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Matching Research Approaches to Scientific Goals
The selection of a research methodology is fundamentally guided by the specific goals of the scientific inquiry. When a researcher's objective is to explain a phenomenon by establishing a causal relationship, an experimental approach is generally preferred. Conversely, when the research goal is simply to describe a variable or to predict outcomes based on naturally occurring associations, a non-experimental approach is the appropriate strategy.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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Descriptive Goal of Science
Predictive Goal of Science
Explanatory Goal of Science
Matching Research Approaches to Scientific Goals
Match each of the three primary goals of scientific research with its corresponding objective.
A psychologist finds a consistent relationship between the amount of sleep students get and their exam scores. According to the primary goals of science, what must the researcher do to move from merely predicting this relationship to explaining it?
A psychologist is investigating the relationship between physical exercise and anxiety levels. Arrange the following research activities in the order that correctly represents the progression through the three goals of science: Description, Prediction, and Explanation.
A researcher who successfully uses an observed correlation between 'Parental Involvement' and 'Child Literacy' to forecast the reading levels of elementary students has achieved the scientific goal of explanation.
Which primary goal of scientific research is specifically focused on identifying the underlying causal mechanisms of a phenomenon?
If a researcher identifies a systematic relationship between 'social media usage' and 'symptoms of depression' that allows them to forecast which users are at risk, they have successfully achieved the scientific goal of explanation.
When evaluating whether a research finding is sufficient to justify a new clinical intervention, a scientist must judge if the work has moved beyond the goal of prediction to reach the scientific goal of _____, ensuring that the treatment will actually cause the patient's symptoms to improve.
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When a researcher's objective is to explain a phenomenon by establishing a causal relationship, which research approach is generally preferred?
A clinical psychologist aims to determine if using a specific mindfulness smartphone app causes a reduction in social anxiety symptoms among teenagers. To achieve this scientific goal of explanation, the psychologist should utilize a non-experimental research approach.
A psychologist is designing a study to investigate the relationship between social media usage and attention span. Arrange the following steps in the correct logical order to illustrate how the researcher should match their research approach to their scientific goal.
In psychological research, a non-experimental approach is the appropriate strategy when the scientist's goal is to describe a variable or predict outcomes based on naturally occurring associations.
In psychological research, why is a non-experimental approach considered appropriate for the scientific goal of 'prediction', but generally insufficient for the goal of 'explanation'?
A research team proposes three different studies. Match each study description to the research approach it uses and the scientific goal it serves.
To evaluate the validity of a causal claim in psychology, a researcher must judge whether the study design matches the scientific goal of explanation. If a researcher concludes that one variable is responsible for another based on a non-experimental study, they have committed a methodological mismatch; to properly support the goal of explanation, they should have utilized a/an _____ research approach.
Match each hypothetical psychological study scenario to the appropriate research approach based on its scientific goal.
A cognitive psychologist wants to explain the phenomenon of memory consolidation by determining if sleep quality directly causes changes in recall scores. If the researcher only measures naturally occurring sleep patterns and correlates them with recall performance without manipulating any variables, they are using a(n) _____ approach, which is logically mismatched with their scientific goal of establishing a causal relationship.
Arrange the steps in the correct logical sequence to evaluate whether a researcher's proposed study design is appropriate for their scientific objectives.