Deck 4: Carpenter, S 1998 Content Analysis Project for Research Novices Teaching of Psychology

Question 1

Observation that is guided by a particular plan or involves a system that can be evaluated on the basis of technical standards is referred to as __________ observation.

A) everyday
B) pure
C) unbiased
D) systematic

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Alternative explanations for the results of a study are called

A) complementary explanations.
B) rival hypotheses.
C) hypotheses of interest.
D) research problems.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Observations that affect the behavior of those being observed are called __________ observations.

A) partially concealed
B) concealed
C) reactive
D) nonreactive

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Numerical observations are referred to as __________ observations while nonnumerical observations are called __________ observations.

A) quantitative; qualitative
B) systematic; nonsystematic
C) nonsystematic; systematic
D) qualitative; quantitative

Question 5

Observations made by the researcher without the participants' awareness are called __________ observations.

A) systematic
B) unobtrusive
C) participant
D) secondary

Question 6

Michelle interviews shoppers at a local food store about their food preferences, but she is really noting their use of food coupons. Michelle is employing the use of

A) concealment.
B) partial concealment.
C) field experimentation.
D) secondary observations.

Question 7

Judy is interested in whether a local newspaper tends to have a conservative or liberal constituency of readers. She randomly selects letters to the editor from the paper's op-ed section and then codes the letters based on whether they express conservative or liberal ideas. Judy is trying to answer her question by doing a(n)

A) field experiment.
B) ethnography.
C) laboratory experiment.
D) content analysis.

Question 8

To understand the role of camaraderie on a sports team, Kim rides on the team bus so that she can observe the players' interactions before and after every game. Kim's research is an example of

A) field experimentation research.
B) partial concealment research.
C) participant observer research.
D) secondary observation research.

Question 9

Research that involves the recording of data in numerical form is referred to as __________ research.

A) naturalistic
B) qualitative
C) robust
D) quantitative

Question 10

In a study of cancer, it was observed that higher levels of milk consumption were positively correlated with higher incidence of cancer. Instead of claiming that higher milk consumption directly leads to higher incidence of cancer, the researcher explained that this correlation was explained by increased longevity. This is an example of

A) the third-variable problem.
B) rater to rater reliability.
C) reactive observations.
D) a judgment study.

Question 11

While observing individuals living in a nursing home, John counts the number of times a resident must ask for help before help is provided. John is making __________ observations.

A) quantitative
B) accurate
C) qualitative
D) reliable

Question 12

The principal benefit of a laboratory experiment is that it allows a scientist to simulate __________ in a highly controlled setting.

A) causal relationships
B) underlying behaviors
C) real-life situations
D) controversial issues

Question 13

To examine the use of politeness among children, Kim records conversations between school children and their teachers. She then randomly samples some of these conversations and counts the number of times the children said "please" or "thank you" during the conversation. Which research methodology is Kim employing to answer her research question?

A) participant observation
B) content analysis
C) ethnography
D) experimentation

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a general guideline noted in the text for successfully doing a content analysis?

A) One should properly train the judges to improve judge-to-judge reliability.
B) One should develop specific categories and units of analysis.
C) One should select more intelligent judges to evaluate the archival material.
D) One should develop a good sampling procedure for selecting the archival material.

Question 15

Research that involves the collection of data that is in a nonnumerical form is referred to as __________ research.

A) empirical
B) qualitative
C) quantitative
D) systematic

Question 16

All of the following are possible strategies for selecting independent judges to assist in making research observations EXCEPT

A) the use of pilot testing.
B) the potential judges' understanding of the research hypotheses.
C) the reliance on the researcher's intuitive sense of what type of judges one should use.
D) the consultation of the literature for identifying what type of judges one should use.

Question 17

Using multiple methods of observation to "zero in" on the effect of interest is called methodological

A) robustness.
B) scrutiny.
C) triangulation.
D) ecumenism.

Question 18

John is interested in how older individuals cope with institutional living, so he is visiting a nursing home and tape recording conversations with some of the residents. His research methodology would be considered to be

A) quantitative.
B) qualitative.
C) sufficient.
D) contrived.

Question 19

The use of some form of concealment is characteristic of __________ observations.

A) unethical
B) nonreactive
C) participant
D) reactive

Question 20

The use of archival material is an example of __________ observations.

A) primary
B) secondary
C) ethnographic
D) participant

Question 21

To investigate whether the enrollment of nontraditional students has increased at her college, Diane examines the ages noted on student applications for the past ten years. This is an example of which type of unobtrusive observation?

A) simple observations
B) archival records
C) physical traces
D) contrived observations

Question 22

What is the third-variable problem? Provide an example.

Question 23

Why is the use of archival material considered to be a secondary observation? Provide an example of how archival material might be used to address a research question of interest.

Question 24

What is a rival hypothesis? Why are rival hypotheses of such concern to researchers?

Question 25

Describe the three general guidelines for doing a content analysis.

Question 26

What is participant observation? Provide an example of how a researcher might employ participant observation in order to answer a research question of interest.

Question 27

Chris sits at a local mall and watches how adolescents interact with each other. This is an example of which type of unobtrusive observation?

A) contrived observations
B) simple observations
C) physical traces
D) archival records

Question 28

What is the difference between concealed measurements and partial concealment measurements? Provide an example of each.

Question 29

What is meant by "methodological triangulation"? Why is it important in psychological science?

Question 30

Interested in how people would react to someone who deviates from the norm, Tom has a friend go to class in a bathrobe and then observes how people react to his friend. This is an example of which type of unobtrusive observation?

A) physical traces
B) archival records
C) simple observations
D) contrived observations

Question 31

Differentiate between quantitative research and qualitative research. Give an example of each.

Question 32

Measuring tread wear on a carpet in order to investigate foot traffic patterns is an example of which type of unobtrusive measure?

A) simple observations
B) contrived observations
C) archival records
D) physical traces

Question 33

Why must scientists rely on systematic observations rather than casual, everyday observations to test their research ideas?

Question 34

What is the difference between reactive and nonreactive observations? Give an example of each.

Question 35

Describe the broad categories of unobtrusive observations identified by Eugene J. Webb and his colleagues.

Question 36

All but one of the following are types of unobtrusive observations:

A) physical traces.
B) simple observation.
C) archival records. mundane realism. (78)

Question 37

Why can experimental simulations help to identify causal relationships?