Descriptive Methods
Chapter 4
Descriptive methods
 Observational: naturalistic and laboratory
 Case studies
 Archival
 Qualitative
 Surveys
 For each:
 Examples
 Method description and data collection
 Advantages and disadvantages
Observational method
Data collection
 Self-report
 Tests
 Physical measures
 Behavioral measures
 Narrative reports
 Checklists or coding:
 Static items:
 Action items:
 Example:
 Examine aggressive behavior in children (classroom context)
Naturalistic observation or Field study
 Method:
 Example: Jane Goodall and chimpanzees of Gombe
 http://animal.discovery.com/videos/jane-goodall/
 Decisions:
 Undisguised vs. disguised observation
 Non-participant vs. participant observation
Naturalistic observation
 Advantages:
 Ecological validity
 Disadvantages:
 Expectancy effects
 Reactivity
Laboratory observation or systematic observation
 Method:
 Example:
 Mary Ainsworth’s Strange situation test to examine attachment
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsewNrHUHU
 Decisions:
 Undisguised vs. disguised
 Non-participant vs. participant observation
Laboratory observation
 Advantages:
 Ecological validity
 Disadvantages:
 Reactivity
 Expectancy effects
Case study
 Method:
 Examples:
 Savants: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8YXZTlwTAU
 Advantages:
 Disadvantages:
Archival
 Method:
 Examples:
 Advantages:
 Disadvantages:
Qualitative methods
 Method:
 Examples:
 Advantages:
 Disadvantages:
Create your own study using an
observational method.
 What topic are you studying?
 Where is study conducted?
 What is your method? (Use vocab)
 What would your coding manual look like? What behaviors
would you want to measure?
 What are pros/cons of the method?
 What do you expect to find?