Question

1. Labeling all five examples as either (A) archival research, (B) ethnography, (C) unobtrusive observation, (D) survey), (E) True Experiment. (p. 106-107)

_______I. Use Marriage records to show that grooms are, on average, about three years older than brides.

_______II. In a study of persuasion, participants heard a message delivered at either 60 or 100 words per minute.

_______III. Tina lived for two years in a foraging culture in Papua New Guinea where she made systematic observations of gender, social status, and interaction in daily conversations.

_______IV. Kelli took part in the 2010 US Census reporting facts such as her age and marital status.

_______V. An archaeologist conducted genetic and microscopic analysis of food particles caught between the teeth of well persevered Neanderthal skulls to see how much meat Neanderthals ate.

2.  The authors claim that random assignment is “the key to eliminating all possible confounds in a true experiment.” however this is not correct. Can you think of a type of confound that would not be eliminated by random assignment? Can I please get an example?

Answer 1

1. I. Archival research. This is because already existing records are being used to collect data.

II. True experiment. This is because there is an independent variable and a dependent variable. The independent variable is manipulated across conditions.

III. Ethnography. It is a type of research in which the researcher uses the point of view of the members of a cultural group. Here, the researcher often goes to live with a cultural group.

IV. Survey. Data is collected through a questionnaire.

V. Unobtrusive observation. The researcher is merely observing something that has already taken place.