Personality Theory Paper

The main purpose of the most researchers in conducting a research study is to achieve a statistically significant result. When we say statistically significant, it means that the result in a research study was not attributed to chance. In addition, it also means

Before we look at the benefits, it is important to mention a key element in our discussion. The Statistics and research

2. One of the advantages of having a longtidual study is that you can determine a pattern through out the years and have a high validity. This way, researchers will be able to determine on how to prevent getting future memory loss as technology advances every year. A disadvantage is time. It takes a while gather results and collect the them in order to map it out with a graph or a clear infographic to present. Another disadvatage is that to have a sucessful study, you must have a large sample of people who are willing to assist the study with you.

In the modern age of health,education and public safety, society relies on rigorous research methods to find answers to complex issues dealing with social issues and general concerns. Ultimately, some short-term research methods may initially fail; however, continued extended research should surely result in success and benefit future generations. Depending on the topic of research; some research methods might be more appropriate than others. For example, clinical and laboratory experimental trials might receive better consummation if they use Quasi-experimental and Classical Experimental design rather than Cross Sectional Studies and Longitudinal Studies which focuses more on psychological experiments and behavior studies (Addison) (2015).

The tests related with personality intrigue people because human personality is a very curious topic for people. Everyone wants to know about their personality and the internet has become the easiest method to access any personality test that claims to solve your queries about your own. People take interest into these tests and end up being fooled by some vague claims made by a machine that has all remarks and conclusions fitted in it. I was no exception to it when I decided to take a personality test and get included in the list of those people who got duped by such tests.

Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2009). Theories of Personality (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Many psychologists throughout many years present theoretical approaches in an attempt to understand personality. Hans Eysenck’s approach of personality differed from that of Sigmund Freud and his psychoanalytical theory of personality. Eysenck’s theory of personality relies on the scientific basis of biology in explaining human personality. Although Freud’s theories are intriguing to an open mind, Eysenck’s approach made measurable scientific sense. He relied on the use of trait and factor analysis, which is a statistical method. Freud relied on faith and his personal opinions based on observational research to reach the assumptions that set forth his theories (Feist & Feist, 2009). Eysenck and Freud did not agree on anything about

In Psychology 101 we learned that research methods are used in order to understand our mental and behavioral processes by making observations in a systematic way, following strict rules of evidence and thinking critically about that evidence. This scientific research is based on theories (tentative explanations of observations in science), hypotheses (predictions based on a theory) and replication (testing a hypothesis in more than one study). Some of the different research methods are firstly, descriptive studies. Descriptive studies are studies that use survey methods, naturalistic observation and clinical methods. Another research method is correlational studies. Correlational studies are studies that help one to determine if a relationship exists between two or more variables and if so it tells one how strongly those two variables relate to one another. With in correlational studies one can have positive correlation (as one variable increases or decreases so does the other), negative correlation (variables go in opposite directions) or zero correlation (no relationship between the variables). Another research method is formal experiments. Formal experiments are studies that allow us to draw conclusions about how one variable may cause or have an effect on another variable. With in formal experiments there are four elements, which are the independent variable (variable that is manipulated or controlled), the dependent variable (variable that is measured), the experimental

This is what allows them to draw conclusions and to develop theories and therapeutic models which are then used by clinical psychologists and social workers. Understanding the difference between correlation statistics and causation statistics is absolutely crucial in this. Statistics may reveal a correlation between multiple variables. In other words, when one set of data changes another set of data also changes. However, just because research reveals a statistical correlation between variables does not mean that one variable has a causative relationship with the other. Statistical causation means that one variable has a direct impact on another variable in a cause and effect relationship. For example, if I am paid by the hour and I work more hours (one variable), then I will make more money (another variable). Often psychological research will reveal correlations without making the presence of causation clear. This can result in further research or analysis to see what valuable conclusions can be drawn or if actual causation can be

