Naturalistic Observation Essay

Psychology – Surveys, Experiments

Psychology – Surveys, Experiments

Introduction

The key advantages and disadvantages as well as limitations of the major methods or practices of scientific inquiry and analysis use of surveys, experiments, naturalistic observation, case studies, and correlations have particular characteristics. The rationale researchers choose one or more of this methodologies for scientific inquiry and discovery aligns to the type of data they desire gaining connected to a specific thesis.

Surveys

The benefits of survey research relates to cost, extensiveness, and they are both flexible as well as dependable. Surveys remain relatively inexpensive per respondent and they are useful in providing demographics of a large study target population. No other research methodology provides this type of broad capability with a more accurate feedback of the sampling for targeted results for drawing conclusions and making important research decisions according to data set for analysis. The anonymity characteristics of the volunteer participants adds validity to the candid aspect of their responses with less ambiguity. With the correctly worded questionnaire the more validity to the answers, and less bias for interpretation versus the person to person interview survey with open ended questions (Myers, 201).

Experiments

Use of experiments for research assists in determining fast, bigger, more, less, faster, and productive because they measure empirically 'bigger', 'better', 'faster', 'more' or 'less' 'productive' for hypothesis testing. Experiment design research focuses on collecting data used to accept or reject a hypothesis as relevant to the research field of study. The investigation looks at changing conditions concerning both subjects and object such as product testing gaining data that evaluates people reactive behavior to a given stimuli framed on statistical results proving a hypothesis (Meyers, 2010).
The philosophical justification for research methodology of using case studies aligns to the argument concerned with the validity of qualitative research strategies. Ideally, using the legitimate characteristics of epistemological in a mixed methodology of both quantitative and qualitative aspects of the case study proves both pragmatic and reliable (Myers, 2010).

Correlation

Establishing the correlation aspects of a research goal, this allows making predictions. Knowing the score of one measure about something then making accurate predictions about another measure with strong implications relating between the second to the first correlation aligned to its variable provides the research means for more accurate predictions. This in turn allows testing the evidence under controlled experiment conditions by design. At the same time, correlation nonetheless does not provide absolute causation implications while conversely, causation does indeed imply correlation. In fact, studies using correlation research methodology provide a useful stepping stone to more powerful research methodologies. Use of correlational research designs as cross-lagged panel and path analysis provides extreme limitations on causal inference (Meyers, 2010).

Conclusion

As the thesis statement in the introduction stated, the key advantages and disadvantages as well as limitations of the major methods or practices of scientific inquiry and analysis use of surveys, experiments, naturalistic observation (empirical), case studies, and correlations have particular characteristics as provided in this scholastic exercise. Statistical data from research provides numbers while questionnaires provide both qualitative and quantitative data. As shown with the explanation of the correlative research methodology purpose there are both advantages and limitations as per the effect on implications aligned to causal factors of the outcomes. The case study provides already established data as aligned to real world situations for comparative, qualitative, quantitative, empirical conclusions in research methodology.

References

Myers, D. (2010). Psychology, Ninth Edition in Modules. Aneeq Ahmad, Henderson State