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Explain how the student's decision to use the APA's report demonstrates the benefits and practical necessity of the method of authority. In your explanation, address the specific trade-offs regarding time and resources described in the parent node.
Case context: A student researcher is conducting a study on how study environments affect test anxiety. In their literature review, they cite established statistics from the American Psychological Association (APA) regarding national student anxiety levels. Instead of conducting their own nationwide survey to verify these statistics, they rely on the APA's report to establish the significance of their study's topic.
Question: Explain how the student's decision to use the APA's report demonstrates the benefits and practical necessity of the method of authority. In your explanation, address the specific trade-offs regarding time and resources described in the parent node.
Sample answer: The student's decision shows the benefit of the method of authority because conducting a nationwide survey to verify anxiety levels would require immense time and resources that the student does not have. Relying on the APA as an authority allows the student to efficiently acquire this foundational context so they can proceed with their specific study.
Key points:
- Relying on the APA's report is an application of the method of authority.
- Independent verification of nationwide statistics is practically impossible for the student due to resource constraints.
- Using the authority's data saves time, making the research process more efficient.
- The decision illustrates the efficiency benefit of the method of authority despite potential for error.
Rubric: The student must explain that relying on the APA's authority is a practical necessity due to the student's lack of time and resources to run a national survey. They should show comprehension of the method of authority as an efficient way to acquire information without needing to independently verify every fact.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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