Dr. Geller’s study, if she has preconceived notions about the disorder, she might misinterpret behaviors or symptoms.
Impact on Study Results: Observer bias can lead to inaccurate conclusions about the disorder’s characteristics and the client’s experiences.
Working Around Observer Bias: To mitigate this, Dr. Geller could employ multiple observers and use blinding techniques, ensuring that those involved in data collection are unaware of the study hypotheses (Creswell, 2014).

Scenario 2

Study Method Choice: Dr. Hu should utilize a randomized controlled trial (RCT) for her investigation on music therapy’s effects on compulsive behavior. RCTs allow researchers to establish causality through random assignment of participants to experimental and control groups.
Study Structure: Dr. Hu could recruit participants diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and randomly assign them to either the music therapy group or a waitlist control group. She would then measure compulsive behaviors before and after the intervention using validated scales (Kendall & Beidas, 2010).
Strengths and Limitations: The RCT is robust in establishing cause-and-effect relationships. The main limitations include the logistical need for a significant number of participants and potential ethical issues regarding the withholding of therapy (Morris et al., 2018).
Attrition as a Source of Study Error: Attrition refers to participants dropping out of a study over time.
Impact on Study Results: High attrition could skew results if dropout rates differ across groups, possibly leading to biased outcomes.
Working Around Attrition: To manage attrition, Dr. Hu could implement strategies such as keeping participants engaged through regular follow-ups, offering incentives, or using intention-to-treat analysis (Stang et al., 2010).

Scenario 3

Study Method Choice: A quasi-experimental design would be suitable for the teacher evaluating movement breaks and off-task behavior.
Study Structure: The teacher could schedule specific movement breaks in her class and then compare the levels of off-task behavior before and after the breaks, possibly using a quiet control group that does not receive movement breaks (Cook & Campbell, 1979).
Strengths and Limitations: The strengths of quasi-experimental designs include practicality and the ability to study effects in real-world settings. The limitations include potential confounding variables that cannot be controlled as rigorously as in RCTs (Shadish et al., 2002).
Subject Reactivity: This refers to changes in participants' behavior as a response to being observed.
Impact on Study Results: If students alter their off-task behavior simply because they know they are being studied, this could invalidate the findings.
Working Around Subject Reactivity: To minimize this, the teacher could implement a covert observation method or increase familiarity with the observation process, lessening novelty effects (Robson, 2011).

Scenario 4

Study Method Choice: A cross-sectional survey design would be appropriate for the researcher investigating alcohol consumption among smokers and non-smokers.
Study Structure: The researcher could develop a comprehensive survey that asks participants about their smoking status, alcohol consumption patterns, and potentially relevant demographic and lifestyle factors. The data can be analyzed to compare the two groups (Creswell & Creswell, 2017).
Strengths and Limitations: Strengths include the ability to gather data from a large sample quickly. However, cross-sectional surveys are limited in that they do not establish causation and are subject to self-report biases (Babbie, 2016).
Instrumentation Error: This refers to any inconsistencies or inaccuracies in the tools or methods used to collect data.
Impact on Study Results: If the survey questions are unclear or leading, they may produce unreliable responses, skewing the findings.
Working Around Instrumentation Error: To combat this, the researcher can pre-test the survey instrument with a small group, pilot the survey, and ensure that the questions are clear and neutral (Fowler, 2013).

Scenario 5

Study Method Choice: A longitudinal study would be ideal for examining the relationship between diet, exercise, and life satisfaction.
Study Structure: The researcher could recruit a cohort to participate over time, surveying them on their dietary habits, physical activity levels, and life satisfaction at regular intervals (He et al., 2019).
Strengths and Limitations: Longitudinal studies can track changes over time and suggest relationships. However, they require significant resources and time investment, and are vulnerable to attrition (Hoffman & Morrow-Howell, 2016).
Non-Response Bias: This arises when certain individuals or groups do not respond to the survey or study, which can lead to skewed results.
Impact on Study Results: If specific groups are less likely to participate, the findings may not accurately reflect the entire population.
Working Around Non-Response Bias: Strategies such as follow-up reminders, simplifying responses, or using incentives can help boost participation rates (Groves et al., 2009).

References

1. Babbie, E. (2016). The Basics of Social Research. Cengage Learning.
2. Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (1979). Quasi-experimentation: Design and analysis issues for field settings. Houghton Mifflin.
3. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.
4. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.
5. Flick, U. (2018). An Introduction to Qualitative Research. Sage Publications.
6. Fowler, F. J. (2013). Survey Research Methods. Sage Publications.
7. Groves, R. M., et al. (2009). Survey Methodology. Wiley.
8. He, J., et al. (2019). Dietary Patterns and Life Satisfaction: A Longitudinal Study of Older Adults. Nutritional Wellness.
9. Hoffman, J. A., & Morrow-Howell, N. (2016). The Impact of Nonresponse Bias in Longitudinal Studies and Its Mitigation Techniques. Research on Aging.
10. Kendall, P. C., & Beidas, R. (2010). The Role of Behavior Therapy in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology.
This assignment provides an overview of various research methods and their nuances while addressing specific scenarios.