Question

Dr. Lovejoy wanted to do research on real-world conditions that lead to aggression in 10 -year-old children, defining aggression as "intent to harm another person." She went to a local elementary school and videotaped a 10 -minute recess period. She and her trained coders then coded the behavior of every child and counted the number of times each child acted aggressively. This is an example of what kind of research design? a. descriptive b. correlational c. case study d. experimental

Short answer

The research design is descriptive (option a).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Characteristics of the Activity

Dr. Lovejoy is observing children during recess and recording their behavior without manipulation or intervention. She is documenting naturally occurring behavior without any control over the variables.

Define Research Design Types

a. Descriptive Research: Involves observing and describing behavior without analyzing relationships or causal links. b. Correlational Research: Examines the relationship between two or more variables without implying causation. c. Case Study: An in-depth analysis of an individual or group over a period of time. d. Experimental Research: Involves manipulation of variables and control of the environment to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Match the Activity to Research Design Types

Dr. Lovejoy's activity aligns with Descriptive Research because she is observing and coding behavior as it naturally occurs without manipulating any variables. There is no attempt to determine relationships between different variables or establish cause-and-effect.

Key concepts

Aggression in Children

Aggression in children can be a natural part of their development, but it becomes a concern when the behavior is intentional and harmful. Dr. Lovejoy defines aggression specifically as the intention to harm another person. This definition focuses not just on the act of aggression itself but also on the underlying intention behind it.

Understanding aggression in children involves considering various factors, including environmental influences, peer relationships, and individual traits. Children's aggressive behaviors can manifest in different ways, such as physical aggression (hitting or kicking) or verbal aggression (name-calling or teasing).

• Physical aggression involves direct harm, such as hitting or pushing.
• Verbal aggression includes harmful words or taunts.
• Relational aggression aims to harm friendships or other peer relationships through gossip or exclusion.

Parents, educators, and researchers study these behaviors to find effective ways to manage and reduce aggression, promoting healthier social interactions among children.

Observational Study

An observational study is a research method where the researcher observes and records behavior in a natural setting without interference. Dr. Lovejoy's study of children's aggression is a prime example. She did not manipulate the environment or change any variables; instead, she simply documented what was naturally occurring.

This type of study is powerful when researchers wish to understand behavior as it naturally unfolds. It allows them to gather data without the biases or changes that can occur if participants know they are being studied in a more controlled environment. Observational studies are particularly useful for:

• Collecting initial data that may lead to further research.
• Studying behaviors in a real-world context.
• Exploring phenomena where experiments are unethical or impractical.

However, this method also has limitations, such as the inability to determine causal relationships. The researcher can observe correlations but cannot infer cause and effect.

Behavior Coding

Behavior coding is a systematic method used to categorize and count specific actions or behaviors observed during a study. Dr. Lovejoy and her trained coders employed behavior coding to systematically document instances of aggression during recess.

This process enhances the accuracy and reliability of data collected in observational studies. Each time a child acted aggressively, the instance was coded according to a predefined set of criteria. This way, subjective judgment or bias is minimized, promoting objectivity in data collection.

• Coders are trained to recognize and classify specific behaviors.
• Behaviors are recorded using a systematic method for consistency.
• Results in a quantitative set of data that can be analyzed.

Training of coders is essential to ensure that they observe and record behaviors in a consistent and unbiased manner. This consistency allows researchers like Dr. Lovejoy to draw valid conclusions about the prevalence of aggression in children.

Naturalistic Observation

Naturalistic observation involves studying subjects in their natural environment without any manipulation by the researcher. Dr. Lovejoy conducted a naturalistic observation by videotaping children during their recess at school.

The strength of naturalistic observation lies in its ability to provide researchers with a genuine look at how subjects behave in everyday life. Researchers do not introduce any artificial elements into the setting, making findings highly ecologically valid. In the context of Dr. Lovejoy's research:

• Children's behavior was observed without them being aware of the exact intent of the study.
• Provided a real-world view of how and when aggression occurs among children.
• Allowed for a comprehensive understanding of behaviors in an unaltered setting.

Despite its many advantages, this method also presents challenges, such as limited control over outside variables that may influence behaviors. However, for studying authentic actions like aggression, naturalistic observations offer invaluable insights into how behaviors are manifested naturally.