EX-POST FACTO STUDIES Select people who already have the characteristic of study Compare them to people who do not have that characteristic Subject Variable A characteristic of interest in the participants Quasi-experimental Does not meet the definition of an experiment Missing Random assignment Manipulation of IV Control of other variables Contrast 2 or more groups Measurement of DV
EX-POST FACTO STUDIES Cannot tell us the causes of gender differences Caution should be used with the interpretation of the results of these studies 2 problems An incorrect attribution of cause and effect Reducing gender differences exclusively to biological differences Can lead to conclusions that are erroneous
DESCRIPTIVE METHODS SURVEY Create questionnaire Wording of questions Answer format Appearance of questionnaire Choice of participants Number of participants Method of administration Relies on self-report Socially acceptable answers Self selected sample Sometimes there is no other way to collect the information about the phenomenon
DESCRIPTIVE METHODS CORRELATION What is the relationship between 2 variables Operational Definitions Defining a variable in terms of the operations used to get data on that variable Used to be more specific about the variables that we are studying Correlation coefficients Statistical representation of the strength of relationship -1 to +1 Closer to -1 or +1 the stronger the relationship between the two variables
PHYSICAL AGGRESSION IQ DESCRIPTIVE METHODS CORRELATION Positive correlations Shows a direct relationship Both variable vary in same direction Testosterone levels & physical aggression 4.00 Estrogen levels & IQ 130 3.00 125 120 2.00 115 110 1.00 20 30 40 50 TESTOSTERONE LEVELS 105 100 800 1,100 1,400 1,700 2000 2200 2400 ESTROGEN LEVELS
Hours of Sleep/Night GPA DESCRIPTIVE METHODS CORRELATION Negative correlations Shows an inverse relationship Variables vary in opposite direction Age and hours of sleep per night Hours of TV viewing per day and GPA 14 12 10 4.00 3.00 8 6 4 2.00 2 0 15 30 45 60 75 90 Age 1.00 2 6 8 12 Hours of TV/day
Personality Score DESCRIPTIVE METHODS CORRELATION Zero correlations No relationship at all Gender and hygiene Personality and the movement of distant stars 12.00 10.00 8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 1 2 3 4 Movement of Stars
DESCRIPTIVE METHODS CORRELATION Correlation does NOT imply Causation Just because events or phenomena are related one doesn t mean that one variable causes the other Gender and Emotionality Menopause and Mood swings Testosterone and Aggression Directionality Which variable causes the other Third Variable Is there a third variable that could be causing a change in one variable or the other or both
A Dartmouth study found that overweight young women (age 23) earned less than their non-overweight peers. Correlation Weight Income Additionally, the study found that young men's earnings rose 2% for each 4-inch increase in height. Correlation Height (increased by 4 inches) Income Hutchens
QUALITATIVE METHODS Extensive reports and interviews Statistical analysis difficult Subjectivity Difference is the type of data collected Case study Intensive investigation of ONE individual Limited to rare phenomenon Interviews Asking questions to obtain information about the populous Can be statistically analyzed, but it is NOT the goal Not standardized Few participants
QUALITATIVE METHODS Ethnography Most common form of qualitative research Researchers immerse themselves in the situation they are studying Data collection is not systematic Focus on one aspect and ignore others Focus groups Discussion on a specific topic Similar to interviews Interaction with other group members and the researcher Data is not standard Data is difficult to analyze