Methods in Psychological Research introduces students to the rich world of research in psychology through student-friendly writing, compelling real-world examples, and frequent opportunities for practice. Using a relaxed yet supportive tone that eases student anxiety, the authors present a mixture of conceptual and practical discussions, and spark reader interest in research by covering meaningful topics that resonate with today’s students. In-text features like Conceptual Exercises, FYI sections, and FAQ sections with accompanying visual cues support learning throughout the research experience. The Fourth Edition equips students with the tools they need to understand research concepts, conduct their own experiments, and present their findings.

Data Collection Methods

Objectives

Image 17

After studying this chapter, students should be able to

  • Plan a study using each of the three ways of observing behavior
  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of naturalistic, participant, and laboratory observation
  • Describe how survey research differs from observational research and discuss various ways of conducting a survey
  • Devise a research question appropriate for a focus group approach

In the United States, certain families are given special television equipment so that their viewing habits can be monitored. These families provide what are known as the Nielsen ratings, and television program developers use these ratings to make decisions about which television programs will be continued and which will be dropped. Do you wonder how these decisions are made, exactly?

Have you ever wondered what the TV ad proclaiming ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles