Scientific Method and Interpretation

In non-manipulation studies (sometimes called correlational studies and several other names), a researcher examines relationships among variables that are not manipulated by the researcher.  For example, researchers may study developmental changes, compare males and females, or look at the impact of disasters on the incidence of depression.  In experiments, the researcher does manipulate some characteristic(s) of the situation and then measures to determine the effects of the manipulation.  It is important to be able to distinguish between non-manipulative methods and manipulative methods because only well-controlled manipulation designs allow straight forward conclusions about cause and effect.

Your text will contain many examples of these types of studies with many variations.  Below are some examples to help you practice distinguishing:

Choose reasonable conclusion given description of study:

  1. A drinking study
  2. A smoking study

Choose the likely type of study given conclusion: 

  1. A newspaper headline reads, "Binge Drinkers Get Lower College Grades."  What kind of study can lead to this conclusion? Answer
  2. People remember concrete words (e.g., dog, elephant, or chair) better than abstract ones (love, freedom, or desire).  What kind of study leads to this conclusion? Answer
  3. People who were abused as children are more likely than others to become child abusers.  What kind of study leads to this conclusion? Answer
  4. A health magazine reports that depressed people who continue medication for at least six months are less likely to relapse than are people who take medication for less than six months.  What kind of study leads to this conclusion? Answer

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