Ms.

Vaessen’s Hypothetical Research Assignment Example (includes assessment rubric)

There is much attention given to birth order’s influence on personality in popular culture. This
study seeks to examine whether our fascination with birth order and personality has more to do with our
perceptions and expectations about birth order than it does with an accurate assessment family
experiences on personality development.
Hypothesis
We expected that there will be common personality characteristics among children who occupy the same
position within their respective families.
This is correlational research since we are looking for associations among naturally occurring variables as
opposed to an experimental study where a researcher introduces a change and then monitors its effects.
The variables we are investigating are birth order and scores on the personality measures.
Participants
We were working in collaboration with family physicians and public health clinics in twenty Canadian cities
(ten urban centres and ten rural municipalities) and over a period of six months. We extended invitations
to participate to all families bringing in a non-firstborn child for their nine-month well baby visit and to
families bringing their infant in for their 12 month vaccinations.
We had a total of 200 families participate. There was an average of 2.5 children per family with a total
number of 500 children involved. The socio-economic background and ethnicities of participants was
consistent with the most recent census data.
Methods
This was a longitudinal study carried out over a ten-year period. Our researchers completed assessments
of the children on an annual basis and also had parents complete questionnaires assessing their children’s
temperament and personality and development each year. Our researchers examined children along the
big five dimensions of personality: extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and
neuroticism. This was not feasible with young infants and toddlers so we assessed the temperament and
attachment styles for infants and toddlers.
Results
After we analyzed the data, we concluded that the results do not support the hypothesis that birth order
has a significant impact on personality development. There was no consistent relationship between where
a child was situated in their family order and the level of extraversion, agreeableness, openness,
conscientiousness, and neuroticism. What researchers did note was that there was incredible stability
over time with children’s scores on the Big Five and there was strong correlation between temperament
and personality. We feel that this indicates that future research considerations should examine the stability
of personality throughout early childhood and into adulthood.
Applications
It is hoped that the insights from this research can inform new directions in personality research,
specifically, the rigidity, flexibility and stability of personality.
Ms. Vaessen’s Hypothetical Research Assignment Example (includes assessment rubric)

We feel confident that the results are representative and can be generalized to the wider Canadian
context because of the care taken to achieve a random sample of robust size.
Sample Evaluation:

Total marks /20 Platinum Gold Silver

Structure of the Structure is fully outlined and The structure is well explained There is little explanation of the
research (is it a case includes an explanation as to why but there may be some structure of the research and/or
study, an experiment, the structure was selected. The confusion with the best fit of the structure does not fit with
correlational research? structure is appropriate for the structure for the research research intentions
Is it longitudinal, cross- topic/question being intentions
sectional, etc.?) /3 investigated.
Participants /3 There is a full description of the There is a solid description of Little description is given as to
number of participants, their the number of participants, their the number of participants,
backgrounds and how they were backgrounds and how they where they came from or their
selected. Attention has been paid were selected. Some attention backgrounds. It is evident that
to having a robust sample size has been paid to having a robust sample size, random sampling,
and random sampling and sample size and random and random assignment were
random assignment is evident. sampling and random not considered.
assignment is evident but there
may be errors.
Hypothesis /4 There is a full description of the There is a satisfactory There is an inadequate
hypothesis; IV, DV and description of the hypothesis; description of the hypothesis,
confounding variables (if an IV, DV and confounding IV & DV (if an experiment),
experiment); variables under variables (if an experiment); variables under investigation
investigation. variables under investigation. and confounding variables (if
There may be some errors. appropriate). There may be
many errors.
Methods /4 There is a full and detailed It is clear how the research It is unclear how the research
description of the methods used would be completed. It is would be completed and/or it is
in the research. The methods appropriate to the issue under not appropriate to the issue
make sense and demonstrate an investigation though there may under investigation. There may
understanding of the scientific be some confusing elements be errors in methodology.
method
Results /2 Results are included and they are Results are included but there is Results were not included.
connected to the hypothesis; it is no connection made between
explicitly stated that the data the results and the hypothesis
support or do not support the
hypothesis and why
Ethics /2 No ethical issues! There was No ethical issues! There was Ethical issues are present or
consideration of ethics in the some mention of ethics in the ethics are not considered.
study’s design and it is fully study’s design
articulated
Application /2 Discussion of generalizability and Discussion of generalizability No mention is made of
application is thorough and well and application is weak or generalizability or application
thought out superficial
Comments Ms Vaesssen, your writing is clear and there is a logical flow to it. It is evident that you understand the
nature of a correlational studies and situations in which an experiment is not feasible. I particularly liked
the attention to detail in your description of your participants but did notice that you did not say
anything about ethics. Your applications section was also lacking depth of thought. Overall, this was
well done. 17/20