Observation Flashcards
What is a research aim?
The concept that the researcher wants to investigate
What are the 5 key questions of observation?
Who
What
Where
When
How
What is an unstructured observation?
non-focused, generating descriptions of the range of behaviours going on
What is a structured observation?
where the observation of behaviour is guided by the use of specific behavioural categories - coding frame
What is a coding frame?
A table of the behavioural categories used in a observation
What is a naturalistic observation?
Behaviour is studied in a natural situation where everything has been left as it is normally
What is an advantage of naturalistic observations?
High ecological validity so more natural behaviours are seen
What are two disadvantages of naturalistic observations?
risk of extraneous variables
difficult to see/accurately record data
What are two disadvantages of controlled observations?
low ecological validity
risk of demand characteristics
What are two advantages of controlled observations?
Easy to see and record the data
fewer extraneous variables
What is a controlled observation?
An observations where some variables are controlled by the researcher
What are three examples of naturalistic observations?
Piliavin
Freud
Chaney
What are three examples of controlled observations?
Bandura
Milgram
Blakemore & Cooper
What is a participant observation?
When the researcher is involved with those that are being observed
What is a non-participant observation?
Where the researcher stands apart from what they’re observing and look at it from the ‘outside’
What are two advantages of participant observations?
Good vantage point for your observations
Can get insight into the experience yourself and gather detailed information about the situation
What are two disadvantages of participant observations?
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
What is one disadvantage of non-participant observations?
You may not have the same level of insight
What are two advantages of participant observations?
You may remain more objective
reduces social desirability
What are two examples of participant observations?
Piliavin
Bandura
What are two examples of non-participant observations?
Bandura
Chaney
Freud
What is a covert observation?
Where the participants are unaware that they are being observed
What is a overt observation?
An observation where participants are aware that they are being observed
What is an advantage of a covert observation?
Natural behaviour can be observed - sampling ‘real’ behaviour
What are two disadvantages of a covert observation?
Raises ethical issues as cannot get participants’ consent and it invades their privacy
Can be difficult to record data without drawing attention to yourself
What is a disadvantage of an overt observation?
Participant may not display ‘natural’ behaviour if they become aware of being observed - may respond to demand characteristics
What are two advantages of an overt observation?
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
What is an example of a covert observation?
Piliavin
What are three examples of overt observations?
Chaney
Milgram
Bandura
What is event sampling?
The observer keeps count of each time a particular pre-determined behaviour occurs throughout the entire event
What is time sampling?
When the time period is broken up into a series of time intervals, and records of behaviour are related to these time invervals
What were the three types of time sampling?
One-Zero sampling
Instantaneous scan sampling
Predominant activity sampling
What is one-zero sampling?
during each time interval, a record is made if the chosen behaviour occurs at all
What is instantaneous scan sampling?
No records are made until the end of the time interval. At this instant a record is made of any behaviours that are occurring
What is predominant activity sampling?
Observation is continuous and an estimate is made in relation to the activity that occupied most of the preceding time interval
What are two advantages of event sampling?
Good for when behaviours are not frequent
Don’t miss key behaviours
What are two disadvantages of event sampling?
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
What are two advantages of time sampling?
Can see a change in activity over a longer period of time
Increases concentration and allows time to record data
What is a disadvantage of time sampling?
can miss interesting data between the time points
What is researcher/observer bias?
when an observer is more likely to record data in the way they expect (probably subconsciously) - thereby skewing the results
What is the researcher/observer effect?
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
What are two benefits with getting an independent researcher to carry out the observation?
Unlikely to have demand characteristics
unlikely to get observer bias or effect
What is inter-rater reliability?
The extent to which all observers have similar findings
