PSYC 1020H Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Statistical Inference, Naturalistic Observation, Descriptive Statistics

• School: Trent University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1020H
• Professor: Kateryna Keefer

Document Summary

Qualitative researchers make empirical observations of the work and report these observations as narratives. Interested in the meaning of a specific experience rather than working with variables defined in advance meanings assigned to the experience emerge from the data they collect. Quantitative research involves empirical observation of the world reported as a numeric quantities. These methods are designed primarily to examine cause and effect relationships where variables may be deprived ahead of the time and where the data are numerical. Observers are trained to watch + record behaviours. Subjects are administered a series of written questions to obtain info about attitudes, opinions, and behaviour. Instrument used to monitor + record specific physiological processes in a subject ex/ blood pressure, brain activity. Researcher analyzes existing institutional records ex/ census, economic, medical, legal, educational. How x affects y: how independent variable affects dependent variable.