Explain how Marcus has applied the single-variable method to generate his research question and explain why his project represents a valuable opportunity for original empirical research based on his literature review.
Case context: A psychology student, Marcus, wants to study 'social media scrolling fatigue.' He decides to define this fatigue by measuring the duration of continuous scrolling before a user closes an app. He searches database literature and finds that while general social media fatigue has been studied, the specific behavior of scrolling duration in a single session has never been scientifically evaluated as a single variable.
Question: Explain how Marcus has applied the single-variable method to generate his research question and explain why his project represents a valuable opportunity for original empirical research based on his literature review.
Sample answer: Marcus identified a specific behavior (social media scrolling fatigue) and conceptualized it as a single measurable variable (duration of continuous scrolling in a session). He then inquired about its intensity/duration (how long users scroll). His literature review revealed that this specific behavior had not yet been scientifically evaluated in this manner, showing that there is a gap in the literature and making it a valuable opportunity for original empirical research.
Key points:
- Marcus conceptualizes a specific behavior (scrolling fatigue) as a single measurable variable (continuous scrolling duration).
- He inquires about the duration (intensity) of this single variable.
- A literature review reveals the behavior has not been scientifically evaluated in this manner.
- The lack of prior scientific evaluation makes it a valuable opportunity for original empirical research.
Rubric: The response should explain Marcus's operationalization of the behavior as a single measurable variable (scrolling duration) and connect his literature review findings (lack of prior research on this specific variable) to the creation of a valuable opportunity for original empirical research.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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