This type of study can be conducted as a between subjects or with-in subjects design. Unfortunately, both are susceptible to having confound variables. Specifically for experimental studies, low internal validity could occur if the independent variable was not the variable responsible for the results. To avoid confounds, random assignment and even performing a double blind study are some distinct ways of maintaining an internally valid experiment. Also, evaluating if the study of better suiting a between- subjects or with-in subjects design will also decrease likelihood of confounding variables. For correlational studies, in cases where research topics that cannot be manipulated experimentally, confounds such as direction of causality and the third variable problem can occur. With the direction of causality it is not clear with correlational studies if the first variables was the cause for the change in the second variable. The third variable problem is that there could be a underlying variable that could have produced the study’s results instead of the interaction between the first and second variable. The best method to combat this type of problems is to use experimental methods, such as covariance analysis and stratified analysis. With these two methods, avoiding confounds will be a tangible task and will ensure a more

Experiments is when the researcher to manipulate one or more variables, while they are trying to prove the cause of actions. Also being able to measure the outcome. A purpose would be if you want to see how a certain drink effects people’s memory, so you give one group the drink and not the other and then give them a memory test. An advantage of experiments is that the researcher can prove weather one variables causes a certain outcome. Correlational study is when a researcher is examining the relationship between two or more variables. A purpose of this is to see if two or more things can have an impact one each other. An advantage to this is that researchers can see if two variables relate to each other. And a disadvantage is that people may take in that just because the variables seem to relate, doesn’t mean the other causes that one variable. Surveys are usually used to see the person’s attitude, beliefs, and opinions. Surveys are administered through questionnaires or interviews. A purpose of this would be how a television show interviews a famous person see how opinions on a certain topic. An advantage is that the researcher can gather information from a large group of people inexpensively. A disadvantage would be that the participants can lie about their feelings, and that the certain people you pick could all agree to one side of the argument. So they don’t represent the whole population. A naturalistic observation is when a researcher watches their subjects in

Jung wanted to see how the relationship was like between the psychosis and the dreamlike thought process. So that Jung and Freud both had the same feelings on the person who is dealing with schizophrenia.

The researchers used a cross-sectional internet based survey design. This is an example of a single correlational/observational study, which is a level III on the evidence hierarchy continuum. This study could also be described as being descriptive correlational research. Descriptive correlational research does not try to prove causality between variables, but instead provides supporting evidence of a relationship between those variables. (Polit & Beck, 2012, p. 226). Although this type of research can be beneficial, there are some obvious limitations. According to Polit and Beck (2012), nonexperimental studies are weaker than experimental studies due to the lack of ability to prove causation of variables (Polit & Beck, 2012, p. 228). Also, this type of research might be difficult to interpret. For example, Rathert, May, and Chung (2016), pointed out that

The correlational method does not determine causation however; it can be very useful to predict the occurrence of one variable based on the absence or presence of another variable. The correlational method can demonstrate three potential relationships between variables, positive, negative, or no relation. A positive correlation occurs if at the same time one variable increases the other variable increases too, a negative correlation occurs if one variable increases at the same time the other variable decreases, and finally if the variable neither increase nor decrease in response to one another. Finally, the social psychologist may want to determine whether the presence of one variable affects another than he or she would utilize the experimental method. Through the experimental method, it is possible for the social psychologist to alter one variable, the independent variable, in order to measure the influence it has on another variable, the dependent variable. Social psychologists use the scientific method to explore further phenomenon about development of human thoughts, emotions, and behavior in relation to the impact of others on these very characteristics. Essentially, the scientific method provides the field of social psychology with a systematic process to utilize in the quest to gain further insight into the complex nature of human beings.

Descriptive research depicts the people who are being studies more accurately than most other designs. This research design differs from others research designs because it does not answer the “how”, “when”, and “why” questions but rather the "what" questions. Also, this style of research cannot describe what caused a situation, or to identify the basis of a relationship, where one variable affects the other. Correlational research describes and examine the relationships and associations between variables while single-subject designs only involve one participant, or subject, in the research.