Observatinal Methods

Question 1

Ways they differ

Answer 1

Setting
Level of researcher involvement
How hidden is researcher

Question 2

Naturalistic

Answer 2

Observe behaviour in the setting it naturally occurs

Question 3

Controlled

Answer 3

Within a laboratory setting

Question 4

Non participant

Answer 4

Is detached from group

No involvement with pps

Question 5

Participant

Answer 5

Joins in with group activities and tries to see the world through eyes of pps

Question 6

Covert

Answer 6

Dishonest , pps not aware they are being observed

Question 7

Overt

Answer 7

Honest , pps are aware they’re being observed

Question 8

Unstructured

Answer 8

Writing down everything they see

Question 9

Structured

Answer 9

Being prepared for what you are going to observe and recording behaviours systematically

Question 10

Behavioural grid

Answer 10

What a structured observation is recorded in

Question 11

Behavioural categories

Answer 11

What is in a behavioural grid

Question 12

Sampling

Answer 12

Decide how the occurrence of the behaviour is to be recorded

Question 13

Time sampling

Answer 13

Behaviour of pps is recorded at regular intervals eg every 5 mins

✅ good when dealing with large groups

Question 14

Event sampling

Answer 14

The behaviour is recorded every time it occurs

✅ good with individuals

Question 15

✅ observations

Answer 15

Ecological validity

If covert lower demand characteristics

Behaviour more natural

Question 16

❎ observations

Answer 16

Poor control of variables

Observer effects

Ethical issues

Low replicability

Inter observer reliability

Question 17

Inter observer reliability

Answer 17

More than one observer

Ans= operationalise behavioural categories clearly as possible or train to same standard

Question 18

Observation

Answer 18

Looking at and recording behaviour without interfering with it