To investigate whether frustration causes aggression, the most appropriate research method would be Experiment.
Rationale:
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Causality: An experiment allows for the manipulation of the independent variable (frustration) and measurement of its effect on the dependent variable (aggression). This direct manipulation can help establish a cause-and-effect relationship.
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Control: Experiments typically have a controlled environment where researchers can minimize confounding variables, enhancing the reliability of the results.
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Random Assignment: By randomly assigning participants to different levels of frustration, researchers can ensure that groups are equivalent at the start of the experiment, which helps rule out alternative explanations for any observed effects.
Other methods, while useful in different contexts, are less suited for establishing causality:
- Correlational Research can indicate whether there is a relationship between frustration and aggression but cannot determine if one causes the other.
- Archival Research involves analyzing existing data and doesn’t allow for manipulation.
- Naturalistic Observation looks at behavior in real-world contexts but lacks control over variables.
- Surveys can gather self-reported data on experiences of frustration and aggression but may be limited by biases and cannot establish causal relationships.
- Case Study provides in-depth insights about an individual or small group but lacks generalizability and systematic control.
Thus, for establishing whether frustration leads to aggression, an experimental approach is the best choice.
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