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Psych: Unit 1: Research Methods > Observation > Flashcards

Observation Flashcards

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1
Q

(Observation) Define the ‘research aim’.

A

The concept that the researcher wants to investigates. Usually fairly specific as it will reflect what the researcher is directing wanting to find out.

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2
Q

(Observation) Define the ‘research question’.

A

Must actually be a question, with a ‘?’ at the end.

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3
Q

(Observation) What are the 5 key questions that observation can be seen as centring on?

A

Who, what, where, when and how.

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4
Q

(Observation) Why do researchers carrying out observations have to keep in mind of other crucial issues?

A

To ensure that results are valid and reliable, and stay within the ethical guidelines.

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5
Q

(Observation) What are the 2 categories that observations can be divided into, differing in how focused hey are on specific behaviours.

A

Unstructured and structured.

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6
Q

(Observation) Describe an unstructured observation.

A

Relatively non-focused, generating descriptions (qualitative data) of a range of behaviours.

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7
Q

(Observation) Describe an structured observation.

A

The observation of behaviour is guided by the use of specific behavioural categorised, defined prior to the observation though the development of a ‘coding frame’. Can collect quantitative data.

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8
Q

(Observation) What does the use of a coding frame allow?

A

The observer to focus on specific behavioural; events and the frequency with which they occur.

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9
Q

(Observation) What makes results valid?

A

Results are valid in observation if participants act naturally in front of observers.

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10
Q

(Observation) What 2 conditions cause participants to act naturally, regarding validity?

A

1) Observations are covert.
2 They are in a natural environment (naturalistic observation).

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11
Q

(Observation) What do observers need to do to ensure the results are valid?

A

Need to be able to see everything and record results accurately.

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12
Q

(Observation) What makes results reliable?

A

Results are consistent if different observers agree and note down the same results (inter-rater reliability).

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13
Q

(Observation) What 3 conditions cause observers to more likely agree, regarding reliability?

A

1) Coding frame used is clear and not vague.
2) Observers have been trained in what to count as a behaviour and what to ignore.
3) A “practice” observation (pilot study) has been done beforehand.

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14
Q

(Observation) How can you check for consistent results, regarding reliability?

A

1) Have a large group of people to observe.
2) Multiple observers used to compare results.

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15
Q

(Observation) What are the 7 guidelines for developing a coding frame?

A

Focus, utility, operational definition, objectivity, context independence, exhaustive, and mutually exclusive.

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16
Q

(Observation) Define the guideline of ‘focus’ regarding the development of a coding frame.

A

Concentrate on behaviours that are relevant to your hypothesis.

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17
Q

(Observation) Define the guideline of ‘utility’ regarding the development of a coding frame.

A

Consider whether, having recorded the information, it will be possible to use it. If not, either change your scheme if the item is essential or leave it out if not.

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18
Q

(Observation) Define the guideline of ‘operational definition’ regarding the development of a coding frame.

A

Ensure that it is possible from your definition to decide which behaviours do, and do not, fall into the category.

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19
Q

(Observation) Define the guideline of ‘objectivity’ regarding the development of a coding frame.

A

Your definition should not require the observer to make inferences about the participants, the behaviour should be explicit; codes actions rather than states.

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20
Q

(Observation) Define the guideline of ‘context independence’ regarding the development of a coding frame.

A

Where possible, behavioural codes should be consistent over different contexts.

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21
Q

(Observation) Define the guideline of ‘exhaustive’ regarding the development of a coding frame.

A

Codes should cover all possible behaviours, this may necessitate a ‘not recorded’ or ‘waste basket’ category.

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22
Q

(Observation) Define the guideline of ‘mutually exclusive’ regarding the development of a coding frame.

A

At any time the recording of one code should preclude the need to record another simultaneously. This may however be impractical or inappropriate in some situations.

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23
Q

(Observation) What are the advantages of structured observation?

A
  • Easy to compare results/different behavioural categories (quantitative data).
  • Less likely to miss behaviours you want to focus on.
  • Data can be easily seen.
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24
Q

(Observation) What are the disadvantages of structured observation?

A
  • No extra information.
  • Miss out on other behaviours outside of the coding frame (skewed data).
25
Q

(Observation) What are the examples of structured observation?

A

Bandura’s ‘bobo doll’ experiment.

