4.2.3 OBSERVATIONAL TECHNIQUES

Question 1

what are observations?

Answer 1

observations are a non-experimental technique, where the researcher observes behaviour naturally

Question 2

what is a covert observation?

Answer 2

• where the study is carried ‘undercover’
• the ppts are being observed without their knowledge
• researchers real identity and purpose are kept concealed from the group being studied
• researcher may be physically present but the ppts don’t know or realise they’re being observed
• researcher takes a false identity and role
  -> usually posing as a genuine member of the group
• researcher is observing natural behaviour

Question 3

what is a strength of the covert observation?

Answer 3

• higher levels of validity as ppts are unaware they’re being observed which rules out demand characteristics (the observer effect)

Question 4

what’s a limitation of the covert observation?

Answer 4

• unethical as doesn’t have ppts informed consent

Question 5

what is an overt observation?

Answer 5

• the researcher reveals his/her true identity and purpose to the group
• asks permission to observe
• the ppts know they’re being observed

Question 6

what is a strength of the overt obsession?

Answer 6

1) ethical
- ppts have given informed consent to be observed

Question 7

what are 2 limitations of the overt observation?

Answer 7

1) social desirability bias is likely
- where ppts present their best selves to the researcher

2) demand characteristics
- known as the observer effect are more likely which impacts the validity of the results

Question 8

what is a participant observation?

Answer 8

• variant of natural observations
• researcher joins in and becomes part of the group they’re studying to get deeper insight into their lives
• can be either covert or overt

Question 9

what’s a strength of the participant observation?

Answer 9

1) the researcher is able to build a relationship with the ppts
- meaning the ppts are more likely to have open convos and act in a natural way

Question 10

what are some limitations of the participant observation?

Answer 10

1) difficult to get time / privacy for recording
eg) covert observations
- can’t take notes openly as this would blow their cover
- they have to wait until they’re alone and rely on their memory
- may forget details + unlikely to remember direct quotations

2) if researcher becomes too involved they may lose objectivity and become bias
- always the danger that we’ll ‘see’ what we expect / want to see
- could selectively report info instead of noting everything they observe
- reducing validity of their data

Question 11

what is a non-participant observation?

Answer 11

• the researcher remains separate from the participants
• the researcher observes and records the participants without taking part in activities or conversations

Question 12

what’s a strength of the non-participant observation?

Answer 12

• the researcher is more likely to remain objective whilst observing and recording the ppts behaviour

Question 13

what’s a limitation of the non-participant observation?

Answer 13

1) the researcher isn’t able to build a relationship with the ppts
- so they’re less likely to open up completely or read enough to show the full natural behaviours

Question 14

what is a controlled observation?

Answer 14

• likely to be carried out in a psychology laboratory
• researcher decides where / what time / which ppts / which circumstances / uses a standardised procedure
  for the observation
• ppts are randomly allocated to each independent variable group
• researcher systematically classifies the behaviour they observe into distinct categories
• usually overt
• usually non-ppt as the researcher avoids any direct contact with the group

Question 15

what are some strengths of controlled observations?

Answer 15

1) can be easily replicated by other researchers using the same observation schedule
- easy to test for reliability

2) data obstaned from structured observation is easier and quicker to analyse
- it’s quantitative
- less time-consuming method compared to naturalistic observations

3) fairly quick to conduct
- means may observations can take place within a short amount of time
- means large sample can be obtained
- = findings are more representative and have the ability to be generalised to a large population

Question 16

what is a limitation of a controlled observation?

Answer 16

1) can lack validity
- due to Hawthorne effect / demand characteristics
- when ppts know they’re being watched they may act differently

Question 17

what is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 17

• involves observing and studying the spontaneous behaviour of ppts in natural surroundings
• researcher records what they see in whatever way they can without system
• often used as a pilot study to see what types of behaviours would be recorded

Question 18

what are some strengths of a naturalistic observation?

Answer 18

1) greater ecological validity
- able to observe the flow of behaviour in its own setting

2) often used to generate new ideas
- gives the researcher the opportunity to study the total situation
- often suggest avenues of inquiry not through of before

Question 19

what are some limitations of an naturalistic observation?

Answer 19

1) findings may lack the ability to be generalised to wider society
- often conducted on a micro (small) scale and may lack a representative sample

2) less reliable
- observations cannot be controlled
- makes it difficult for another researcher to repeat the study in exactly the same way

3) researcher needs to be trained to be able to recognise aspects of a situation that are psychologically significant and worth further attention
- expensive

4) cause and effect relationships can’t be established
- don’t have manipulations of variables in observations
- no control over extraneous variables