Observational Studies

Words: 924
Pages: 4
Open Document
Observational Studies versus Experiments Statistics is an incredibly important and useful tool. Through statistics, people are able to learn a multitude of findings, including the benefits of certain lifestyles and products. However, the accuracy of a study's results is effected by the way it is conducted. A study can be performed as an observational study, where individuals are observed, but not influenced by researchers, for their responses, or as an experiment, where researchers deliberately influence individuals before recording their responses. Both methods can produce usable results, but articles have been written about observational studies being the lesser of the two. In the first article, "Overstating Aspirin's Role in Breast Cancer …show more content…
One survey, conducted as an observational study, was conducted in order to determine if owning a pet had any direct link to a child's health. Over 2,000 families with cats or dogs and over 2,000 families without pets were surveyed. The parents, who each had at least one child between ages 5 and 11, were asked if their child had been diagnosed with ADHD and if they had any concerns about their child's mood or behavior. After every survey was concluded, the researchers found that the families with pets "were in better health and tended to be more physically active than children...without [pets]" (Sandoiu). The researchers also determined that children with pets were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, but their parents were not likely to be concerned with their children's mood or behavior. These results are able to convey the positive aspects of conducting observational …show more content…
Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn conducted a series of experiments in order to determine if oxytocin, a bonding hormone, could decrease a person's xenophobic tendencies. The first part of the study was used as a control, a donation task, for 183 subjects, where 25 people were locals in need and 25 people were refugees. Next, 100 participants were asked about their attitudes towards refugees. Half of the group was given a nasal spray of oxytocin and the other half were given a placebo. After that, a second experiment was conducted, which was exactly like the first one, except that the participants were told the average donation made by their peers. The researchers were able to uncover a myriad of results from their experiments. The first experiment showed that, due to oxytocin, those who had a positive attitude about refugees gave donations double that of those in the control group. However, the hormone did little to change the attitudes of those who were against refugees. The second experiment showed that "even people with negative attitudes towards migrants donated up to 74 percent more to refugees than in the previous round" (Universität Bonn) due to the combination of oxytocin and positive peer pressure. By simulating numerous trials, the experiment was able to produce thorough and accurate
Show More

Related Documents: Observational Studies

Child: Observational Learning and Bobo Doll Studies Essay

learning. Bandura and his colleagues conducted an experiment in the early 1960’s called the Bobo doll studies, the aim of the experiment was to explore the extent in which children would imitate aggressive behaviour that they witnessed by another person, referred to as a model. Each child would witness a model acting out aggressively to a Bobo doll, giving the experiment the name ‘The Bobo doll studies’. "Albert Bandura argued that aggression in children is influenced by the reinforcement of family…

Words 806 - Pages 4

Introduction to the Practice of Statistics Essay

of their warts. e) What are the conclusions of the study? Duct tape treatment is more effective than cryotherapy for the removal of warts. Section 1.2 - Observational Studies Versus Designed Experiments 14. What is an explanatory variable? An explanatory variable is the variable which is used to explain the outcome of another variable in a study. 15. What is a response variable? A response variable is the variable in a study that is affected by an explanatory variable. 16.…

Words 3030 - Pages 13

Naturalistic Observation Essay

OBSERVATIONAL RESEARCH Overview Observational research is type of correlational (i.e., nonexperimental) research in which a researcher observes ongoing behavior. There are a variety of types of observational research, each of which has both strengths and weaknesses. These types are organized below by the extent to which an experimenter intrudes upon or controls the environment. Naturalistic Observation Naturalistic observation, also known as nonparticipant observation, has no intervention by…

Words 1140 - Pages 5

class of dungeons Essay

Research Methods Februrary 25, 2014 Two Types of Observational Research • (1) Direct Observation • In order to avoid a situation where subjects alter their behaviour because they know they are being observed, the research has 2 options: • (1a) To conduct research covertly • (1b) Overtly - try to blend in by taking few notes • For structured observation, use an “observation schedule”, which is a checklist for recording behavior. All you do during the observation…

Words 1168 - Pages 5

Observational Research Summary

Observational Research Summaries The first article that I reviewed was a prospective, observational, case control research where the research aimed at investigating the effect of acute acupuncture treatment affected on a person immediately after optimal exercise test. The study aimed at surmounting constrains in the previous research by analyzing the acupuncture naïve cohort and using a balanced placebo of 2 × 2 design. The study used a randomized 2 × 2 factorial design of a balanced placebo while…

Words 571 - Pages 3

Unit 2 Project Ps300 Essay

reading through the different case studies I find this one to be more like Single-case design because “Researchers describe, predict, and control variables in order to understand and treat the behavior of one individual.” (Zechmeister, 2001) This uses the Scientific Method by observing all aspects of her behavior, manipulating the variable, and testing it to see if it helped. I don’t see any ethical issues wrong with this method. 2. A team of researchers studies gender differences in need for affiliation…

Words 725 - Pages 3

Clinical Simulation Analysis

rejects the idea that when assessing the learning within a clinical simulation goes above and beyond one’s ability to regurgitate facts and perform the “see one, do one” technical objectives. The Theory of Multiple Intelligences is a component of observational learning, in which Howard Gardner “explores the biological bases of cognition and cultural variations in education” (Clark, 2007). Gardner’s disproof of assessing clinical simulation by traditional standards help to establish the understanding…

Words 1319 - Pages 6

Learning: Psychology and Observational Learning Essay

manifested simply by observing others acting aggressively. This assertion that the process of learning involves cognition fueled the transition from staunch behaviorism to the more modern cognitive learning theories developed over the last 20 years. Observational learning, or social learning theory, focuses on the social context of learning and proposes that we can learn from one another by observation, imitation, or by modeling. Albert Bandura is considered to be the originator and main proponent of this…

Words 1274 - Pages 6

Medication or Not Essays

Areas of Specialization |Number |Subjects of study in psychology |Areas of specialization in |Definition and key points of this |Rationale (reason why you matched |Possible research method of study| | | |psychology (match with below |specialization (be sure to use |this subject of study with this |(experimental, correlational, | | | |options)…

Words 364 - Pages 2

Essay Education: Psychology and Observational Learning

cognitive theory occurs by observing others, it can include a behavioral change and personal characteristics are important. The main concept to social cognitive theory is observational learning. Observational learning includes important characteristics (model, imitator and environmental) that influence what information is learned. The study to support this theory was conducted by Albert Bandura in the 1960s. He tested boys and girls between ages…

Words 549 - Pages 3