L8 Observational Methods

Question 1

Explain what observational research is

Answer 1

Non expirimental studies in which behaviour is sytematically observed and recorded (non manipulation studies)

Question 2

Explain the two issues of observational methods

Answer 2

1) the individuals behaviour may be influenced or disrupted by observer presence.
- hawthron effect (observer effect) where the workers worked not as hard after the study
- unobtrusive recording - one way mirrors etc which is okay as long as it is a natural setting. Or habituate in observers presence.

2) observation and measurement require as least some subjective interpretation
- need a clear definition to allow more reliability and reduce the interpersonal interpretation.

-coding scheme should be used to prevent this ; list categories, have a coding manual which has instructions and examples.

Question 3

Why do we have observational methods

Answer 3

To study context dependant behaviour
Questionaires have a limited applicability
Easy and cheap to collect data

Question 4

What are the three quantifying methods and why do we use these?

Answer 4

To turn qualitivate data to quantitiativ for analysis

• frequency method- count freq of behaviour
• duration method -how long behaviour is engaged in
• interval method - record wether behaviour occurs in an interval

Question 5

Explain the types of sampling observations

Answer 5

Time sampling- behaviour observed at prescribed intervals
Event sampling-researcher identifies specific event to be observed
Individual sampling -observed one at a time

Question 6

Name the types of observatoin studies

Answer 6

Naturalistic
(observed in natural setting

Participant
researcher does same activity as those being observed

Controlled
(lab, structured)

Question 7

Name an example of past naturalistic observations

Answer 7

Jane goodall chimpanzes

Margret mead

Question 8

Strengths and weaknesses if naturalistic observations

Answer 8

Pros

• provides insight into real world behavipur
• high external validity
• useful for studying behaviours which cannot be manipulated

Cons

• not possible to draw conclusion about causality
• ethical concerns
• time consuming

Question 9

Name an example of participant observations

Answer 9

Rosenhans psychiatric hospital

Festingers research on religious

Question 10

Covert and overt particpant observations

Answer 10

Covert; the researcher wont tell people theyre researchers

Overt: asks qs and says they are a researchers

Question 11

Pros and cons to participant observations

Answer 11

Pros
-provides insight to behaviours not seen in a scientific investigation

Cons

• time consuming
• difficult to find privacy/time to record behaviours
• can be dangerous to observer

Question 12

Say examples of controlled observations

Answer 12

Piagets expiriments

Mary ainsworth strange situation

Question 13

Pros and cons of controlled observations

Answer 13

Pros

• easily replicated by other researchers
• researcher has control over variables
• less time consuming than naturalistic observation

Cons
Ppt behaviours may be less natural

Question 14

Explain inter rater reliability

Answer 14

Pattern of aggreement between measurements made by two+

Measures sometimes take into account this reliability (e.g. coefficient kappa)

Question 15

Whtat happens if there is a interrater disaggreement?

Answer 15

Discuss comprimise
Toss a coin
Average numeric catagories