{"id":409,"date":"2018-11-05T21:52:20","date_gmt":"2018-11-05T21:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/course.oeru.org\/irmp102\/?page_id=409"},"modified":"2018-11-05T21:52:20","modified_gmt":"2018-11-05T21:52:20","slug":"archival-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/course.oeru.org\/irmp102\/learning-pathways\/nonexperimental-research-methods\/archival-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Archival Research"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Steacie Science and Engineering Library at York University<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Some researchers gain access to large amounts of data without interacting with a single research participant. Instead, they use existing records to answer various research questions. This type of research approach is known as archival research<\/b>. Archival research relies on looking at past records or data sets to look for interesting patterns or relationships. These records may include newspaper articles, personal ads, censuses, sports statistics, speeches by public figures, and even tweets!\n<\/p>\n

In an example of archival research, the measurements of the models photographed for Playboy magazine\u2019s centrefolds were studied from <\/b>1953 to 2001 (Voracek & Fisher, 2002). The researchers were able to use the published data on height, weight and measurements for the bust, waist and hips that accompanied the photographs. These data then allowed them to calculate body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and a <\/b>rating on an androgyny index. The results showed that body mass index decreased from 20 to 18, and waist-to-hip ratios increased from just below 0.7 to just above 0.7. The effect of these changes means that more recent models have become more androgynous in appearance.\n<\/p>\n

Because this study used a nonexperimental research method, we cannot make cause and effect claims. We can hypothesize why the centrefolds have become increasingly androgynous but we can’t say so conclusively. Maybe the change reflects a change in the readership of Playboy. <\/i>Today’s readership is 83% male, earns a median income of $53,000, and is mostly between 18 and 44 years old (75%). How does this compare to the readership in the 1950s? Alternatively, the changes may reflect changes in western cultural tastes and standards regarding female appearance. Only more research using more experimental methods will be able to illuminate these questions.\n<\/p>\n

Advantages of archival research<\/span><\/h3>\n