Lecture 5a: Observational Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What are the different observational research methods?

A
  • naturalistic observation
  • systematic observation
  • case studies
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2
Q

What are the different types of data collection?

A
  • quantitative
  • qualitative
  • mixed
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3
Q

What are quantitative approaches?

A

research approaches that result in numeric data that are statistically analyzed

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4
Q

What are qualitative approaches?

A

research approaches that result in non-numeric data that are analyzed for meaning and/or patterns

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5
Q

What is naturalistic observations?

A

a research method that involves the researcher making systematic observations in a natural setting in the real world
- qualitative or quantitative

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6
Q

What are the two approaches of naturalistic observation?

A
  • participant observation
  • concealed observation
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7
Q

What is participant observation?

A

researcher joins the community they are observing

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8
Q

What is concealed observation?

A

researcher’s presence is hidden from observed group

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9
Q

What are the advantages of naturalistic observations?

A
  • high external validity
  • rich information
  • sometimes the only possible approach to use
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10
Q

What are the disadvantages of naturalistic observations?

A
  • lack of control
  • extremely time consuming
  • observer bias
  • possible increased reactivity
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11
Q

What are systematic observations?

A

a research method in which the researcher observes participants in a controlled setting, typically in a lab space
- quantitative

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12
Q

What kind of behaviours are of interest in systematic observation and how are they trackes?

A

specific set of behaviours of interested typically coded from video and are tracked by coding schemes

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13
Q

What are coding schemes?

A

sets of rules that define what behaviours to track or identify and how
- can track frequency of behaviour observed or level/degree of behaviour

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14
Q

What is something that must be ensured among coders when doing a systematic observation?

A

inter-rater reliability
- need to ensure >80% agreement between coders of behaviour
- easier with extensive training of coders and high quality recordings of observations

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15
Q

What are advantages of systematic observations?

A
  • good external validity
  • some experimental control
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16
Q

What are disadvantages of systematic observations?

A
  • can be time consuming
  • observer bias
  • increased reactivity
17
Q

What are case studies?

A

detailed descriptive observations of behaviour and/or other factors from a single individual
- qualitative

18
Q

When are case studies commonly used for?

A

common for studying rare, low frequency phenomena such as brain injuries/abnormalities, clinical diagnoses and medical diagnoses

19
Q

What are advantages of case studies?

A
  • rich, detailed information
  • can be used when other methods would be impossible or unethical
20
Q

What are disadvantages of case studies?

A
  • low external validity
  • observer (researcher) bias