Reference no: EM13701910
Illustrative Article: Observational Methods
Happiness, according to Aristotle, is the most desirable of all things. In the past few decade, many researchers have been studying predictors of happiness in an attempt to understand the construct.
Mehl, Vazire, Holleran, and Clark (2010) conducted a naturalistic observation on the topic of happiness using electronically activated recorders (a device that unobtrusively records snippets of sound at regular intervals, for a fixed amount of time). In this study, 79 undergraduates students wore the device for four days; 30- second recordings were made every 12.5 minutes. Each snippet was coded as having been taken while the participants was alone or with people. If the participant was with somebody, the recordings were also coded for "small talk" and "substantial talk." Other measures administered were well- being and happiness.
First, acquire and read the article:
Mehl, M.R., Vazire, S., Holleran, S. E., & Clark, C.S. (2010). Eavesdropping on happiness: Well- being is related to having less small talk and more substantive conversations. Psychological Science, 21, 539-541.
Then, after reading the article, consider the following:
1. What is the research question for this study?
2. Is the basic approach in this study qualitative or quantitative?
3. Is this study an example of concealed or nonconcealed observation? What are the ethical issues present in the study?
4. Do you think that participants would be reactive to this data collection method?
5. How reliable were the coders? How did the authors assess their reliability?
6. How did the researchers operationally define small talk, substantive talk, well-being, and happiness? What do you think about the quality of these operations definitions?
7. Does this study suffer from the problem involving the direction of causation? How so?
8. Does this study suffer from the third- variable problem? How so?
9. Do you think that this study included any confounding variables? Provide examples.
10. Given the topic of this study, what other ways can you think of to conduct this study using an observational method?
Length: 7 pages not including title and reference pages
References: Minimum of 5 scholarly resources. (APA 6th edition); be sure to include the doi or url number.
|
What is the average acceleration of the car
: Suppose that a NASCAR race car is moving to the right with a constant velocity of + 98 m/s. What is the average acceleration of the car
|
|
How far must the sprayer be from the patient
: An ebola patient must be sprayed at a distance with a disinfectant solution. How far must the sprayer be from the patient
|
|
Recently reported $6 million of net income
: 2-3, Molteni Motors Inc. recently reported $6 million of net income. Its EBIT was $13, and its tax rate was 40%. What was its interest expense? (hint: write out the headings for an income statement, and then fill in the known values. Then divid..
|
|
What is the charge on circular segment of the electrode
: The electric field strength 5.90cm from a very wide charged electrode is 9000N/C. What is the charge (in nC) on a 2.00-cm-diameter circular segment of the electrode
|
|
Observational methods
: Happiness, according to Aristotle, is the most desirable of all things. In the past few decade, many researchers have been studying predictors of happiness in an attempt to understand the construct.
|
|
Find the x and y components of the particles acceleration
: A particle in initially moving along the positive x-axis at a speed of 10.0 m/s. Find the x and y components of the particle's acceleration
|
|
What are these two angles
: A corn hole player throws a bean bag by swinging it near the ground at 10 m/s. The objective is to land the bag in the opposing hole located 7.3m away. What are these two angles
|
|
How much time elapses before her velocity is reduced
: An ice skater is gliding horizontally across the ice with an initial velocity of +6.92 m/s. How much time elapses before her velocity is reduced
|
|
At what height above its launch point
: A ball is thrown straight upward and rises to a maximum height of 13.8 m above its launch point. At what height above its launch point has the speed of the ball decreased to one-half of its initial value
|