Research Methods in Psychology

4.2 Discussion. Longitudinal Methods and Data Collection

Getting Started

The primary purpose of the longitudinal research design is to study a sample over a long period of time. A long period of time can be anywhere from a year to an individual’s lifetime. Another way of determining if the research design is longitudinal is that the study contains at least three measurement points. The sample can be as small as one individual or as large as the researcher determines it needs to be. Studying a sample over a long period of time provides a deeper examination of the research question and variables being explored. One of the most famous longitudinal studies, which you will read about, has been going on for nearly 80 years!

How do researchers maintain records in longitudinal studies, especially those that last for such a lengthy period of time? Although following APA ethical codes and other aspects of protecting participants is important for any research study, how well do researchers follow these requirements when studies last for longer periods of time? And, how do they ensure participant protection when a researcher hands a longitudinal study to another researcher? These are questions to keep in mind!

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Evaluate longitudinal methods and data collection in psychological research.

· Critique ethics in psychological research.

Resources

· Textbook:  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology

· Article: A Longitudinal Experimental Study Comparing the Effectiveness of Happiness-Enhancing Strategies in Anglo Americans and Asian Americans

· Article: Longitudinal Studies

· Video: Modeling Longitudinal Data Using Structural Equation Methods

· Video: Longitudinal Data Analysis

· Website: APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

Background Information

For this discussion, you will read about and examine the longitudinal research design, as well as data collection methods used for longitudinal studies. An important aspect regarding any type of research study that you will also examine relates to how well researchers follow the APA’s ethical codes. You will critique a study for the effectiveness of implementing these ethical codes.

Instructions

1. Review Chapters  4 , 6 , and  9  in your textbook,  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology, on the topic of longitudinal research.

2. Read the following articles:

a. A Longitudinal Experimental Study Comparing the Effectiveness of Happiness-Enhancing Strategies in Anglo Americans and Asian Americans

b. Longitudinal Studies

3. Watch the following videos. If you are not already logged into the IWU OCLS website, you will be prompted to log in when you click this link. (The following videos include transcripts.)

a. Modeling Longitudinal Data Using Structural Equation Methods . Use the Transcript tab and navigate to 1:25 and watch until 9:18.

b. Longitudinal Data Analysis . Using the Transcript tab, navigate to the 1:25 point and watch through the 13:01 point.

c. APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct .

4. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion prompts:

a. After reading the article “A Longitudinal Experimental Study Comparing the Effectiveness of Happiness-Enhancing Strategies in Anglo Americans and Asian Americans,” did you think a longitudinal design was the appropriate method to use based on the research question? Why or why not?

b. What data collection methods were used?

c. How well were the APA ethical codes followed? Identify at least two APA codes that you thought were not addressed in the article and provide input on how they ought to have been addressed.

d. What questions do you have about data collection and longitudinal research?

5. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 to 500 words.

6. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

4.1 Discussion. Blessed, Are We?

Getting Started

Imagine a beautiful day in the mountains. You have heard His name and your small town has been talking about this man named Jesus for a long time. Someone whispers that He and His disciples are coming to the area this very week. You gather your family and you all set out. You see Him and think, “Hmm… He doesn’t look like anything special. What’s all the fuss about? He looks ‘normal’ enough. Oh, and there’s Matthew. I haven’t heard great things about him. Well, let’s just hear what this man Jesus has to say…”

You watch as Jesus takes His place at the center, among His disciples. They are gathered around Him, hanging on His every word. You hear Jesus begin to speak to them, to teach them, to astonish them: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Wait a minute! What does He mean that we are blessed if we are “poor”? How in the world could the Kingdom of Heaven belong to those who are poor, let alone poor in spirit? Moreover, how can anyone feel blessed when mourning? Even if we are comforted, we can never be comforted to the point of being “blessed” while grieving, can we?

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Identify three things that are different about Jesus’ teachings and what the world teaches us about happiness/blessedness.

· Share your perspective on the first two “blessings” in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Resources

· Bible

Background Information

In Matthew, Chapter 5, Jesus begins to preach to us. He tells us that He has come to bless us! His message is of the Kingdom of Heaven. He shares that this Kingdom is “near,” but what does this mean? Does this mean that it is approaching? Does this mean that it is close by in proximity? Does this mean that it is so close, so near, that it is within us?

Jesus outlines the many blessings and those who are blessed by them. In His message, He gives us the pathways and doorways to His Kingdom. Most of us misunderstand, and thus miss His message altogether. What is He trying to tell us?

Instructions

1. Read the devotional, “Blessed, Are We?" on this page.

2. Navigate to the threaded discussion below and respond to the following:

a. Identify three things that are different about Jesus’ teachings and what the world teaches us about happiness/blessedness.

b. Share your perspective on the first two “blessings” in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

3. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

4.4 Assignment. The Participants Section

Getting Started

You have come a long way and have learned a great deal in a brief amount of time. You have learned how to navigate through the Online Campus Library Services in order to search for professional journal articles. You are learning how to read and decipher the literature on a chosen topic. You have learned a great deal about different research designs and methodologies. In addition, you have already devised a clearly stated research question, written a brief literature review and developed your methods section.

