4.2 methods (learning)

Question 1

how are observations helpful?

Answer 1

useful way to investigate behaviours if experiments aren’t possible

Question 2

why do people do observations?

Answer 2

• to get natural behaviour in natural environments
• people don’t always behave in context you are investigating
• some situations can be unethical to create so we have to observe

Question 3

what’s time sampling?

Answer 3

behaviours are noted down after a period of time (eg every 5 mins)

Question 4

what’s event sampling?

Answer 4

behaviours are noted down in a tally chart in terms of how often they occur

Question 5

what’s inter-rater reliability?

Answer 5

• multiple people observe behaviour and have to agree first on one thing

Question 6

what are the types of observations?

Answer 6

• natural
• structured
• overt
• covert
• participant
• non participant

Question 7

what’s the strength of natural observations?

Answer 7

• insight to the participant’s natural behaviour as observation occurs in natural habitat
• results high in ecological validity

Question 8

what’s a weakness of natural observations?

Answer 8

• more likely to be covert which has ethical issues
• many variables at play in a natural environment

Question 9

what’s a structured observation and what’s a strength?

Answer 9

• change environment then observe
• if a change in environment causes a behaviour, there might be a cause effect relationship which we need to identify

Question 10

what’s a weakness of structural observations?

Answer 10

• environment may feel unnatural and participants won’t behave like irl
• lack of ecological validity
• participants may know they’re being observed and may try to act in a certain way
• demand characteristics present

Question 11

what’s overt observation and what’s a strength?

Answer 11

• you tell the person that ur gonna observe
• avoids issue with lack of informed consent as they can decide to participate
• easier to see everything as the observer doesn’t need to hide

Question 12

what’s a weakness of overt?

Answer 12

• participants will know they’re being observed and try to act in a certain way
• demand characteristics present and affects realness of behaviour

Question 13

what’s a covert observation and what’s a strength?

Answer 13

• participants not aware they’re being observed (covert more like pervert)
• participants behave more naturally as they’re not aware they’re being observed

Question 14

what’s a weakness of covert observations?

Answer 14

• raises ethical issues as participants could not have given consent

Question 15

what’s a participant observation and what’s a strength?

Answer 15

• researcher is part of a group
• likely to provide special insights into behaviour from the “inside”, they’ll have a larger familiarity with what’s happening
• see things in greater detail

Question 16

what’s a weakness of a participant observation?

Answer 16

• if it’s overt, participants may change behaviour as they know they’re being studied
• observer has bias and may look at a situation subjectively

Question 17

what’s a strength of non participant observation?

Answer 17

• increases fairness because of psychological and physical distance
• participants may not be self conscious about being observed which improves validity

Question 18

what’s a weakness of non participant observations?

Answer 18

• observer may misinterpret communications within the group as they’re outsiders
• reduces validity or truthfulness of observations