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Analyze the case context and identify the specific criteria the coding team must use to categorize a writer's explanatory style as either optimistic or pessimistic. What aspects of the writer's attributions of blame and expectations of consequences should the coders look for in the text?
Case context: A research team is conducting archival research on a dataset of written letters from young adults in the 1940s. The team wants to analyze these letters to determine each writer's habitual way of explaining bad events (their explanatory style) and correlate it with their lifespan. Coders must read the letters, identify instances where writers describe bad events (e.g., financial hardship, family illness), and code their explanatory style.
Question: Analyze the case context and identify the specific criteria the coding team must use to categorize a writer's explanatory style as either optimistic or pessimistic. What aspects of the writer's attributions of blame and expectations of consequences should the coders look for in the text?
Sample answer: The coding team should look for two main criteria. First, for attributions of blame: if the writer blames themselves for the bad event, this indicates a pessimistic style; if they blame outside forces, it indicates an optimistic style. Second, for expectations of consequences: if the writer expects long-term negative consequences that affect many aspects of their life, it points to a pessimistic style; if they expect limited, localized negative consequences, it points to an optimistic style.
Key points:
- Coders must analyze who is blamed for the bad event (self-blame vs. outside forces).
- Coders must analyze the expected duration and scope of the consequences (long-term/widespread vs. limited).
- Pessimistic style is marked by self-blame and widespread, long-term consequences.
- Optimistic style is marked by attributing events to outside forces and expecting limited consequences.
Rubric: The response must identify: 1) Blame attribution: self-blame for pessimistic vs. outside forces for optimistic. 2) Expected consequences: long-term and widespread for pessimistic vs. limited/restricted for optimistic.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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