Research Methods Enrichment Activity

What research method is most appropriate for determining if oat bran reduces cholesterol levels?

• Survey

• Experiment

• Observation

• Correlation

Answer explanation

An experiment is the most appropriate method to determine if oat bran reduces cholesterol levels, as it allows for controlled testing of the variable (oat bran) and measurement of its direct effects on cholesterol.

Which research method would best assess if exposure to day care enhances children's social skills?

• Case Study

• Experiment

• Observation

• Correlation

Answer explanation

An experiment is the best method to assess if exposure to day care enhances children's social skills, as it allows for controlled manipulation of variables and observation of causal effects.

What method should be used to study if couples who cohabit before marriage have greater success in marriage?

• Survey

• Experiment

• Correlation

• Observation

Answer explanation

Correlation is the best method to study the relationship between cohabitation before marriage and marital success, as it allows for the analysis of patterns and associations without manipulating variables.

Which research method is suitable for studying how gorillas mate?

• Survey

• Experiment

• Observation

• Case Study

Answer explanation

Observation is the most suitable method for studying gorilla mating, as it allows researchers to directly watch and record their natural behaviors in a non-intrusive way, providing accurate insights into their mating practices.

What method would you use to determine if people exhibit more aggressive behavior when it is hot?

• Survey

• Experiment

• Observation

• Correlation

Answer explanation

An experiment allows for controlled conditions to test if temperature directly influences aggressive behavior, making it the best method to establish a causal relationship.

How would you study people's behavior in elevators?

• Survey

• Experiment

• Observation

• Case Study

Answer explanation

Observation is the best method to study behavior in elevators as it allows researchers to see real-time interactions and behaviors without interference, providing authentic insights into how people act in this confined space.

Which method is best for determining if taking vitamin C reduces the number of colds a person gets?

• Survey

• Experiment

• Observation

• Correlation

Answer explanation

An experiment is the best method to determine if vitamin C reduces colds, as it allows for controlled testing of the vitamin's effects on participants, isolating it from other variables that could influence cold frequency.

What research method would you use to see if touch affects the physical growth of children?

• Survey

• Experiment

• Observation

• Correlation

Answer explanation

An experiment is the best method to determine if touch affects physical growth in children, as it allows for controlled manipulation of variables and measurement of outcomes, establishing cause-and-effect relationships.

Which method is appropriate for studying if eating fast food makes people obese?

• Survey

• Experiment

• Observation

• Correlation

Answer explanation

Correlation is appropriate for studying the relationship between fast food consumption and obesity, as it allows researchers to identify patterns and associations without manipulating variables, unlike experiments.

What method would you use to determine if spanking is an effective way to discipline children?

• Survey

• Experiment

• Observation

• Case Study

Answer explanation

An experiment allows for controlled conditions to assess the effects of spanking on child behavior, providing clear evidence of its effectiveness compared to other methods. Surveys and observations lack this control.