Designing an Observation

Question 1

Behaviour categories in observation

Answer 1

When decided what type of observation to use you need to create operationalised categories which means being specific about what you are observing

To make behaviour more measurable

Question 2

Event sampling

Answer 2

Observer decides on specific events relevant to investigation

These events are recorded every time for a set period of time

(Observing aggression at football match , recording tally everytime they see an aggressive act)

Question 3

Event sampling strength

Answer 3

Useful when behaviours happen infrequently as ppts are watched over period of time

And behaviour category is recorded every time it occurs

Researchers are less likely to miss behaviours

Unlike time sampling in which if behaviours happen in infrequently
It may be missed

Question 4

Event sampling limitation

Answer 4

If behaviour is complex /happens very often

Observer may miss behaviours they cannot tally in time

Unlike time sampling which tallies at set time intervals thus less likely to miss these behaviours

Question 5

Time sampling

Answer 5

Tallying behaviours in set time interval

Question 6

Time sampling strength

Answer 6

Reduces amount of time observers have to observe

Question 7

Time sampling limitation

Answer 7

As researchers only observing at set time intervals

Behaviours tallied may not be representative of observation as a whole