Descriptive Research: Longitudinal, Transversal, and Correlational Studies
Descriptive Research Objectives
Descriptive research aims to discover and interpret what is. It is used to explore, providing facts, data, and information, paving the way for new theories and research. It analyzes individuals, groups, institutions, materials, etc., to describe, compare, classify, analyze, and interpret.
Longitudinal Studies
Also known as follow-up studies (UK) or panel studies (USA), longitudinal studies are used to describe something over a period of time. They are often used in studies
Read MoreKey Concepts in Applied Behavior Analysis for RBTs
Key Concepts in Applied Behavior Analysis
Motivating Operations (MO)
A Motivating Operation (MO) alters the reinforcing or punishing effectiveness of a stimulus and alters the current frequency of behavior that has been reinforced or punished by that stimulus.
- Establishing Operation (EO): Makes a reinforcer more effective or valuable.
- Deprivation: Not having a reinforcer for some time increases its effectiveness.
- Abolishing Operation (AO): Makes a reinforcer less effective or valuable.
- Satiation: Having
Moral Education: Principles, Methods, and Development
Moral formation has often failed because there is no clear model to teach. It follows that while it is important to educate morally, there is no consensus on how to do so. The concept of moral education lies in leadership and the promotion of the offspring’s perfect state of being human, which is the state of virtue, encompassing both natural and supernatural virtues.
Humanity comprises the body (sensitive appetite, concupiscible and irascible passions) and the spiritual soul (intelligence, will)
Read MoreMaterialism, Emergentism, and Structuralism in Philosophy
Monist Materialist Theories
Monist materialist theories, initiated by Democritus (5th century BC) and Epicurus (3rd century BC), were further developed in the 18th and 19th centuries by figures like Boyle, Gassendi, La Mettrie, and many others. These theories posit that mental processes can be explained solely by the material base, located in the brain.
Physicalism
Physicalism asserts that mental activities are simply physical, chemical, or neurophysiological processes. This view is shared by 20th-
Read MoreBrain Structure and Function: Lobes and Hemispheres
Brain Structure and Function
Cerebral Cortex
The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres, containing 70% of neurons in the CNS. It is composed of five layers of neurons and a plexiform layer (composed of fibers). The convolutions of the cortex allow the large cortical surface to fit a small space.
- Grooves: Channels or grooves
- Fissures: Deeper grooves
- Convolutions: Deformations produced by the folds
Cerebral Hemispheres
Left Hemisphere
The left hemisphere controls logical functions
Read MoreEffective Field Research: Institutional Insights & Data Collection
Institutional Informants
Institutional informants are valuable because their informal ties can provide insights into the everyday reality of the institution. Researchers should be cautious not to be unduly influenced by their opinions.
Coexistence and Social Relations in the Field
The preliminary design should include logistical considerations, such as the observer’s residence. If there’s doubt about the impact of the observer’s accommodation, a hotel or temporary residence is preferable. In closed
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