CFD 1450 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Naturalistic Observation, Structured Interview, Participant Observation
CHAPTER 1- RESEARCH IN CHILD AND DEVELOPMENT AND
THEORIES
Scientific Research
• Hypothesis:
o Prediction drawn directly from a theory
• Research methods:
o Activities of participants
• Research designs:
o Overall plans for research studies
Systematic Observation
• Naturalistic observation
o In the “field” or natural environment where behavior happens
o Cannot control conditions
• Structured observations
o Laboratory situation set up to evoke behavior of interest
o All participants have equal chance to display behavior
o May not be typical of participants’ everyday behaviors
Interviews
• Clinical interview
o Flexible, conversational style
o Probes for participant’s point of view
o May not accurately represent children’s thinking
• Structured interview
o Each participant is asked same questions in the same way.
o May use questionnaires, get answers from groups
o Not as in-depth
Case Study
• Brings together wide range of information, including interviews, observations, test
scores
• Best used to study unique types of individuals
• May be influenced by researcher biases, and findings may not generalize
Ethnography
• Participant observation of a culture or distinct social group
• Mix of observations, self-reports, interpretation by investigator
• Results can be biased by the researcher
• Findings are limited to the individuals and settings studied
Correlational Design
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Document Summary
Chapter 1- research in child and development and. Scientific research: hypothesis, prediction drawn directly from a theory, research methods, activities of participants, research designs, overall plans for research studies. Case study: brings together wide range of information, including interviews, observations, test scores, best used to study unique types of individuals, may be influenced by researcher biases, and findings may not generalize. Ethnography: participant observation of a culture or distinct social group, mix of observations, self-reports, interpretation by investigator, results can be biased by the researcher, findings are limited to the individuals and settings studied. Correlational design: researchers gather information and make no effort to alter participants" experiences, limited because cause and effect cannot be inferred. Independent: experimenter controls or manipulates, expected to cause changes in another variable, dependent, experimenter measures but does not manipulate, expected to be influenced by the independent variable.