Now it is time to write about your participants. Who is your overall population? College students? Mothers? Teens? How will you get a sample of that population to participate in your study? Will they be assigned to groups? Will they be monitored? Will they be tested? How will you protect their identities and ensure confidentiality? How will you protect them from any type of harm? Will you offer them debriefing times? These are just a few of the questions you must consider when discussing your participants.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Write a “Participants Section” for your Research Proposal

Resources

· Website: Writing in Psychology Overview

· Website: Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Types of Research Designs

· Video: Psychological Research: Crash Course Psychology #2

· Webpage: Writing a Research Proposal

· Website: OCLS Introduction to Research Guide

· Website: OCLS Article Databases

· Website: OCLS Evaluating Sources Page

Background Information

For this assignment, you will build on the draft you submitted in Workshop Two. While this section of the proposal is also a draft, you are encouraged to be as complete as possible in order to obtain valuable suggestions from your instructor before you are required to submit the final proposal in Workshop Six. Remember to continue to incorporate your capstone project ideas into this draft.

Instructions

1. Write a 2-page section about your participants.

2. Answer the following questions about study population and sampling:

i. Who are the participants in your study and how will you recruit them?

ii. How will you inform them of confidentiality?

iii. What tests or measurements will they be taking, if any?

iv. How will subjects be randomized into groups?

v. Where will your subjects participate in your study?

vi. Ethical Considerations

vii. Will you be able to generalize your findings from your sample to the population?

3. Your assignment should be a minimum of six pages and APA formatted. Use references to support and provide a rationale for each component.  Note: This submission should be a draft. Your instructor will assist you in strengthening it.

4. When you’ve completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy to your instructor for feedback using the Assignment submission page by the end of the workshop.

4.2 Discussion. Longitudinal Methods and Data Collection

Getting Started

The primary purpose of the longitudinal research design is to study a sample over a long period of time. A long period of time can be anywhere from a year to an individual’s lifetime. Another way of determining if the research design is longitudinal is that the study contains at least three measurement points. The sample can be as small as one individual or as large as the researcher determines it needs to be. Studying a sample over a long period of time provides a deeper examination of the research question and variables being explored. One of the most famous longitudinal studies, which you will read about, has been going on for nearly 80 years!

How do researchers maintain records in longitudinal studies, especially those that last for such a lengthy period of time? Although following APA ethical codes and other aspects of protecting participants is important for any research study, how well do researchers follow these requirements when studies last for longer periods of time? And, how do they ensure participant protection when a researcher hands a longitudinal study to another researcher? These are questions to keep in mind!

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Evaluate longitudinal methods and data collection in psychological research.

· Critique ethics in psychological research.

Resources

· Textbook:  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology

· Article: A Longitudinal Experimental Study Comparing the Effectiveness of Happiness-Enhancing Strategies in Anglo Americans and Asian Americans

· Article: Longitudinal Studies

· Video: Modeling Longitudinal Data Using Structural Equation Methods

· Video: Longitudinal Data Analysis

· Website: APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

Background Information

For this discussion, you will read about and examine the longitudinal research design, as well as data collection methods used for longitudinal studies. An important aspect regarding any type of research study that you will also examine relates to how well researchers follow the APA’s ethical codes. You will critique a study for the effectiveness of implementing these ethical codes.

Instructions

1. Review Chapters  4 , 6 , and  9  in your textbook,  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology, on the topic of longitudinal research.

2. Read the following articles:

a. A Longitudinal Experimental Study Comparing the Effectiveness of Happiness-Enhancing Strategies in Anglo Americans and Asian Americans

b. Longitudinal Studies

3. Watch the following videos. If you are not already logged into the IWU OCLS website, you will be prompted to log in when you click this link. (The following videos include transcripts.)

a. Modeling Longitudinal Data Using Structural Equation Methods . Use the Transcript tab and navigate to 1:25 and watch until 9:18.

b. Longitudinal Data Analysis . Using the Transcript tab, navigate to the 1:25 point and watch through the 13:01 point.

c. APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct .

4. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion prompts:

a. After reading the article “A Longitudinal Experimental Study Comparing the Effectiveness of Happiness-Enhancing Strategies in Anglo Americans and Asian Americans,” did you think a longitudinal design was the appropriate method to use based on the research question? Why or why not?

b. What data collection methods were used?

c. How well were the APA ethical codes followed? Identify at least two APA codes that you thought were not addressed in the article and provide input on how they ought to have been addressed.

d. What questions do you have about data collection and longitudinal research?

5. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 to 500 words.

6. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.