CR_Ch.6--Observational Methods Flashcards
archival research
The use of existing sources of information for research. Sources include statistical records, survey archives, and written records.
case study
A descriptive account of the behaviour, past history, and other relevant factors concerning a specified individual.
coding system
A set of rules used to categorize observations.
concealed observation
A type of naturalistic observation in which the researcher assumes a role in the setting he or she is researching, but conceals the purpose of the research.
content analysis
Systematic analysis of the content of written records.
naturalistic observation
Descriptive method in which observations are made in a natural social setting. Sometimes referred to as field observations.
participant observation
A type of naturalistic observation in which the researcher assumes a role in the setting he or she is researching. The researcher’s participation may or may not be concealed.
qualitative approach
A set of approaches to research that emphasize people’s lived experiences in their own words, and the researcher’s interpretation of those experiences.
quantitative approach
An approach to research that emphasizes scientific empiricism in design, data collection, and statistical analyses.
reactivity
A problem of measurement in which the measure changes the behaviour being observed.
systematic observation
Observation of one or more specific variables, usually made in a precisely defined setting.
