1. Chapter 16: Other Descriptive Research Methods
SFM 651:
Research Methods
Dr. Johnson

2. Developmental research
Changes in behavior across years
Total life should be used
Typically focuses on
Infancy
Childhood
Adolescence
Senior citizens

3. Longitudinal research
Cross age comparisons
Students in 4th, 6th and 8th grades
Adults at age 25, 35 and 45
Use the same people over this time period
Different from cross sectional

4. Cross sectional research
Same theory as longitudinal, but are collected at same time
Different person in each section
4th, 6th and 8 grader…..as of today
25, 35 and 45 year old…..today
Are the participants of different sections really similar themselves?

5. Case Studies In depth search of a single situation Not always a person
Information on one (sometimes a few)
Very in depth and detailed
Representative of a larger group in similar spot
Not always a person
Can be a group / team / company
Not a random sampling

6. Job analysis Determines the nature of a particular job
Training
Preparation
Skills
Working conditions
Attitudes
Is a type of case study, but is specific to a job

7. Observational research
You actually sit (or stand) and watch things happen and record the observations
Need to decide….
What to observe
Who to observe
Where to observe
How long to observe
How many times to observe
How to record data

8. Types of observational methods
Narrative
Describes what they see
Tallying
Records each occurrence
Interval
Did the behavior happen or not in the time
Duration
How long did the behavior occur for

9. Correlational research
Explores relationships that exist between variables
Similar to experimental, but no cause and effect
No manipulation of variables
Doesn’t prove cause and effect
Predictions…..not proof