Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences
Second Edition
Web Exercises
Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.
Web Exercises
1. Go to one of the following websites and explore the current research being conducted in the topic area:
Bullying: http://www.stopbullying.gov/
Childhood Obesity: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html
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Explore the current research being conducted in the topic area
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Imagine you are interested in conducting a pilot study to investigate one of these areas
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Create a study using a quasi-experimental developmental design
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Why did you select that design?
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Review section 9.6 Ethics in Focus: Development and Aging in your textbook
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What ethical considerations would you keep in mind when conducting your pilot study?
2. Read the brief overviews of the case study about Genie Wiley.
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What type of single-case design is this?
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What ethical dilemmas arose from this study?
Search online for more information about the Genie Wiley case.
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What information did this case study provide to researchers?
Search online for additional high profile case studies conducted in psychology
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Why were these studies conducted as single-case designs?
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How were these case studies you found similar to or different than Genie’s, both methodologically and ethically?
3. Watch the Ted Talk video Joachim de Posada: Don’t eat the marshmallow!
In this short talk from TED U, Joachim de Posada shares a landmark experiment on delayed gratification — and how it can predict future success. With priceless video of kids trying their hardest not to eat the marshmallow.
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What was the research question?
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What were the variables being measured?
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What types of research designs are described?
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of the designs described?