advanced topics research methods fall 2013(1)

7/29/2019 Advanced Topics Research Methods Fall 2013(1)

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Advanced

Topics inResearchMethodsWilliam Ashton, Ph.D.

York College, CUNY


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An exampleA study was conducted to investigate the

hypothesis that watching televised violenceincreases aggression in children.

Fifty 4-year olds were randomly assigned to watcheither a violent or a non-violent television programin a classroom in their daycare center the children who watched violent cartoons did the

experiment in the morning and the children who watchednon-violent cartoons did the experiment in the afternoon.

After watching the program the children wereobserved while they engaged in 30 minutes offree play. An observer watched for aggressive

acts and recorded all such acts that occurred.


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Issues

What do they mean by violent/non-violent?

What do they mean by aggressive act?

What allows them to test their hypothesis?


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Operational Definitions

An operational definition is a clearlydefined set of procedures for measuring

(usually a DV) or manipulating (usually anIV) the construct of interest.

To be a good operational definition:

it must specify the procedure preciselyenough to allow replication

the relationship of the OD to the constructmust make sense


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Operational Definitions in theexperiment

Violent cartoon

Non-violent cartoon

Aggressive acts


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Violent Cartoon ODDragonball Z season 7 episode

195. 5 minute clip (3:458:50)training for a battle

Dragonball Z season 7 episode199 5 minute clip (1:00-6:05)involving Goku & Paiku-hansbattle


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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhMFt10JYKo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhMFt10JYKohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhMFt10JYKohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhMFt10JYKohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhMFt10JYKohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhMFt10JYKo


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Aggressive Behaviors OD

Any forceful physical contact

Poking

Grabbing

Hitting

Kicking

Pushing

Shoving


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Identifying Constants &Variables

Constants Classroom

Length of video Type of video School yard Length of observation Type of kids

Variables Content of video (violent/non-violent) Number of aggressive acts Time of day


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Identifying IVs

Independent Variable

the variable assumed to take the causal

role; this variable is manipulated by theresearcher

Groups

either-or, conditions, treatments


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Identifying DVs

Dependent Variable

the variable assumed to be influenced;this variable is observed

measured, observed, scale


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Identifying EVs

Extraneous Variable

outside

nuisance factor which is uncontrolled

Controlled - held constant (includingrandom assignment)

Any variable which is not an IV or DV


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CVs

Confound Variable

an extraneous variable which covaries

with the levels of the IVCovaryone level of the IV = one level of

the EV


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Confounds are badExperimental Control

Violent Cartoons

Morning

30 mins

Aggressive acts

Kids sleepynot that

active = less

aggressive

Researcher is alert =accurately count acts

Non-violent Cartoons

Afternoon

30 mins

Aggressive acts

Kids hyper = more

aggressive

Researcher is sleepy =

count fewer acts


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Confounds are badExperimental Control

Violent Cartoons (IV)

Morning (EV)

30 mins (Controlled)

Aggressive acts (DV)

Kids sleepynot that

active = less

aggressive

Researcher is alert =accurately count acts

Non-violent Cartoons

Afternoon

30 mins

Aggressive acts

Kids hyper = more

aggressive

Researcher is sleepy =

count fewer acts

Violent level of IV = morning level of EV

Non-violent level of IV = afternoon level of EV


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Hypothesis

Prediction based on theory

Directionalwho is doing better

Specific to experimentrefer to IV(groups) and DV

Participants in the violent cartooncondition will act more aggressivelyduring free play than participants in thenon-violent cartoon condition will act.


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Graphs

DV is on Y-axisRating of Strength ofFactorFirst IV is on X-axisparticipants:jewish/germanSecond IVs levels are listed in legend

external/internal Bar graph if IV on x-axis is non-continuous Line graph if Iv on x-axis is continuous (time of

day: 6pm/8pm/9pm)


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Replications & Extensions

Exact (direct) replicationthe experimentis exactly recreated.

Extension or conceptual replicationmost of the study is replicated but oneelement might be changed or anotherelement added. PopulationAmerican Japanese

Converging operationschanging the way onevariable is operationally defined

Adding a new (theoretically interesting) variable


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Valid IVs & DVs

Whether the operational definition of yourIV and DV will actually work as you expect

Use something which has worked beforein a past study.


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Help

These slides are on Bb

My youtube channel

drwilliamashton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7JoG

hAhtBA&list=TL2tFrmvO3Q_4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7JoGhAhtBA&list=TL2tFrmvO3Q_4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7JoGhAhtBA&list=TL2tFrmvO3Q_4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7JoGhAhtBA&list=TL2tFrmvO3Q_4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7JoGhAhtBA&list=TL2tFrmvO3Q_4


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advanced topics research methods fall 2013(1)

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