1. You are conducting research on sex differences in e-mails. Your hypothesis is that men use more declarative statements and women use more questions.
Answer each of the following questions.
• What might be the advantages of using the archival method?
• What might be the disadvantages of using the archival method?
I didn't know emails had sex characteristics. Oh, you mean the sender.
Archival method as in searching through old emails?
Well, whose files are you searching? Will that make a difference? That is going to take a long time, isn't it? Who is going to count something as a question. Often, in emails, people don't use punctuation, right.
Do men have more to declare? and Women have to ask what they meant?
I definitely agree with bobpursley about defining your method of sampling e-mails.
In the terminology of psychology, sex is biological, while gender implies both biology and cultural/environmental factors.
I searched Google under the key words "archival method advantages" to get these possible sources:
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=archival+method+advantages&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search. Also see http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/.
This article might also be helpful:
http://www.members.cox.net/dagershaw/lol/CommunicationGenderBias.html
To answer these questions, let's first start by understanding what the archival method is. The archival method is a research approach that involves analyzing existing records or documents to gather data. In the context of your research on sex differences in e-mails, it would involve collecting e-mails that have already been sent or received.
Advantages of using the archival method in your research on sex differences in e-mails may include:
1. Cost-effectiveness: Archival data is often readily available and can be accessed at little or no cost, making it a cost-effective research method.
2. Large sample size: By collecting data from a wide range of e-mails over an extended period, you can gather a large sample size, which improves the generalizability of your findings.
3. Undistorted data: Archival data represents real-world communication without researcher interference, providing a more natural and objective source of information.
4. Longitudinal analysis: Archival data allows you to analyze how e-mail communication patterns change over time, providing insights into trends and developments.
Disadvantages of using the archival method in your research on sex differences in e-mails may include:
1. Limited control over data collection: Since you will be relying on existing e-mails, you have no control over the specific content or context of those messages. This lack of control may impact the validity and reliability of your findings.
2. Incomplete or missing data: Archival data may be incomplete or have missing information, limiting the comprehensiveness of your analysis.
3. Lack of context: Without additional information about the senders and recipients of the e-mails, their gender, or the specific circumstances surrounding each message, it may be challenging to accurately interpret and explain any observed sex differences.
4. Ethical considerations: Archival data may contain sensitive or personally identifiable information, requiring careful consideration and adherence to ethical guidelines regarding data privacy and protection.
When conducting research using the archival method, it is essential to consider these advantages and disadvantages to ensure that your findings are valid, reliable, and meaningful.