Methods of Studying Human Behavior - 1758 Words

Methods Of Studying Human Behavior There are several methods used to study human behavior including Naturalistic Observation, Correlational Research, Experimental Method, Case Study, and the Survey Method, each uses a different type of approach. If I were to do a study on the relationship between alcohol and violence, the method I would use would be the survey research method. (Stangor, 2010) I would use this method because it would not be intrusive, require any possible harm to anyone, and has minimal ethical concerns. The Survey Research Method is a type of Descriptive Research Design that uses written questionnaires, and interviews to collect data. The people participating in the study are referred to as the Sample, and the†¦show more content†¦An example of positive reinforcement in my personal experience is making the President’s List Honors, the award is the positive reinforcement and achieving good grades is the target behavior. An example of negative reinforcement for me is taking pain medication for migraine’s. The migraine is the negative reinforcer to the pain medicine and it removes something unpleasant, which is the pain. Shaping is the process of creating a new behavior which occurs through the use of reinforcements to help reach the desired behavior. It is a conditioning tool used to determine, by the consequence of the action, if the action will be repeated. An example for me personally is learning how to be a good student while raising a baby. I have been out of school for about 20 years. I had a baby a little over a year ago and it has been 12 years since I had a baby. I had to adjust to being a student and new mother again and at the same time. This required me to learn how to manage my time and prioritize all of my responsibilities in order to have the time to study in order to get good grades and take care of a baby. By creating schedules and balancing my time, with adjustments as needed along the way, I am a A student and full time mom. The reinforcements that have helped me achieve this behavior would be the reward of a 4.0 GPA, personal satisfaction knowing I can be both a student and mom, and knowing that I will be able to provide a better life for my kids when once IShow MoreRelatedDog Training Advice And College Study Advice998 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent than studying for a Biology exam, but online advice on both topics are surprisingly similar. Both dog training advice and college studying advice include the need for consistency, frequency, and repetition, along with using both types of reinforcement. Despite these similarities, dogs and students differ in what they are learning and how exactly they show that they have learned. Advice to college students and dog trainers are comparable in fundamental ways; their methods and reactions toRead MoreContemporary Approaches to Psychology768 Words   |  4 Pagesthe study of behavior and mental processes is known as psychology. This field of study deals with animal and human behavior to the environment to which they are exposed. The purpose of psychologists studying the behavior of their â€Å"subjects†, or the people or animals being observed or tested, is to find four main things. These goals are to describe, explain, predict, and/or influence the subject’s behavior. Contemporary psychologists go about their research with six main methods of study. TheseRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture And How Studying Psychology Can Improve Critical Thinking818 Words   |  4 Pagesnature versus nurture. The beliefs of Darwinism still pervade the field. Researchers still stand by their positions in the ongoing argument of nature vs. nurture and how studying psychology can improve critical thinking (cite book). Instead of becoming a physician, Charles Darwin chooses to go on a five-year voyage studying the fossil transformation of various species. Darwin’s field research aided in developing his ideas that organisms were hardwired to behave, or respond to their environmentRead MoreWhy An Independent Variable Affects A Dependent Variable888 Words   |  4 PagesExperiments, Longitudinal studies, are two significant methods of research used in Sociology. First, the Survey method, a primary research method, studies a larger, broader population of sociology (Bryant, L. (2014), (Census). For this survey method, experimenter choose the subject and questions needed for the collection of data. The advantage of this method involves a faster evaluation period and is inexpensive. However, the disadvantage of this method is the interviewers inability to observe the participantsRead MoreFrom High School to College641 Words   |  3 Pages He is positively reinforcing her good behavior, and goes on to say that he is applying mild operant conditioning. Leonard is furious at this, and tells Sheldon he is forbidden from continuing to do this to Penny. Sheldon refuses and squirts Leonard in the face with a squirt bottle, a form of negative reinforcement (Aronsohn, Rosenstock, Cendrowski, 2009). Sheldon’s conditioning of Penny seemed so absurd to me back then How could we, as complex humans, be susceptible to such mild conditioningRead MoreAnthropology : An Anthropological Perspective874 Words   |  4 Pagesstudy of humans throughout the world. It examines our ancestors, how we behave, adapt to different environments, communicate, socialize with one another, and more. The study of anthropology focuses on the features that make us human; our genetic makeup, the evolution of humans, and the physiology. It also focuses on language, religion, family, and more. The goal of anthropology is to be able to describe and analyze the different cultures. Anthropologist believes that the only way humans can be understoodRead MoreBehavior Modification And Its Effect On Behavior Essay1558 Words   |  7 PagesBehaviors, are what people do and say, as humans, we notice how certain behaviors can be desirable but also undesirable. Though behavior modification, a person can attempt t o alter a specific behavior by analyzing the behavior, and create a personalized plan to modify the behavior. When analyzing the behavior a person needs to decide if the behavior is either is in excess (to decrease the undesirable behavior) or deficit (to increase desirable behavior). Once behavior is the selected, then the personRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of A Case Study789 Words   |  4 PagesCase Study In the world of psychology, there are a plethora number of research methods that can be used while conducting research. Case studies are one of the methods that are used. There are numerous reasons why researchers use case studies for their research. Although there are advantages and disadvantages of using the case study approach, there are many resources one can use throughout conducting a case study. Case studies are used for distinctive scenarios concerning an individual, communityRead MoreEssay on Human Beahavior1512 Words   |  7 Pagesperson starts to compare the behavior of his generation to the next we might say that he is already growing old. Why? Because of the fact that there is a distinction of one’s generation to the next. The distinguishing characteristic may be better or worse, but as can be observed today adolescents have gone into a track which is in a less favorable demeanor. Thanks to Burrhus Frederic Skinner, popularly known as B.F. Skinner for obvious r eason, the master of in human behavior, a teacher as well as parentsRead MoreThe Importance Of Naturalistic Observation1296 Words   |  6 PagesThere are many different ways of studying developmental science. This concept is mentioned in the text, Exploring Lifespan Development by Laura Berk as, â€Å"a field of study devoted to understanding constancy and change throughout the lifespan† (Berk, 3). One of the most accurate ways of studying different theories and topics within this field can be done by utilizing a research method known as naturalistic observation. Berk describes naturalistic observation as, â€Å"going into the field or natural environment