Descriptive Research Methods

1
Chapter 12

• Descriptive Research Methods

2
Observational Research

• Varieties of Observational Research
• Classification
• Level of experimenter/participant interaction
• Level of structure imposed on setting
• Naturalistic Observation
• Participant Observation

3
Observational Research

• Evaluating Observational Methods
• Absence of Control
• Observer Bias
• Participant Reactivity
• Ethical Concerns

4
Other methods

• Case Studies
• Analysis of single case
• Evaluating case studies
• Low external validity
• Researcher bias
• Memory bias
• Archival Research
• Content analysis
• Meta-analysis