Observational Research Methods Paper

Select one of the descriptive/observational approaches to research that you read about this week. Then, describe and detail this approach, and prepare a written assessment to discuss how you might use this approach to explore a topic of interest.

Be sure to address the following:

  • Explain why you selected this method to study your chosen topic of interest.
  • Interpret the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
  • Indicate what you might do to work around these weaknesses.
  • Verify whether this approach is more aligned with a qualitative or a quantitative approach to research, and then explain why.

Next, identify and explain at least one other descriptive/observational approach you might consider using when researching your topic, describe the strengths and weaknesses of this approach, what you might do to work around weaknesses, and why you would want to use it to explore your topic further. Determine whether this design is more in line with a qualitative or a quantitative approach to research, and then explain why.

Include the key similarities and differences between the two descriptive/observational approaches in a chart within your paper. You may also present this information as a graphic or other visual aid.

Length: 5-7 pages, including chart or graphic, but not including title and reference pages

References: Include a minimum of 3 scholarly resources.

(Generally, observational or descriptive research is the simplest and easiest research design to use. With this type of research design, you are simply observing or describing observable behaviors. The design itself is entirely ‘hands-off’, meaning you are simply making a note of what occurs naturally, without any intervention on the part of the researcher (Gravetter & Forzano, 2018). You might have video and audiotapes to review when using this approach as a way to be less obvious to participants.

There are three basic types of descriptive research methods that psychologists frequently use, and these are naturalistic observation, surveys, and case studies.)

 
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