L2: Observations Flashcards
What is Non-Participant Observation?
When researcher doesn’t get directly involved with interaction of participants
Advantages + Disadvantages of Non Participant Observation
+ No details are missed
+ Good focus + good notes
+ Keeps objectivity
- Looking out of place = evokes demand characteristics
- Not understanding process so can lack validity
What is Participant Observation?
When researched is directly involved W/ interactions of the participants + engages in activities
Advantages + Disadvantages of Participant Observation
+ Fully understanding process = greater validity
- Loses objectivity
- Becoming biased
- Missing key details
What is Covert Observation?
Psychologist goes undercover + doesn’t reveal true identity. Group doesn’t know they are being observed
Advantages + Disadvantages of Covert Observation
+ Avoids demand characteristics
- Lack of Informed consent
- Deception
What is Overt observation?
Psychologist reveals true identity + state they are observing the group
Advantages + Disadvantages of Overt Observation
+ No Deception
+ Informed consent
- Demand Characteristics/Observer effects = invalidity
What is naturalistic observation?
Researcher observes participants in their own natural environment. No deliberate manipulation of IV
Advantages + Disadvantages of Naturalistic Observation
+ Less observer effects = validity
+ High Mundane Realism & Ecological validity
+ More practical & ethical
- No control over EV = invalidity
- No determination of Cause and Effect
- Observer Bias, subjective + biased leading to incorrect + unreliable results
What is a Controlled observation?
Researcher observes in a controlled environment, allows for manipulation of IV to see affect on DV
Advantages + Disadvantages of Controlled Observation
+ Cause & Effect can be determined
+ EV can be controlled = validity
+ Yields qualitative data = validity, measures key variables
- Low mundane realism and ecological validity
- Observer effects = invalid
- Observer bias = inaccurate information
What is Observer bias?
If observer knows purpose of study, they can observe behaviours that they think meet their aims and hypothesis. This influences how they record data which could be inaccurate and subjective. To ensure reliability, have 2 observers who record data separately. Then correlate their observations and is a kappa score of 0.8 is gained, then the data is reliable. This is inter-rater reliability
What is Event Sampling?
Observer decides what types of behaviour they want and records all occurrences. All other behaviours are ignored
What is Time-interval sampling?
Observer decides in advance that observation will take place in specified time periods and records occurrence of behaviour during that period only
