Observation Flashcards
What are all of the observational techniques?
- Naturalistic.
- Controlled.
- Covert. •Overt.
- Participant. •Non-Participant.
What is naturalistic observation?
•Takes place where the target behaviour would normally occur.
What are advantages of naturalistic observation?
•High external validity - more generalisation to everyday life.
What are disadvantages of naturalistic observation?
•Low control. May be uncontrolled EV’s.
What is controlled observation?
•Some control/manipulation of variables including control of EV’s.
What are advantages of controlled observation?
•Can be replicated - findings can be checked again to see if they occur.
What are disadvantages of controlled observation?
- May have low external validity.
* Findings cannot be applied to everyday life.
What is covert observation?
Participants are unaware that they are being studied.
What are advantages of covert observation?
- Demand characteristics reduced.
* This increases validity of study.
What are disadvantages of covert observation?
•Ethically questionable.
-Participants right to privacy may be affected.
What is overt observation?
Participants are aware of being studied.
What are advantages of overt observation?
•More ethically acceptable.
-Have the right to withdraw.
What are disadvantages of overt observation?
•Demand characteristics.
What is participant observation?
When the researcher becomes part of the group they are studying.
What are advantages of participants observation?
•Can lead to greater insight.
-Enhancing validly of findings.
What are disadvantages of participants observation?
•Possibly loss of objectivity.
What’s non-participants observation?
When the researcher remains separate from the group they are studying.
What are advantages of non-participants observation?
•More objective.
-Researcher is far away so less chance of bias.
What are disadvantages of non-participant observation?
•Loss of insight.
What are the 3 observational designs?
- Behavioural categories.
- Time sampling.
- Event sampling.
What are behavioural categories?
The target behaviour to be observed should be broken up in to observable categories. Similar to the idea of generalisation.
What are disadvantages of behavioural categories?
•Difficult to make clear and unambiguous.
What is time sampling?
Observations that are made at regular intervals, e.g. once every 15 seconds.
What are advantages of time sampling?
•Reduces the number of observations.
What are disadvantages of time sampling?
•May be unrepresentative.
What’s event sampling?
A target behaviour/event is recorded every time it occurs.
What are advantages of event sampling?
•May record infrequent behaviour.
What are disadvantages of event sampling?
•Complex behaviour is oversimplified.
-Validity is affected.
