Question

Be able to describe an experimental study, correlational study, and naturalistic study? What is the goal of each? What is a hypothesis versus a theory?

Answer 1

• The goal of experimental study is to find out cause and effect relationship between variables.There is independent variable which can be manipulated and controlled by the experimenter(cause) and the dependent variable which is effected during the experiment(effect).For example,if an experimenter wants to study the effect of stress on heart rate,then stress levels become IV and heart rate becomes DV.
• The goal of correlational study is to measure the degree to which a relationship exists between two or more variables.It is not measuring cause and effect but just the degree to which variables are relaed to each other.For example,is smoking associated with lung cancer .
• Positive correlation means when two variables have a linear relationship,.i.e both increase or decrease together.For example,as alcohol drinking increases,so does smoking
• Negative correlation involves inverse relationship between variables.i.e.,one variable increases and other one decreases.For example.as weather becomes colder,air conditioning decreases
• In naturalistic study,the goal of the researcher is to study subjects in a real environment,in their natural setting,This involves observation of human behaviour as it happens without any controlled lab settings.For example,when some study needs to be done in a shopping mall regarding peoples behaviour.Here people's behaviour is being observed naturally without any manipulation.
• Hypothesis is a tentative explanation,formed before a study is conducted.The study is conducted to either approve or reject hypothesis.To test relationship between two things,one needs to write a hypothesis and then conduct a study.For example,If I raise the temperature of water in one cup,then amount of sugar that can be dissolved in it will be increased
• Theory is based on evidence which already exists,it states facts and explains things which are supported by existing data.