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A-Level Psychology > Observation > Flashcards

Observation Flashcards

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1
Q

What is Participant Observation?

A

The observer acts as a part of the group being watched

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2
Q

Strengths of Participant Observation…

A

-Get better understanding being around them (increases reliability

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3
Q

Weaknesses of Participant Observation…

A

Miss things happening with other participants elsewhere
- Might influence participants in group and be bias( decreases reliability/validity)

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4
Q

What is Non-Participant Observation?

A

The observer doesn’t become part of the group being watched

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5
Q

Strengths of Non-Participant Observation…

A

Less observer bias as they’re not a part of the group(High validity)
Able to observe everybody and not miss behaviour happening

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6
Q

Weaknesses of Non-Participant Observation…

A

-Wont fully understand as they’re not in the group(decreases reliability)

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7
Q

What is a Naturalistic Observation?

A

Observation that takes place in natural/ real setting

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8
Q

Strengths of Naturalistic Observation

A

-Higher Ecological Validity- showing real behaviour

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9
Q

Weaknesses of Naturalistic Observation

A

-Lots of confounding variables could happen( weather, uncoded behaviour)

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10
Q

What is a Controlled Observation?

A

Observation that takes place where some variables are controlled and manipulated

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11
Q

Strengths of Controlled Observation…

A

-Can control variables to prevent them from becoming confounding and affecting the results

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12
Q

Weaknesses of Controlled Observation…

A

-Lower Ecological Validity- behaviour is in a controlled environment

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13
Q

What is a Structured Observation?

A

Determine the behaviours to be observed and sampling to be used

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14
Q

Strengths of a Structured Observation…

A

Compare with others to increase reliability
- Can agree on specific behaviour types to tick right ones (increases validity)

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15
Q

Weaknesses of a Structured Observation…

A

-Unanticipated behaviour might happen- can’t record it- (lose validity)

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16
Q

What is an Unstructured Observation?

A

Observer records everything that happens with no preconception

17
Q

Strengths of Unstructured Observation…

A

-Records all behaviour (increases validity)

18
Q

Weaknesses of Unstructured Observation…

A

Qualitative data- hard to compare
- Might miss something if observing everything (impacts validity)

19
Q

What is Overt ?

A

Open, people know they’re being observed

20
Q

Strengths of Overt …

A

More ethical (informed consent)

21
Q

Weaknesses of Overt…

A

Might show demand characteristics (impacts validity)
- Social Desirability Bias- want to be seen positively (validity)

22
Q

What is Covert?

A

People don’t know they’re being observed

23
Q

Strengths of Covert…

A

More Ecological Validity- true behaviour as they’re unaware of observer

24
Q

Weaknesses of Covert…

A

-Less Ethical no informed consent

25
Q

What is Time Sampling?

A

Observations recorded at fixed time intervals and coded

26
Q

What is Event Sampling?

A

Keep a tally chart of each time a type of behaviour occurs- constantly observing for specific behaviours

27
Q

What is Time Event Sampling?

A

Combined Time and Event Sampling- Still observing at specific times but with a tick list of the behaviours.

28
Q

Why are Behavioural Categories needed in structured observations?

A

So that what is going to be observed and how its going to be observed is decided before

29
Q

What is a Coding Frame?

A

-List different behaviours as different categories or codes

-Allows other information to also be recorded quickly such as the severity and duration of the incident or who was involved

30
Q

Why do Observations lack reliability?

A

Something would be different each time you observe (confounding variables)

31
Q

How can you check consistency within observations?

A

-Use Inter-Rater Reliability by repeating the observation with a different observer, you should get the same results.

32
Q

How can you improve reliability?

A

-Use a good coding scheme
-Use wider categories
-Single blind technique
-Check validity by asking participants

33
Q

How can you use Inter- Rater Reliability within an Observation?

A

-Agree beforehand what will be observed
-Carry out a pilot study to ensure it works
-Each observer then observes the same things independently
-Results compared at the end
-Greater level of similarity= greater inter rater reliability
-This means your coding system is consistent- works the same way and produces the same results when used by different people

A-Level Psychology (36 decks)

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