Question

You are a researcher who wants to study the effect of age on aggression. Your hypothesis is that children become less aggressive as they age. Design a hypothetical study to test this hypothesis. Choose one of the methodological designs discussed in the book and lecture. Be sure to explain why you chose your design over other designs.

Answer 1

Hypothesis: "Children dwindle aggression as they age."

Research Design: The two- groups controlled comparison survey: It is an alternative to the one-shot approach in which the data are collected simultaneously from two separate samples that are regarded as having been treated in different ways because they represent different levels of a ‘grouping variable’ such as age, sex or marital status.

Data will be collected from individuals of varying age groups simultaneously and the results will be analysed to check if there is a statistically significant difference and further deduce retention/rejection of hypothesis.

definitions of operational

Aggression: "Feelings of anger, irrittion, displeasure or exasperation which can result in violent/hostile behaviour or taking action while not being provocated. This behaviour must be recurrent for atleast a period of 3 months"

Inclusion criteria for study: The sample will include both males and females from two different age groups. One ranging from the ages of 15-18 years and the other 20-23 years

Advantages:

1. Can be administered remotely via on-line, mobile devices, mail, email, kiosk, or phone.
2. Can be developed in less time when compared to different data-collection methods.
3. Conducted remotely, it will scale back geographical dependence.
4. Capable of aggregating information from an oversized variety of respondents.
5. Can be developed in less time when compared to different data-collection methods.