Question

All of the following describe observational research EXCEPT:

a) Is a type of correlational research and is incapable of exploring the actual causes of behaviors.
b) Is prevalent in social research but impossible to determine if the given observation is representative of what normally occurs.
c) Involves direct observation of phenomena in their natural setting.
d) Requires experimental manipulations.

Answer 1

The false statement about observational research is that it requires experimental manipulations. This research method involves natural, unbiased observation without intervention, and cannot establish causation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Observational research involves watching and recording behaviors as they occur naturally, without the researcher intervening in the situation.Observational research is a type of correlational research and because it involves simply observing and not influencing the variables, it is not able to establish a causal relationship between them. This method is often used when experimentation is impractical, unethical, or impossible. It is also used because it can be cheaper and easier to conduct than experiments, allowing for larger samples and a greater amount of data.

However, observational research has limitations such as potential observer bias and the question of whether the observations are truly representative of normal behaviors. To minimize bias, clear criteria should be established, and multiple observers could be used to increase inter-rater reliability. Despite these precautions, because there are no experimental manipulations in observational studies, claims of causation cannot be made, differentiating it from experimental research.