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PSYC 510
DESCRIPTIVE METHODS ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
This Homework:Descriptive Methods Assignment is designed to assess your understanding of
the concepts and applications covered thus far in this course. In this particular module, you have
learned about more introductory concepts for the least powerful of research designs – descriptive
methods.
INSTRUCTIONS
Be sure you have reviewed this module’s Learn section before completing this
Homework:Descriptive Methods Assignment. This Homework:Descriptive Methods
Assignment is worth 60 points. Each question is worth 3 points each. Six points are awarded for
mechanics/structure.
Part I contains general concepts from this module’s Learn section.
Part II requires use of SPSS. You have a break this module from new SPSS concepts!
Part III is the cumulative section. These may include short answer and/or use of SPSS but
will review material from previous module(s).
Directions for each subsection are provided in the top of each table (in the gray shaded
areas). Answers should be placed where indicated (wherever there is “ANSWER”).
Submit the file as a WORD document (.doc or .docx). Make sure the filename of your
submission includes your full name, course and section.
o Example: HW3_JohnDoe_510B01
Make sure to check the Homework Grading Rubric before you begin this
Homework:Descriptive Methods Assignment.
Part I: General Concepts
These questions are based on the concepts covered in this module’s
assigned readings and presentations.
Apply concepts from this week to answer each of the following questions about populations and samples.
1. Describe a population you would like to
work with after earning your graduate
degree in psychology.
A population that I would like to work with after earning my graduate
degree in psychology is the elderly population who are born between
the 1930s and 1940s.
2. Describe a stratified sampling technique
you could use to reflect your target
population identified in the first question.
(Explicitly state the strata and list at least
two subsamples of that strata). Do NOT
The stratified sampling technique that I can use for reflecting the
identified target population can be based on ethnicity.
The two subsamples of the strata are African American and
Caucasian.
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use any examples from this week.
3. Describe a cluster sampling technique
you could use to reflect your target
population identified in the first question
(NOT used in any examples this week).
Provide enough details so that the
sampling technique is differentiated from
others in your assigned reading.
The cluster sampling technique that can be used to reflect the target
population can be based on retirement communities in Jacksonville.
The population can be interviewed in two of the communities.
4. How are stratified and cluster sampling
techniques similar?
The similarity between stratified and cluster sampling techniques is
that both of them utilize subgroups.
5. How are stratified and cluster sampling
techniques different?
The difference between stratified and cluster sampling techniques is
that while the subgroups in the stratified sampling technique have
similar features, the subgroups in the cluster sampling technique have
varying attributes.
A developmental researcher is concerned about the ecological validity when designing a study to investigate whether
group size and gender are related to magnitude of bullying behavior observed in five year-old children.
6. What specific type of observational method
would be best? Why?
The specific type of observational method that would be best is a
disguised, naturalistic, non-participant observation method. The
reason for choosing the specific method is that it can be conducted
in a daycare environment where individuals are categorized based
on age. It will enable five-year-old children to take part in the study
in a familiar environment where they can be themselves as they
would not be aware that they are being observed.
7. Describe a potential expectancy effect that
could impact the results of this study.
A potential expectancy effect that could impact the results of the
study is that in case the researcher s focusing on physical aspects, he
may miss non-physical form of bullying such as verbal bullying.
8. Describe THREE items you would include
as a static
if you were to conduct this study using a
checklist. Make sure you clearly define
each item.
Three items that I would include as a static if I were to conduct the
study using a checklist include:
The number of participants
Gender and
Age
9. Describe THREE items you would include
as action items if you were to conduct this
study using a checklist. Make sure you
clearly define each item.
Three items that I would include as action items if I were to conduct
the study using a checklist are:
Physical interaction such as hitting, spitting, pushing
and throwing tantrums
The number of times a child has hit, spit, pushed or
thrown tantrums and targeted another child, and
The actions relating to hitting, spitting, pushing and
throwing tantrums were because the child did not get
his or her way.
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PSYC 510
This section requires you to apply information related to “Survey Methods” in your required reading.
