3.0 Observations

Question 1

What is an observation?

Answer 1

A type of research method where the researcher watches their participants to try and come to conclusions about behaviour

Question 2

What is a laboratory observation

Answer 2

Carried out in an artificial setting

Question 3

What is a natural observation?

Answer 3

Take pace in the setting or context where the target behaviour would usually occur

Question 4

What does overt and covert mean?

Answer 4

Overt- participants know they are being observed
Covert- participants do not know they are being observed

Question 5

What does a behaviour code do?

Answer 5

Helps to make sure that the data being collected is valid

Question 6

What is participant obeservation?

Answer 6

The observer embeds themselves in another group

Question 7

What is non-participant observation?

Answer 7

There is no direct contact between the observer and those being observed

Question 8

3 reasons why psychologists use observations?

Answer 8

To study a particular behaviour
To study natural behaviour in a natural setting- more realistic
Study behaviours- when it would be unethical to manipulate/when behaviours can’t be manipulated by the researcher

Question 9

Why is a behaviour checklist conducted?

Answer 9

So that the researcher knows exactly what to look out for

Question 10

Limitations of observations: observer bias?

Answer 10

The observers interpretation of a situation may be affected by their expectations
Can overcome observer bias by having more than one observer

Question 11

Limitations of observations: causal relationships?

Answer 11

Cannot demonstrate causal relationships

Question 12

Strengths of natural observations?

Answer 12

High ecological validity— findings can be generalised to everyday life as there is no outside interference from the researcher

Question 13

Limitations of natural observations?

Answer 13

Cannot be replicated to check the reliability as the researcher is not in control of variables
There may be more uncontrolled confounding/extraneous variables that make it more difficult to judge behaviour patterns

Question 14

Strengths of controlled observations (lab)?

Answer 14

Can be replicated to check reliability- the researcher is in control of variables

Question 15

Limitations of controlled observations (lab)?

Answer 15

Low ecological validity- the researcher records behaviour in a manipulated environment- sometimes with outside interference from the researcher

Question 16

Strengths of covert observations?

Answer 16

Investigator effects are unlikely- PPTS behaviour will be genuine
No demand characteristics- no social desirability bias
Increases internal validity

Question 17

Limitations of covert observations?

Answer 17

Less ethical- PPTS are not aware they are taking part- cannot give informed consent

Question 18

Strengths of overt observations?

Answer 18

Possible to inform PPTS in advance and gain informed consent

Question 19

Limitations of overt observations/

Answer 19

Behaviour can be distorted through investigator effects- the PPTS changes the behaviour through social desirability bias

Question 20

Strengths of PPTS observations?

Answer 20

The researcher can obtain in-depth data as they are in close proximity to the PPTS- unlikely to overlook/miss any behaviour

Question 21

Limitations of PPTS observations?

Answer 21

The researchers presence might influence the PPTS behaviour due to evaluation apprehension

Question 22

Strengths of non-participant observations?

Answer 22

Investigator effects and evaluation apprehension are less likely as the researcher is not visiable

Question 23

What is the term used when the line between a researcher and a PPTS becomes blurred?

Answer 23

Going native

Question 24

Strengths of non-PPTS observations: going native?

Answer 24

Non-PPTS observations allow the researcher to maintain a distance from their PPTS- less danger of going native

Question 25

Limitations of non-PPTS behaviour?

Answer 25

Due to a lack of proximity the researcher might overlook/ miss behaviours of interest
They may lose the valuable insight to be gained in a PPTS observation as they are too far removed from the people/behaviour they are studying