Observation Flashcards
What is a research aim
The concept that the researcher is investigating. Reflects what is wanting to be found out
What is a research question
This must be a question with a ? At the end of the
What is a coding frame
This is a chart that uses a tally to look for specific behaviours
What is a structured observation
This is an observation where the behaviours that are being looked out for are presented in a coding frame before hand
What is an unstructured observation
This is an observation where the behaviours you are looking for are not noted down before hand
What is an advantage of a structured observation
Reliable data
Easily replicable
Produces quantitative data
What is a disadvantage of a structured observation
If coding frame is unclear and ambiguous low inter rated reliability
What are the advantages of an unstructured observation
More detailed qualitative data
What are the disadvantages of an unstructured observation
Difficult to analyse qualitative data
Risk of observer bias
What is a naturalistic observation
This is where you observe people in a natural environment
What are the advantages of a naturalistic observation
High ecological validity
More natural behaviours.
What are the disadvantages of a naturalistic observation
Hard to replicate
Not in control over extraneous variables
What is a controlled observation
You observe people in a controlled lab like situation
What are the advantages of a controlled observation
Replicated- standardised
Control over extraneous variables
What are the disadvantages of a controlled observation
Low ecological validity
Higher chance of demand charecteristics
What is a participant observation.
When the observer is amongst the people they are observing
What are the advantages of a participant observation
Researcher unlikely to miss behaviours
Rich qualitative data
What are the disadvantages of a participant observation
Researchers presence may influence participants behaviour
What is a non participants observation
This is an observation where the observer is far away from the participants
What are the advantages non participant observation
No effect of the researchers presence
What are the disadvantages of non participant observation
Researcher may miss some behaviours
What is a covert observation
Where the participants don’t know that they are being observed
what are the advantages of a covert observation
natural charecteristics
high ecological validity
no socially desireable behaviour
what are the disadvantages of a covert observation
- ethical issues
- may be difficult to collct data while remainin hidden
what is an overt observation
This is an observation where the participants know that they are being watched
what are the advantages of an overt observation
possible to obtaininformed consent
what are the disadvantages of an overt observation
socially desireable charecteristics are shown
what is event sampling
this is where the obervation is done over a period of time with no breaks
what are the advantages of event sampling
-wont miss anything
-more data collected
what are the disadvantages of event sampling
-time consuming
difficult to maintain concentration
what is time sampling
This is where the behaviours are observed at reggular intervals
what are the advantages of time sampling
less time consuming
easy to maintain concentration
what are the disadvantages of time sampling
less data
,ay miss key behaviours
what is a pilot study and how does it improve the reliability
-a practice run before the observation occurs
-allows you to figure out weaknesses in the cosing frame
why does training the observers in how to use a coding frme improve reliability
-lets he observers know what they are looking for
-increases inter rater reliability
why does carrying out an observation with a large sample improve the reliability
- increased external reliability
easier to spot a pattern and eliminate anomolies
why carry out an observation with multiple observers
-uses inter rater reliability and allows the observers to compae teir results
what is inter rater reliability
this would mean that if there is more than one person observing the same behaviour/individual or different observers watching different individuals, they should agree on the behaviour measured to have inter-rater/observer reliability
