Define experimental and descriptive methods in social psychology. Define the descriptive methods of naturalistic observation and survey studies. What advantages do experimental methods have over these descriptive methods?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Experimental methods are procedures for uncovering causal processes by systematically manipulating some aspect of a situation. Descriptive methods are procedures for measuring or recording behaviors, thoughts, and feelings in their natural state. Naturalistic observation involves recording everyday behaviors as they unfold in their natural settings. Surveys are techniques in which the researcher asks people to report on their beliefs, feelings, or behaviors. The advantages of the experimental method over these descriptive methods are the ability to manipulate variables, carefully control the participants' environment, and to infer causality.
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Samantha started having difficulty falling asleep during final exam week. Although exams are over, she now starts to worry about sleep right after dinner. Even the sight of her bed makes her very anxious. The fact that Samantha's insomnia continues long after the stress of exams is over points to the role of ________ in the maintenance of sleep disorders
a. biology b. other medical conditions c. learning d. unknown factors
The mental activity involved in understanding, processing, and communicating information is called
a. thinking. c. learning. b. memory. d. consciousness.
A combination of progesterone and estrogen (HRT) is commonly used to treat immune system disorders
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
Changes in the physical appearance of adolescents, such as growth of facial hair in boys and breast development in girls, are called
a. primary sexual characteristics. c. differentiations. b. secondary sexual characteristics. d. puberty.