PSY 1012 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Hand Washing
Document Summary
Is the process of watching a phenomenon without interfering with what you are observing. The researcher observes a phenomenon-of-interest in its natural environment without interacting with the subjects and without manipulating the environment. The researcher also tries to avoid letting the participants know he or she is present. Naturalistic observation allows the researcher to only describe a phenomenon. Case studies are intensive examinations of a particular person, small group, or situation. The case study method tends to be used when a phenomenon or situation is: rare, complex, or new. Disadvantages of case studies: lacks a scientific basis and is non-randomized, results cannot be generalized to others, vulnerable to researcher bias, time intensive and expensive, subject typically knows he or she is being studied. Provides broad, general information about behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, opinions, interests, and/or intentions of a large group of people. Survey research administers a questionnaire and gives it to a large group of people.