Write a 100- to 150-word response to the following questions associated with each scenario.
A psychologist is interested in learning more about how children interact with each other during the school day. The psychologist is particularly interested in discovering the ways in which children behave when they do not think they are being watched. What research method would be best used to conduct this type of research, and why?
What ethical concerns might be an issue in this type of research? Observational research method would be suitable because it includes case studies, ethnographic studies, ethological studies, etc. The primary characteristic of each of these types of studies is that phenomena are being observed and recorded. Often times, the studies are qualitative in nature.
For example, a psychological case study would entail extensive notes based on observations of and interviews with the client. A detailed report with analysis would be written and reported constituting the study of this individual case. For example, an ethological study interaction of children as they play with each other may include measures of behavior durations i.e. the amount of time the children are engaged in a specified behavior. This measure of time would be quantitative. Observational research can be problematic if not conducted well.
Clearly, there are many problems with internal validity. One can describe the individual(s) being observed but one cannot make any sort of causative conclusions based on the observations. Additionally, construct validity can be impacted by lack of background work before the observations or study, observer and experimenter biases or expectencies, etc. In developmental psychology, this form of research is often early work in the exploration of a developmental topic. In this research approach, behaviors are counted, correct answers or errors are counted, and other types of measures are recorded in terms of quantity.
Observational research involves both experimental and non-experimental research. Ethical issues Observational research focus on protecting individuals that receive an intervention. For example, an intervention may involve training participants in group communication where a great deal of self-disclosure is required. Self-disclosure is a technique whereby people are encouraged to discuss their feelings, attitudes, and experiences (some of which may be quite personal).
Does there searcher have the right to use such a treatment? Dealing with this question is a personal decision on the part of the researcher.