Question

For each of the following studies (#1-7) indicate the research method used. Choose from the following: naturalistic observation, correlational study, experiment 1. Latane and Bidwell (1977) observed college students entering the cafeteria and eating. Among other things, the researchers found that students were likely to be in the presence of another person when entering the cafeteria or when sitting in the cafeteria. 2. According to Berk (1996) there is a relationship between age and amount of laughter; as age increases, the amount of time spent laughing decreases. 3. Students who earn higher grades go to bed earlier than students who get lower grades. 4. Campers who were given cotton sleeping bags reported a more restful sleep than campers given nylon sleeping bags.

Answer 1

1. Latane and Bidwell (1977) study: the research method used is naturalistic observation. Here the researcher observed the behavior of the students in a naturally occurring environment. The researcher also observed the frequency with which students who entered the cafeteria were in the company of others
2. The second study used correlation to measure the relationship between two variables namely; age and amount of laughter. The study found that there is an inverse relationship between age and the amount of laughter. Thus there is a negative relationship
3. The third study is also a correlational study
4. The last study is an experimental study. An experiment is one wherein there is a control group and an experimental group and the researcher manipulated the independent variable. Here the experimenter had 2 groups of campers and were given two different sleeping bag. The sleep is the dependent variable and the type of sleeping bag is the independent variable