Question

Consider the hypothesis that stress at work causes family conflict.

a. What type of research design can be used to determine that there is a causal relationship?

b. What is the independent variable?

c. What is the dependent variable?

d. Design an experiment that would allow you to test this hypothesis. (For full credit, your answer must make it clear that you are using a true experimental design, so make sure you know and apply the key elements of experimental design.)

e. Imagine that you create two surveys, one to measure stress at work and another to measure conflict at home. You collect the data and find that participants with higher work stress are more likely to have a higher degree of conflict at home. One possible explanation, of course, is that work stress causes family conflict. However, because of the study's design, we can't be sure. Come up with at least two other plausible explanations for the observed correlation. In your explanations, you should include the key terms from your chapter that describe them.

Answer 1

a. What type of research design can be used to determine that there is a causal relationship?

The research design that can be used to determine a causal relationship, in this case, is a descriptive research design. It includes case studies, observational studies, and surveys. For testing this hypothesis, we could make use of surveys or questionnaires - one to measure work stress and other to measure the level of conflict at home.

b. What is the independent variable?

The independent variable in this research study would be the level of stress that causes family conflict. This is controlled by the researcher.

c. What is the dependent variable?

The dependent variable in this research study would be the varying scenarios or questions that we would pose in our survey to elicit and assess the level of stress (independent variable).

d. Design an experiment that would allow you to test this hypothesis. (For full credit, your answer must make it clear that you are using a true experimental design, so make sure you know and apply the key elements of experimental design.)

Experiments done in a lab controlled environment should have the option to measure something that is altered only by stress. This is difficult to measure.

In this case: Probably, the presence of and the level of cortisol could be an indicator. Human testing would be required. A lab environment would need to be created.

Elements that should go under the experiment:

1. Identify situations where stress is elevated
2. Identify willing participants
3. Have an experimental group and control group
4. Finalise dependent & independent variables
5. Fix a threshold of measure
6. Have a clear procedure that is understood and agreed upon
7. Have multiple trials
8. Analyze findings
9. Confirm or reject hypothesis and
10. Publish the report

e. Imagine that you create two surveys, one to measure stress at work and another to measure conflict at home. You collect the data and find that participants with higher work stress are more likely to have a higher degree of conflict at home. One possible explanation, of course, is that work stress causes family conflict. However, because of the study's design, we can't be sure. Come up with at least two other plausible explanations for the observed correlation. In your explanations, you should include the key terms from your chapter that describe them.

Two other plausible explanations:

1. Conflict at home could be totally unrelated to work such as other interpersonal relationship issues, financial constraints.
2. Conflict at home that could again be unrelated to work, but originating at work could be the stress in marital relationships, affairs if any, willingly taking up long work hours etc.