Question 1

Betsy wants to determine if the types of products advertised on television vary depending on the time of day.Which type of archival research approach should she employ in this scenario?
A) Survey archive
B) Content analysis
C) Statistical records
D) Written records

Accepted Answer

Betsy should employ a content analysis approach, as she wants to examine the types of products advertised on television during different times of the day. Content analysis involves examining and systematically categorizing the content of various communications, such as advertisements. This approach will allow Betsy to quantify and compare the frequency of different types of products across different time slots, providing insight into whether or not there is a relationship between the two variables. The other options - survey archive, statistical records, and written records - are not relevant to Betsy's research question.

Question 2

Two researchers studied the relationship of positive emotions and longevity by examining smile intensity in photographs of major league players from the past and comparing it to their age at the time of death.This research method can be regarded as an example of _____.
A) naturalistic observation
B) case study
C) archival research
D) psychobiography

Accepted Answer

The method of examining old photographs and comparing them to existing data is an example of archival research.

Question 3

Luis studies a newspaper's attitude toward candidates for the position of Police Chief by counting the number of positive and negative comments attributed to each candidate.Luis's research approach is an example of _____.
A) content analysis
B) survey archive
C) naturalistic observation
D) psychobiography

Accepted Answer

Luis's research approach involves analyzing the content of the newspaper articles, which is an example of content analysis. Option B (survey archive) involves analyzing data from past surveys, Option C (naturalistic observation) involves observing behavior in a natural setting, and Option D (psychobiography) involves studying a person's life and personality through their writings and other sources.

Question 4

What is true of archival data?
A) Archival data are a valuable supplement to more traditional data collection methods.
B) Archival data provides the most accurate information for researchers.
C) The use of archival data does not allow researchers to study interesting questions.
D) The advantage of archival data is that the desired records can be easily obtained.

Accepted Answer

Archival data can provide researchers with historical, social, and cultural context that may not be available through other methods. However, archival data may have limitations, such as missing or incomplete records, bias, and lack of control over how the data were collected. Nevertheless, archival data can be a valuable supplement to other methods of data collection. Option B is incorrect because archival data may not always be the most accurate source of information. Option C is incorrect because archival data can be used to study a variety of interesting questions. Option D is partially correct but does not capture the limitations of working with archival data. While it may be easier to access archival data, researchers need to be aware of potential limitations and take steps to address them.

Quiz 6: Observational Methods

Betsy wants to determine if the types of products advertised on television vary depending on the time of day.Which type of archival research approach should she employ in this scenario?

Two researchers studied the relationship of positive emotions and longevity by examining smile intensity in photographs of major league players from the past and comparing it to their age at the time of death.This research method can be regarded as an example of _____.

Luis studies a newspaper's attitude toward candidates for the position of Police Chief by counting the number of positive and negative comments attributed to each candidate.Luis's research approach is an example of _____.

What is true of archival data?