Define experimental and descriptive methods in social psychology. Define the descriptive methods of naturalistic observation and survey studies. What advantages do experimental methods have over these descriptive methods?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Experimental methods are procedures for uncovering causal processes by systematically manipulating some aspect of a situation. Descriptive methods are procedures for measuring or recording behaviors, thoughts, and feelings in their natural state. Naturalistic observation involves recording everyday behaviors as they unfold in their natural settings. Surveys are techniques in which the researcher asks people to report on their beliefs, feelings, or behaviors. The advantages of the experimental method over these descriptive methods are the ability to manipulate variables, carefully control the participants' environment, and to infer causality.