For Sally's study, one member of a set of married couples carried voice-activated digital recorders for two weeks and both spouses made relationship satisfaction ratings at the end of each day. The recordings contained a lot of meaningless information, but they also contained daily conversations that the spouses had with each other. Sally analyzed the conversations and examined whether the positive and negative behaviors on each day predicted the relationship satisfaction ratings on subsequent days. What kind of research is this?
A) home-based observational and cross-sectional
B) home-based observational and experimental
C) home-based observational and correlational
D) daily diary approach and experimental

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is a home-based observational study because the recordings were made in the participants' natural environment. It is also a correlational study because Sally is examining the relationship between positive/negative behaviors and subsequent relationship satisfaction ratings. The daily diary approach is a method used in this study, but it is not the main type of research design being used. Therefore, option D is incorrect. There is no manipulation of independent variables, so option B can be ruled out. Option A is incorrect because observational studies do not have to be cross-sectional.

For Sally's Study, One Member of a Set of Married