26
Q

(Observation) What are the advantages of unstructured observation?

A
  • Generates qualitative data (detailed responses).
  • Less likely to miss behaviours.
27
Q

(Observation) What are the disadvantages of unstructured observation?

A
  • Cannot compare behaviours (qualitative data).
  • Takes longer.
  • Lots to record, so could miss.
  • Data may be too dense/detailed to reveal anything.
  • Difficult to summarise/compare/present data.
28
Q

(Observation) What are the examples of unstructured observation?

A

Zimbardo et al’s Stanford Prison experiment (SPE).

29
Q

(Observation) Define a naturalistic observation.

A

Carried out in the participant’s natural environment.

30
Q

(Observation) Define a controlled observation.

A

Carried out in conditions contrived by the researcher, such as a lab setting.

31
Q

(Observation) What are the advantages of naturalistic observation?

A
  • High ecological validity (natural behaviour).
32
Q

(Observation) What are the disadvantages of naturalistic observation?

A
  • Harder to control/replication.
  • Extraneous variables could affect results.
33
Q

(Observation) What is an example of naturalistic observation?

A

Piliavin et al.

34
Q

(Observation) What are the advantages of controlled observation?

A
  • Controlled/can be replicated.
35
Q

(Observation) What are the disadvantages of controlled observation?

A
  • Low ecological validity (study is somewhat artificial).
36
Q

(Observation) What are examples of controlled observation?

A

Milgram and Bandura.

37
Q

(Observation) What extra ethical consideration only relates to observation?

A

Privacy - unless those observed give their consent, observational research is only acceptable in public situations were those observed would expect to be observed by strangers.

38
Q

(Observation) Define ‘participant observation’.

A

The researcher is involved with those that are being observed.

39
Q

(Observation) Define ‘non-participant observation’.

A

The researcher could try to stand apart from what they are observing and look at it from the ‘outside’.

40
Q

(Observation) What are the advantages of participant observation?

A
  • Good vantage point for observations.
  • You get an insight to the experience as a ‘insider’.
  • Gather detailed information.
41
Q

(Observation) What are the disadvantages of participant observation?

A
  • Your presence may change the course of event you’re observing.
  • You may become too involved in the group to really objective about your observations.
42
Q

(Observation) What are the advantages of non-participant observation?

A
  • You may remain more object about what is being observed.
43
Q

(Observation) What are the disadvantages of non-participant observation?

A
  • May not have a good level of insight into behaviour.
44
Q

(Observation) What are covert (undisclosed) observations?

A

When the participants are unaware that they’re being observed.

45
Q

(Observation) What are overt (disclosed) observations?

A

The participants know they are being observed.

46
Q

(Observation) What are the advantages of covert observation?

A
  • No demand characteristics/social desirability.
  • Sampling ‘real’ behaviour, uncontaminated by subject reactivity.
47
Q

(Observation) What are the disadvantages of covert observation?

A
  • Illegal/unethical.
48
Q

(Observation) What are the advantages of overt observation?

A

Ethical/ legal.

49
Q

(Observation) What are the disadvantages of overt observation?

A
  • Demand characteristics.
  • Social desirability bias.
50
Q

(Observation) What is event sampling?

A

The act of recording is triggered by the occurrence of the specific behaviours itself.

51
Q

(Observation) What is time sampling?

A

The act of recording is triggered by the ending of a set time interval - e.g. recording what happens every 5 mins for an hour.

52
Q

(Observation) What are the advantages of event sampling?

A
  • Less likely to miss observations
  • Includes more data
  • Includes all data
53
Q

(Observation) What are the disadvantages of event sampling?

A
  • Time consuming/boring, so may miss observations (making the results not valid).
54
Q

(Observation) What are the advantages of time sampling?

A
  • Less time consuming.
  • Observe how behaviour changes over longer periods of time.
55
Q

(Observation) What is a disadvantage of time sampling?

A
  • You may miss recording between intervals.
56
Q

(Observation) State 2 means of presenting data.

A

Pie charts and line graphs.

57
Q

(Observation) Explain researcher/observer bias.

A

Could occur if the observer has a particular expectation of what they are likely to see during the observational period; they could then be more likely to record data in the way they expect (albeit subconsciously).

58
Q

(Observations) Explain 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 given situation.

Psych: Unit 1: Research Methods (6 decks)

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