Usefulness of Quantitative Methods for Describing Intimacy - Essay Example

A general definition of qualitative methods is a ‘mathematical approach to knowledge development on a phenomenon by collection and analysis of empirical data.’ Features of quantitative methods that distinguish them from qualitative methods also define the quantitative methods. Quantitative methods seek to investigate the precision of an occurrence, to investigate and generalize an occurrence, and to test a hypothesis on an occurrence. In addition, a research method that outlines its research procedures in advance defines quantitative methods.

Description of experiments as a particular method
One of the defining characteristics of experiments is the existence of a control group and an experimental group in a study for investigating treatment effects. Other defining features of experiments are randomization of research participants into the control and experimental groups and post-test measure for a treatment effect that culminates the data collection stage of experiments (The Open University 2015, week 6, p. 7).

Different kinds of descriptions that experiments generate
One of the descriptions that experiments generate is a description of individual variables in a study that can be inferred to population parameters. Experiments also generate descriptions of relationships between variables and this includes the nature of the relationship, the strength of the relationship, and significance of the relationship. In addition, the analyses identify the strengths of relationships through coefficients and reliability of a relationship model (The Open University 2015, week 6, p. 7).

Examples of uses of experiments for describing intimacy
Experiments are useful in describing correlations between variables, cause and effect relationships, and characteristics of variables in people’s daily lives. One of the examples of the usefulness of experiments for describing intimacy is in describing correlations between intimacy and other factors such as moral expectations, social relations, and other environmental factors. The descriptions can help in understanding factors that can be moderated in order to attain a desired state or level of intimacy. A description of the correlation between intimacy and religion, based on experiments and for its role in moderating intimacy or religion, is a specific example of the usefulness of experiments for describing intimacy. The wider social world and intimacy influence each other and experiments can establish causal effects that can be used to understand the relationships. Understanding the effects of intimacy in the work environment is an example and can inform such policies as prohibiting or restricting intimate relations for corporate integrity (Mahendran 2012, p. 27-30).

One of the specific examples of the usefulness of experiments for describing intimacy, according to Mahendran, is the significance of the experimental study that Himmelweit directed. The experiment sought to investigate the cause and effect of the relationship between television viewing, and attitudes, emotions, and behavior. With descriptive effects of the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variables, experiments help to understand how television viewing, for example, can moderate a child’s attitude or emotions in an environment, factors that define intimacy towards television, and other factors around the child. Based on the experiment’s results, and if it supports a causal relationship, then television viewing can be used to moderate children’s levels of intimacy. Himmelweit’s experiment, for example, reported that some content that children watch induce fear and anxiety in them, and restricting their intimacy for such programs can control the fear and anxiety to ensure emotional stability and positive attitude (Mahendran 2012, p. 27-30).

The experiment also developed knowledge that confirmed and undermined previous assumptions on the causes and effects of television intimacy among children. Results from the experiment noted that children’s intimacy for television, indicated by number of hours for viewing television, did not affect their academic performance but that viewed content with scenes of aggression cause discomfort among children, an effect that influences attitude and emotion.

The study by Eleanor Maccoby is another example of usefulness of experiments for describing intimacy. The author, in the study, investigated the effects of television on schoolchildren and noted that intimacy into watching television increased time that family members spent together, intimacy for family. The experimental approach, though it used questionnaires, identified factors that substituted family time and therefore described intimacy in terms of time that people can spend together. In identifying factors that compete with family for a time, the experiment described intimacy target and meaning of intimacy as a dedication to a subject (Mahendran 2012, p. 24, 25).

A controlled experiment by Albert Bandura is another example of the usefulness of experiments for describing intimacy. The study identified the effects of viewership on aggression and suggested that intimacy for something influences behavior to cause emulation of the treasured thing (Mahendran 2012, p. 27-30). The examples of experiments describe the effects of intimacy on behavior, relationships that can be inferred and can inform personal and family decisions as well as policies. The descriptions of relationships identify the significance of experiments as methods for knowledge development.       

Conclusion
Quantitative methods are mathematical approaches for collecting and analyzing empirical data and have defining characteristics. Experiments are one of the quantitative methods and involve randomization of research participants into control and treatment groups followed by administration of treatment. Experiments can describe features of a variable, which can be inferred from a sample to a population, besides describing correlations and cause and effect relationships. These applications can help in moderating intimacy and in shaping knowledge on intimacy. Studies by Himmelweit, Maccoby, and Bandura are examples of the usefulness of experiments in describing intimacy and its effects besides shaping knowledge on causes and effects of intimacy.

 

 

Read More