Assignment
I. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the following nonexperimental designs:
o naturalistic observations
o phenomenological studies
o case studies
o archival studies
If you were asked to use one of these designs in a study, which nonexperimental design would you select and why?
II. Discuss when a naturalistic observational study would be the most appropriate design to select. Provide examples.
III. A study once found that, for any given year, there was a positive correlation between ice cream consumption and the crime rate (during the summer months). If ice cream consumption was high for a given year, the crime rate was also high; if consumption was low, the crime rate was also low. What can explain this phenomenon?
IV. With a correlational design, why should we be cautious in drawing causal conclusions?
Suggestion: Thinking about your research topic for your proposal in the capstone, state the hypothesis for your research. Discuss the steps you took in developing your hypothesis. How did you ensure your hypothesis is well written and articulate?
V. Compare and contrast the following terms:
o test-retest reliability with inter-rater reliability.
o content validity with both predictive validity and construct validity.
o internal validity with external validity.
Can a test be reliable without being valid? Can a test be valid without being reliable? Explain.
VI. What components differentiate experiments from the non-experimental methods discussed in Topics II and III? How do experiments do a better job of assessing causality?
Format your assignment according to the give formatting requirements:
1. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.