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Dr. Townsend wants to test the hypothesis that being tall for your age predicts that you will be shy. Which of the following types of research would Dr. Townsend be least likely to use?

a) Cross-sectional research
b) Longitudinal research
c) Experimental research
d) Correlational research

User Jay Elston
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Dr. Townsend would likely not use experimental research to study the relationship between height and shyness, as height cannot be manipulated, making correlational research a more fitting approach.

Step-by-step explanation:

Dr. Townsend is less likely to use experimental research (option c) for testing the hypothesis that being tall for your age predicts you will be shy. Experimental research implies manipulating variables to establish cause-and-effect relationships, which is not suitable for studying traits like height and shyness that cannot be randomly assigned. Instead, correlational research would be more appropriate to determine if there is a relationship between the two variables without manipulation.

For instance, Sigmund Freud used the case study approach (option b) to explore deep in individuals' personalities. Longitudinal research (option b), following the same individuals over time, would be appropriate to see if shyness persists with age correlating to height. Nonetheless, experimental research is the least likely to be used in this scenario.

User Tstr
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