Chapter 10 Flashcards
Observational Research
Focuses on describing behavior.
Advantages of Observational Research
Results are generalizable
Disadvantages of Observational Research
No control
Cannot infer causation
Observer bias
Two Types of Observational Research
1-Naturalistic Observation
2-Participant Observation
Naturalistic Observation
People are observed as they behave in their everyday natural environments here behaviors are assumed to be natural. The experimenter can impose different degrees of structure such as lab observation study.
Participant Observation
The researcher becomes part of the group being observed, including groups that are closed to the outside.
Challenges with Observational Methods:
1-Lack of control
2-Observer bias
3-Subject Reactivity
Lack of Control
you must take what you get, you cannot infer causation.
Observer Bias
the observer might have an idea about what will be observed which could “color one’s perception”. They might only see what they want to see.
Reducing Observer Bias
1-Use good operational definitions for the behaviors of interest.
2-Use a behavior checklist.
3-Videotaping the session
4-Have several observers and determine inter-rater reliability.
5-Sampling procedures
Inter-rater Reliability
The percentage of times that the observers collectively agree.
Sampling procedures
Selecting a subset of possible observations
Time Sampling
Sample behaviour only a pre-defined times rather than maintaining a continuous record of everything that’s happening.
Event Sampling
Only certain events/behaviors are selected for observation while others are ignored.
Individual Sampling
Focus only on certain individuals
Subject Reactivity
A subject’s behavior is influenced by knowing that they are being observed.
Solution for Subject Reactivity
Use unobstructed measures so that subjects don’t know that they are being measured.
Two Types of Subject Reactivity
1-Direct unobstructed measures
2-Indirect unobstructed measures
Direct Unobstructed Measures
Audio/video recording, two-way mirror
Indirect Unobstructed Measures
Examining blue boxes to determine consumption of bottled water.
Ethics
Naturalistic observation does not require informed consent if the Ss are observed publicly. Do not interfere with the S and maintain confidentiality and anonymity.
Archival Research
uses archival data; data that has already been collected for some purpose other than the research in question.
Advantages of Archival Research
A huge amount of data is available
Disadvantages of Archival Research
-sometimes data is missing
-experimenter bias, in which the experimenter attends more closely to data that supports his hypothesis.
Content Analysis
Sometimes performed on archival data before it undergoes statistical analysis. Involved in examining qualitative data. Good to have more than one person coding it to establish inter-rater reliability.
Thematic Analysis
Is a method for identifying and analyzing themes or patterns of responses in qualitative data.
Factor Analysis
It is a Correlation between each variable and the identified factor. Many variables are inter-correlated and items that are highly inter-correlated form a factor.
Meta-Analysis
A more current approach that uses statistical analyses to compare the results across studies. It is an analysis of analyses that have already been conducted.
Meta-analysis looks at the results of many different studies on a similar topic and:
-Determines whether the effect is consistent across studies
-Tries to synthesize the results across studies
-Involves statistical analysis to see the size of the effect.
