4.2 methods (learning) Flashcards
how are observations helpful?
useful way to investigate behaviours if experiments aren’t possible
why do people do observations?
- 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
what’s time sampling?
behaviours are noted down after a period of time (eg every 5 mins)
what’s event sampling?
behaviours are** noted down in a tally chart** in terms of how often they occur
what’s inter-rater reliability?
- multiple people observe behaviour and have to agree first on one thing
what are the types of observations?
- natural
- structured
- overt
- covert
- participant
- non participant
what’s the strength of natural observations?
- insight to the participant’s natural behaviour as observation occurs in natural habitat
- results high in ecological validity
what’s a weakness of natural observations?
- more likely to be covert which has ethical issues
- many variables at play in a natural environment
what’s a structured observation and what’s a strength?
- change environment then observe
- if a change in environment causes a behaviour, there might be a cause effect relationship which we need to identify
what’s a weakness of structural observations?
- 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
what’s overt observation and what’s a strength?
- 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
what’s a weakness of overt?
- participants will know they’re being observed and try to act in a certain way
- demand characteristics present and affects realness of behaviour
what’s a covert observation and what’s a strength?
- participants not aware they’re being observed (covert more like pervert)
- participants behave more naturally as they’re not aware they’re being observed
what’s a weakness of covert observations?
- raises ethical issues as participants could not have given consent
what’s a participant observation and what’s a strength?
- 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
what’s a weakness of a participant observation?
- 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
what’s a strength of non participant observation?
- increases fairness because of psychological and physical distance
- participants may not be self conscious about being observed which improves validity
what’s a weakness of non participant observations?
- observer may misinterpret communications within the group as they’re outsiders
- reduces validity or truthfulness of observations