Learn Before
Refining Existing Research Questions
Discovering that a research question has already been studied scientifically does not mean it should be abandoned; instead, it indicates the topic is of scientific interest and can be refined to contribute new insights. Researchers can refine existing questions by exploring alternative methods to define and measure the variables, or by investigating whether the relationship varies among different types of people or in specific situations.
0
1
Tags
KPU
Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
Related
Refining Existing Research Questions
Examples of Relationship Research Questions
After the frequency or intensity of a single variable is well-established in the scientific literature, how do researchers typically generate new relationship research questions?
Researchers can generate new questions about a well-established variable by examining its relationship with other variables. Match each strategy for generating these relationship research questions with the corresponding psychological example.
A researcher is interested in the well-established finding that 'multitasking' during lectures is common among college students. Arrange the following steps in the correct order to show how the researcher would generate a new relationship research question by brainstorming a potential cause of this behavior.
A researcher who expands on the known frequency of 'test anxiety' by investigating whether it is more common among student-athletes than among non-athletes is generating a relationship research question by brainstorming the potential effects of that anxiety.
Imagine you are a researcher designing a study to expand upon the well-established finding that 'The average adult reports feeling stressed times per week'. To generate a new relationship research question, you decide to synthesize two strategies: identifying a 'specific population' and brainstorming a 'potential cause' for variations in stress. Which of the following questions represents the successful construction of this research question?
When researchers generate relationship research questions based on a single variable whose frequency or intensity is already established in the scientific literature, they are limited to brainstorming the potential effects of that variable and cannot investigate its potential causes.
A psychologist evaluates a research proposal that aims to measure the average frequency of 'sleep deprivation' among high school students. The psychologist critiques the plan by arguing that because this frequency is already well-documented, the researcher must judge which potential causes, effects, or situational factors would provide the most scientific value if investigated next. By deciding to examine how 'sleep deprivation' connects to these other variables, the researcher is transitioning to the generation of a(n) _____ research question.
A researcher wants to study the well-established variable of academic procrastination. Match each proposed research study with the corresponding strategy for generating relationship research questions.
A researcher reviews the literature and finds that the average level of smartphone addiction among teenagers is already well-established. To generate a new research question, the researcher proposes to compare smartphone addiction levels between urban teenagers and rural teenagers. In analyzing this research design, the researcher is generating a relationship research question by identifying specific _____ that might exhibit different levels of the characteristic.
A research team wants to transition their research program on 'employee burnout' from single-variable descriptive research to relationship-based research. Order the steps they should take to evaluate the literature and generate valid relationship research questions.
According to the literature, when the frequency or intensity of a single variable is already established, what general approach should researchers take to generate new research questions, and what are the three specific strategies or considerations they can use to do so?
Identify which of the three strategies for generating relationship research questions (brainstorming causes/effects, identifying specific populations, or considering situations that elicit variations) is represented by each of the research group's three proposed questions, and explain your reasoning.
A literature review shows that the average level of test anxiety among high school students is well-established. Apply the strategy of 'considering situations that could elicit variations in behavior' to write a specific relationship research question that builds on this finding.
Learn After
Examples of Refining Existing Research Questions
According to the concept of refining existing research questions, what should a researcher do upon discovering that their topic has already been studied scientifically?
Researchers can refine existing research questions to provide new scientific insights. Match each example of a refined study design to the specific strategy being used to build upon previous findings.
A researcher wants to refine the established finding that 'test anxiety reduces exam performance.' Arrange the steps they would take to apply the strategy of investigating situational variation.
A researcher reads an existing study finding that 'sleep deprivation impairs cognitive performance.' They decide to refine this research by testing whether the impairment is more severe in 'high-stress work environments' compared to 'low-stress home environments.' This researcher is refining the research question by exploring alternative methods to define and measure the variables.
Discovering that a research question has already been studied scientifically indicates that the topic should be abandoned because it lacks scientific interest.
A researcher is interested in studying how 'mindfulness meditation' reduces 'anxiety,' but they discover that dozens of studies have already confirmed this relationship in clinical settings. According to the principle of refining research questions, which approach would best contribute new scientific insights to this topic?
A scientist critiques a study on attention span because it was conducted only in a perfectly quiet laboratory. To evaluate whether the findings generalize to noisier environments like a classroom, the scientist refines the research question by investigating whether the relationship varies in specific _____.
Match each hypothetical research scenario refining the relationship between 'exercise and stress reduction' to the corresponding refinement strategy.
A student researcher finds that their exact research question has already been studied scientifically. According to the principles of research design, rather than abandoning the topic, they should recognize that this prior research indicates the topic is of _____ and can be refined to contribute new insights.
Evaluate the logical progression of refining an existing research question to contribute new insights. Order the steps from the initial discovery of prior research to the final formulation of the refined question.