10. Explain the difference between a loaded question and a leading question.
In ‘Survey Methods’ a loaded question and a leading question are two different kinds of techniques that can help a
researcher to capture different information. A loaded question is a question that gives rise to negative emotions towards
the subject. On the other hand, a leading question is one that encompasses information that may potentially cause the
participant to select an answer that the person asking wants to hear.
11. Imagine that you are writing a survey on student perceptions of the food in the dining hall.Write one open-ended
question concerning quality of the food in the dining hall in the space below.
An open-ended question concerning the quality of the food in the dining hall is presented below:
What is your perception of the quality and hygiene of food in the dining hall?
12. Imagine that you are writing a survey on student perceptions of the food in the dining hall. Write one close-ended
question concerning quality of the food in the dining hall in the space below.
A close-ended question concerning the quality of the food in the dining hall is presented below:
Do you think the food in the dining hall is high in quality and hygiene?
Yes or
No
13. What problem is with the following survey question? Then, rewrite it to eliminate that problem.
Survey question: Do you favor reducing the outrageous number of administrators in the federal government?
The problem with the specific survey question is the use of the term ‘outrageous’. The term basically gives rise to an
emotion that makes the question feel like a loaded question.
The question can be rewritten in the following manner to eliminate the problem:
Do you favor reducing the total number of administrators in the federal government?
This section requires you to evaluate qualitative vs. quantitative research methods.
14. Describe two advantages / strengths of
qualitative research.
Qualitative research refers to the research method in which a
researcher evaluates data that is present in the non-numeric format.
The two advantages / strengths of qualitative research include:
A high degree of flexibility of the research as diverse
subjective elements such as behavior, experience, etc
can be captured
Based on the specific type of research study, it can
suggest the hypothesis relating to future study.
15. Briefly describe the three basic phases
involved in a qualitative action research
study conducted to investigate complaints
of low morale in a workplace. Make sure
you relate each phase to this particular
scenario.
The three basic phases that are involved in a qualitative action
research study that is conducted for investigating complaints relating
to low morale in a workplace include:
Looking
Thinking and
Taking a course of action
Researchers have the option to interview the staff members or they
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PSYC 510
can distribute survey questionnaires that encompass both open-
ended questions as well as closed-ended questions. Then, the
researchers can examine and discuss the information that has been
captured relating to the research subject. The qualitative study gives
them an opportunity to evaluate the collected data through a
subjective lens. Then they can devise a suitable action plan that can
be implemented by the leaders in the workplace. After these
activities have been performed, the researchers can follow-up with
the organization in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the action
plan to address the issue relating to low morale in the workplace.
Part II: SPSS
Application
These questions require the
use of SPSS. Remember you
must submit all of your work
within this word document.
You will need to take a screen
shot of your data view if
necessary, or copy and paste
your output into the spaces
below.
None for Module 3 – you will start using SPSS regularly NEXT MODULE!
Part III: Cumulative
These questions can be related to anything covered thus far in the
course.
Using information from previous modules, answer the following:
16. What are the three major goals of research? The three major goals of research include:
Describing behavior
Predicting behavior and
Explaining behavior.
Thus a research study is conducted to get an in-depth
and thorough insight into the behavioral aspects so
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PSYC 510
that it can be properly comprehended.
17. If you want to identify the scale of measurement for a
variable in SPSS, would you do that in the Data View or
Variable View?
If someone wants to identify the scale of
measurement for a variable in SPSS, he or she must
do that in the Variable View.
18. Create operational definitions for “Success” using two
different scales of measurement. Make sure to identify the
scale of measurement for each definition!
Success can be considered to occur when the self-
defined goals have been accomplished. In this
scenario, the scale of measurement is a nominal
scale.
Success can occur when an individual’s financial
status has been ranked within the fifth percentile of
the wealthiest people in the United States of
America. In this scenario, the scale of measurement
is an ordinal scale.
Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module 3. Remember to name file
appropriately.
Done!
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