Observation Flashcards
1
Q
Observation
A
- Observing the behaviour of participants
- Different from field experiments
> Observations don’t involve manipulating an IV, they simply involve watching, recording and interpreting behaviour
2
Q
Naturalistic Observation
A
- Observing naturally occurring behaviour in the participants’ natural environment
- High Ecological Validity
3
Q
Controlled Observation
A
- Observing behaviour in a controlled situation.
4
Q
Participant Observation
A
- Researcher joins in with the group of people they are observing
5
Q
Non- Participant Observation
A
- Researcher observes the behaviour of interest from the ‘outside’
6
Q
Covert Observation
A
- Researcher is unknown to the participants
7
Q
Overt Observation
A
- Participants know that they are being observed
8
Q
Structured Observation
A
- Data is collected using a pre determined coding system
> eg. Tally chart with determined behaviour
9
Q
Unstructured Observation
A
- Researcher will watch the behaviour and record anything of interest.
10
Q
2 advantages of Observations
A
- Observations may be more valid than questionnaires or interviews.
- Provide a means of conducting preliminary investigations to produce hypotheses
11
Q
3 disadvantages of Observations
A
- Observer bias
- Ethical problems such as deception and invasion of privacy
- If participants do know they are being observed they may alter their behaviour
12
Q
5 steps to design and carry out an observation
A
- Decide on the behaviour to be observed.
- Decide whether to use a controlled or a naturalistic observation.
- Decide whether the observation will be structured or unstructured.
- If the observation will be structured, a grid should be created to record behaviour.
- Decide how to sample the behaviour taking place
13
Q
Time Sampling
A
- Observations of each individual are made for several short periods in a given time frame
> (e.g. the first ten minutes of every hour) - Allows the researcher to see how frequent a given behaviour is in a given time period
14
Q
Event Sampling
A
- Observations are made of a specific event each time it occurs
> eg. each time there is a fight
