Module 2 Research Supplement: Conclusions & Questions
In conclusion, traditional research methods have provided valuable insights into human behavior, however, it is important to recognize the limitations and biases inherent in these studies. The overrepresentation of college students and individuals from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic cultures, calls into question the generalizability of the research findings to the broader population. The exploration of non-traditional research methods, such as qualitative and mixed method approaches, participatory action research, and the use of diverse samples, opens up new avenues for understanding the complexities of human behavior across different cultural contexts.
Critical Thinking Questions
- Recently a study was published in the journal, Nutrition and Cancer, which established a negative correlation between coffee consumption and breast cancer. Specifically, it was found that women consuming more than 5 cups of coffee a day were less likely to develop breast cancer than women who never consumed coffee (Lowcock et al., 2013). Imagine you see a newspaper story about this research that says, “Coffee Protects Against Cancer.” Why is this headline misleading and why would a more accurate headline draw less interest?
- Sometimes, true random sampling can be difficult to obtain. Many researchers make use of convenience samples as an alternative. For example, one popular convenience sample would involve students enrolled in Introduction to Psychology courses. What are the pros and cons of using this sampling technique?
- Peer review is an important aspect in publishing research findings in many scientific disciplines. This process is normally conducted anonymously; in other words, the author does not know who is reviewing the article, and the reviewers are unaware of the author’s identity. Why would this be an important part of this process?
- Suppose you are interested in exploring the relationship between sleep quality and academic performance among college students. How would you design a correlational study to examine this relationship? Identify the variables involved, and discuss the potential limitations of correlational research.
- Considering the advantages and disadvantages of naturalistic observation, how would you approach conducting an observational study on children’s social interactions in a school setting? Discuss the ethical considerations involved and propose strategies to minimize observer bias and maintain the ecological validity of your study.
Personal Application Questions
- Consider a situation where you are trying to make a personal decision based on information from a research study, such as choosing a particular therapy or adopting a specific study habit. What are some potential pitfalls or biases that you should be aware of when interpreting the results of a single study? How might you seek additional information or perspectives to make a more informed decision?
- As a college student, you are no doubt concerned about the grades that you earn while completing your coursework. If you wanted to know how overall grade point average (GPA) is related to success in life after college, how would you choose to approach this question and what kind of resources would you need to conduct this research?
- Take a few minutes to think about all of the advancements that our society has achieved as a function of research involving animal subjects. How have you, a friend, or a family member benefited directly from this kind of research?
- Imagine you are conducting a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project in your community to address a social justice issue. Describe the issue and the steps you would take to ensure effective collaboration with community members and academic researchers, and how you would implement the findings to bring about positive change. Refer to the Morris Justice Project as an example.
- Consider the influence of personal biases and expectations on the interpretation of research findings that you might read about in the news or on social media. How might your own beliefs, values, or preconceived notions about a topic influence how you interpret research studies? What strategies can you employ to minimize the impact of bias and approach research findings with a more objective mindset?
- Reflect on the ethical considerations associated with research studies involving human participants. Why is it important to be aware of the ethical guidelines and practices in research, even as a consumer of research findings? How might your awareness of ethical issues influence your support for or skepticism towards certain research studies or practices?