Column A: Experimental Design Or Correlational Design

Column A Experimental Design Or Correlational Design

Column A = Experimental Design or Correlational Design. Column B = Case Study, Naturlistic Observation, Survey, or Longitudinal/Cross-Sectional Design Describe the design. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the design. Give an example of a study completed using this design. The assignment must be double spaced and include an APA formatted title and reference page.

In-text citations are required in the body of your writing and full source citations in your reference page. Font size must be 10-12 pt. (Times New Roman 12, Arial 11, Calibri 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Georgia 11). The title page should include: · Assignment Name · Student’s Name · University · Course Name and Number · Instructor’s Name · Assignment Due Date READ HERE FIRST PLEASE: THIS IS THE MATERIAL TO USE AND REFERENCE. For this first assignment, you will analyze different types of research. To begin, please read and view the following materials: · Rice University. (2017). 2.2 Approaches to research (Links to an external site.) in, Psychology. OpenStax. [Electronic version] · University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing. (2010). 2.2 Psychologists use descriptive, correlational, and experimental research designs to understand behavior (Links to an external site.). In Introduction to Psychology. [Electronic version]

Paper For Above instruction

This paper aims to explore and analyze various research designs utilized in psychology, specifically focusing on experimental and correlational designs. Each design's methodology, strengths, weaknesses, and exemplary studies are examined to provide a comprehensive understanding of their application in psychological research.

Experimental Design

Experimental design involves manipulating one or more independent variables to observe their effect on dependent variables. This design aims to establish cause-and-effect relationships by controlling extraneous variables through random assignment and controlled conditions. The hallmark of experimental research is its rigorous methodology, which enhances internal validity and allows researchers to infer causal relationships.

A classic example of an experimental study is the Stanford prison experiment conducted by Philip Zimbardo (1971), which investigated how situational factors influence human behavior. Participants were randomly assigned to be either guards or prisoners, and the study observed significant behavioral changes based solely on role assignment, illustrating causal effects of environmental influence.

Strengths of Experimental Design

• High internal validity, allowing for causal inferences
• Control over extraneous variables
• Replicability of the study

Weaknesses of Experimental Design

• Potential ethical issues related to manipulation and deception
• Limited external validity due to artificial settings
• Participants may behave differently knowing they are in a study (demand characteristics)

Correlational Design

Correlational design examines the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating any factors. Researchers measure variables as they naturally occur and analyze the statistical associations between them. Correlational studies are valuable for identifying patterns and predicting outcomes but do not establish causation.

An example of correlational research is the study by Myers et al. (2014), which explored the relationship between sleep patterns and academic performance among college students. Data was collected through surveys, and statistical analysis revealed a positive correlation between adequate sleep and higher grades.

Strengths of Correlational Design

• Ethically easier to implement, especially in natural settings
• Allows study of variables that cannot be manipulated (e.g., age, personality)
• Can identify relationships and make predictions

Weaknesses of Correlational Design

• Cannot determine causation — only association
• Susceptible to confounding variables
• Correlation does not imply causality; third variables may influence results

Research Designs in Practice

The choice between experimental and correlational designs largely depends on the research question and ethical considerations. For example, if a researcher wants to establish cause-effect relationships, experimental design is preferred despite potential ethical constraints. Conversely, if studying natural phenomena where manipulation is impossible or unethical, correlational research offers valuable insights.

In longitudinal studies, researchers observe the same subjects over an extended period to detect changes and developments, exemplified by the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, which tracks health and behavioral factors across decades. Cross-sectional studies examine a population at a single point in time, providing snapshot data; an example is a survey assessing mental health status among different age groups simultaneously.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinctions, strengths, and weaknesses of various research designs is essential for conducting sound psychological research. Experimental designs offer causality but pose ethical and external validity challenges, while correlational designs facilitate understanding relationships within ethical boundaries but do not establish causality. Recognizing these differences enhances the selection of appropriate methodologies aligned with research questions and ethical standards.

References

• Myers, D. G., Nelson, J. E., & Simons, L. (2014). Psychology (11th ed.). Worth Publishers.
• Zimbardo, P. (1971). The power and pathology of imprisonment. American Psychologist, 26(9), 913–929.
• Rice University. (2017). 2.2 Approaches to research in Psychology. OpenStax.
• University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing. (2010). 2.2 Psychologists use descriptive, correlational, and experimental research designs to understand behavior. Introduction to Psychology.
• Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs. Houghton Mifflin.
• Kazdin, A. E. (2011). Research Design in Clinical Psychology. Pearson.
• Cooper, H., & Hedges, L. V. (2009). The Handbook of Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis. Russell Sage Foundation.
• Campbell, D. T., & Stanley, J. C. (1963). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research. Houghton Mifflin.
• Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics. Sage Publications.
• Gravetter, F. J., & Forzano, L. B. (2018). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences. Cengage Learning.