Case studies, naturalistic observation, and surveys are all __ research methods.
a) descriptive b) correlational c) experimental d) longitudinal
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a) descriptive.
Explanation:
Descriptive research methods aim to provide a detailed and accurate representation of the characteristics of a particular phenomenon or group. Case studies, naturalistic observation, and surveys are all examples of descriptive research methods because they involve observing and recording behavior or phenomena as they naturally occur without manipulating any variables. These methods are used to describe how things are, rather than to explain why things happen or to test causal relationships.
- Case Studies: A case study is an in-depth investigation of a single person, group, event, or community. It provides detailed insights into a particular case, but the findings may not be easily generalized to larger populations due to the limited scope. Case studies often involve multiple sources of data, including interviews, observations, and archival research.
- Naturalistic Observation: This method involves observing subjects in their natural environment without any interference from the researcher. The goal is to understand behavior as it naturally occurs. For example, a researcher might observe how children play in a playground to understand social interactions.
- Surveys: Surveys gather data from a large group of people using questionnaires or interviews. These can be used to describe attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors across different populations. Surveys are commonly used in psychology, sociology, and market research.
Each of these methods provides valuable descriptive data, which can lead to insights, generate hypotheses, or guide future experimental research. However, because they do not involve manipulation of variables, they cannot establish causal relationships, which is why they are not considered experimental methods.
In contrast, correlational research examines relationships between variables, experimental research manipulates variables to observe effects, and longitudinal research studies subjects over a long period of time.