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Psychology > Observation > Flashcards

Observation Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a research aim?

A

The concept that the researcher wants to investigate

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2
Q

What are the 5 key questions of observation?

A

Who
What
Where
When
How

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3
Q

What is an unstructured observation?

A

non-focused, generating descriptions of the range of behaviours going on

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4
Q

What is a structured observation?

A

where the observation of behaviour is guided by the use of specific behavioural categories - coding frame

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5
Q

What is a coding frame?

A

A table of the behavioural categories used in a observation

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6
Q

What is a naturalistic observation?

A

Behaviour is studied in a natural situation where everything has been left as it is normally

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7
Q

What is an advantage of naturalistic observations?

A

High ecological validity so more natural behaviours are seen

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8
Q

What are two disadvantages of naturalistic observations?

A

risk of extraneous variables
difficult to see/accurately record data

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9
Q

What are two disadvantages of controlled observations?

A

low ecological validity
risk of demand characteristics

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10
Q

What are two advantages of controlled observations?

A

Easy to see and record the data
fewer extraneous variables

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11
Q

What is a controlled observation?

A

An observations where some variables are controlled by the researcher

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12
Q

What are three examples of naturalistic observations?

A

Piliavin
Freud
Chaney

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13
Q

What are three examples of controlled observations?

A

Bandura
Milgram
Blakemore & Cooper

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14
Q

What is a participant observation?

A

When the researcher is involved with those that are being observed

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15
Q

What is a non-participant observation?

A

Where the researcher stands apart from what they’re observing and look at it from the ‘outside’

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16
Q

What are two advantages of participant observations?

A

Good vantage point for your observations
Can get insight into the experience yourself and gather detailed information about the situation

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17
Q

What are two disadvantages of participant observations?

A

Your presence may change the course of the events you are observing
You may become too involved in the group to be really objective about your observations

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18
Q

What is one disadvantage of non-participant observations?

A

You may not have the same level of insight

19
Q

What are two advantages of participant observations?

A

You may remain more objective
reduces social desirability

20
Q

What are two examples of participant observations?

A

Piliavin
Bandura

21
Q

What are two examples of non-participant observations?

A

Bandura
Chaney
Freud

22
Q

What is a covert observation?

A

Where the participants are unaware that they are being observed

23
Q

What is a overt observation?

A

An observation where participants are aware that they are being observed

24
Q

What is an advantage of a covert observation?

A

Natural behaviour can be observed - sampling ‘real’ behaviour

25
Q

What are two disadvantages of a covert observation?

A

Raises ethical issues as cannot get participants’ consent and it invades their privacy
Can be difficult to record data without drawing attention to yourself

26
Q

What is a disadvantage of an overt observation?

A

Participant may not display ‘natural’ behaviour if they become aware of being observed - may respond to demand characteristics

27
Q

What are two advantages of an overt observation?

A

Fewer ethical issues raised as informed consent can be gained
Easier to record data as can be quite open in tallying behaviours as they occur

28
Q

What is an example of a covert observation?

A

Piliavin

29
Q

What are three examples of overt observations?

A

Chaney
Milgram
Bandura

30
Q

What is event sampling?

A

The observer keeps count of each time a particular pre-determined behaviour occurs throughout the entire event

31
Q

What is time sampling?

A

When the time period is broken up into a series of time intervals, and records of behaviour are related to these time invervals

32
Q

What were the three types of time sampling?

A

One-Zero sampling
Instantaneous scan sampling
Predominant activity sampling

33
Q

What is one-zero sampling?

A

during each time interval, a record is made if the chosen behaviour occurs at all

34
Q

What is instantaneous scan sampling?

A

No records are made until the end of the time interval. At this instant a record is made of any behaviours that are occurring

35
Q

What is predominant activity sampling?

A

Observation is continuous and an estimate is made in relation to the activity that occupied most of the preceding time interval

36
Q

What are two advantages of event sampling?

A

Good for when behaviours are not frequent
Don’t miss key behaviours

37
Q

What are two disadvantages of event sampling?

A

Time consuming and difficult to keep concentration over a long period
Can be difficult to record all behaviours if there is a lot going on

38
Q

What are two advantages of time sampling?

A

Can see a change in activity over a longer period of time
Increases concentration and allows time to record data

39
Q

What is a disadvantage of time sampling?

A

can miss interesting data between the time points

40
Q

What is researcher/observer bias?

A

when an observer is more likely to record data in the way they expect (probably subconsciously) - thereby skewing the results

41
Q

What is the researcher/observer effect?

A

If the people being observed are aware of the observer watching them then it may result in the participants changing their behaviour and thus the data recorded not being a truly accurate representation of what individuals would do in the situation

42
Q

What are two benefits with getting an independent researcher to carry out the observation?

A

Unlikely to have demand characteristics
unlikely to get observer bias or effect

43
Q

What is inter-rater reliability?

A

The extent to which all observers have similar findings

Psychology (44 decks)

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