Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

A level psychology > Observation > Flashcards

Observation Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

What is observation?

A

Watching people’s behaviour to investigate it
Could be used as a research method in of itself
Or a way to gather data in the context of an experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Research aim

A

The concept researchers want to investigate: specific to reflect what they want to find out about
Begins with ‘to see if…’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Research question

A

A question about the concept we are investigating, asking ‘do x do this when y?’
Question mark at the end

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

5 things to plan before an investigation

A

Who to observe
What acts should be observed
Where do we observe people
When do we observe
How do we carry it out

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Unstructured observation

A

Non focused: recording every behaviour of who we are observing in the form of qualitative data
No coding frame is imposed to narrow down what data we collect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What type of data does unstructured observation give?

A

Qualitative data eg written descriptions of everything we see

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Structured observation

A

The observations of behaviour are guided by behavioural categories (defined prior)
Using a coding frame
To focus on specific behavioural events + frequency each occurs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Coding frame

A

A tally chart and list of behaviours (known as behavioural categories) that we look out for and note down frequency of this

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Behavioural categories

A

The DV: what behaviours we have operationalised in order to look out for to make a tally of
In the coding frame in a controlled observation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When developing a coding frame with behavioural categories: FOCUS

A

Focus on behaviours relevant to research aim/question or the hypothesis so unnecessary data is not collected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

When designing coding frames for behavioural categories: operationalise

A

Fully Operationalise all categories to ensure we know what behaviours fall into the category and what don’t: reliable observation as coding frame is standardised and applied consistently by observers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

When designing behavioural categories for a coding frame: objective

A

Objective so observers don’t have to make inferences on if the behaviour falls in the category or not: collecting data on outside observations not guessing someone’s thoughts/motivations/feelings that may be subjective

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

When designing behavioural categories for a coding frame: context independent

A

The behaviours should be consistent over different contexts and can apply to different situations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

When designing behavioural categories for a coding frame: exhaustive

A

All possible behaviours from the research aim need to be covered + include an ‘other’ option to include unexpected behaviours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

When designing behaviour categories for a coding frame: mutually exclusive

A

Try create the categories/codes so at any time recording one code doesn’t mean we have to record another code at the same time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Raw data tables in structured observation

A

Set up a tally chart with a heading for each behavioural code

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are advantages of structured observation?

A

-Narrows down behaviour we are recording so it’s more systematic and focused
-Collects quantitative data which is easier to compare frequency of different codes/to different situations
-Lessens observer bias as a coding frame was imposed with operationalised codes
-Increases inter-rater reliability because using a coding frame ensures consistency across recorded behaviours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are disadvantages of structured observation?

A

-May neglect unexpected behaviours because they weren’t accounted for in coding frame
-Some codes may be up for interpretation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are advantages of unstructured observation?

A

-Collects very detailed qualitative data which can inform later research
-No behaviours eg unexpected behaviours are missed
-Can be replicated anywhere no matter the context

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are disadvantages of unstructured observation?

A

-Might be too difficult to record everything so may miss behaviours
-Collects data irrelevant to aim so hard to condense all data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

Observing participants in their natural environment: little to no manipulation done to environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Advantages of naturalistic observation

A

Obtains accurate data on how people behave in real life scenarios (high ecological validity)
More ethical as it does not involve manipulating anything

23
Q

Disadvantages of naturalistic observation

A

Does not control for Extraneous variables present which may affect the participant outside of the independent variable thus decreases the validity
Environment may not be standardised for all participants so the behaviour codes collected aren’t consistent thus replicable across different scenarios

24
Q

Controlled observation

A

When an experimenter sets up a controlled environment to observe participants in by manipulating some variables to ensure extraneous variables don’t affect how a participant acts
Can be done with or without an IV

25
Q

Strengths of controlled observation

A

Increases validity as extraneous variables controlled for
May increase reliability as this is consistent

26
Q

Weaknesses of controlled observation

A

Lacks ecological validity as the environment is artificial so may not be accurate reflection of behaviour irl
Less ethical as it may involve manipulation of environment

27
Q

Participant observation

A

When the researcher is involved with the participants they are observing: they are in the environment

28
Q

What are the advantages of participant observation?

A

Greater level of detail could be collected as the observer is close with the participants, may not have collected data had they been observing from a distance
Less likely to have view of observer obstructed if they are there
Only possible way to observe certain behaviours eg where CCTV/cameras aren’t there

29
Q

What are disadvantages of participant observations?

A

Presence or observer may affect participants behaviour: even if they don’t know they are being observed esp if observer is personally involved w/ them
Observer could be disrupted by someone not knowing they are observing
Time consuming to set up + conceal observer collecting data
Could be dangerous (?)

30
Q

Non participant observation

A

When the observer works in a separate location to the participants (Ps cannot interact with observer) such as watching CCTV footage or through a one way mirror

31
Q

What are advantages of non participant observation?

A

No danger
Increased validity = observer has no effect on participants behaviour and Less risk of bias as observer Isn’t personally involved
Less time to disguise etc

32
Q

What are disadvantages of non participant observation?

A

Observer can’t collect as detailed data if they are not present in same environment
At risk of view being obstructed eg if camera is blocked

33
Q

Covert observation

A

Participants are unaware they are being observed: no consent given

34
Q

What are Advantages of covert observation?

A

Naturalistic behaviour is measured that is not affected by knowing they are observed
Lessens demand characteristics + social desirability, participants won’t change behaviour to help researcher/ appear better
=increased validity of study, accurate behaviours recorded
Lessens effort to gain informed consent

35
Q

What are disadvantages of covert observation?

A

Less ethical: participants did not give informed consent to being observed

36
Q

Overt observation

A

Participants are aware they are being observed

37
Q

Advantages of overt observations

A

More ethical as participants have given informed consent
No need to disguise observer

38
Q

What are disadvantages of overt observation?

A

Social desirability bias/ observer effects/ demand characteristics = decreased validity
Effort to gain informed consent
Biased in terms of sampling those who consented so not representative of whole population

39
Q

The 3 methods of how to take down observations

A

Continuous observation
Event sampling
Time sampling

40
Q

When do we use continuous sampling?

A

In unstructured observation, taking a note down of every behaviour without using a coding frame to separate categories

41
Q

Why do we use event/time sampling instead of continuous observation?

A

If there’s too much behaviours to record
And we are using a structured observation so there are behavioural categories requiring systematic sampling

42
Q

Event sampling

A

The observer takes record of every time the behavioural code occurs in the category

43
Q

Time sampling

A

When a note of a behaviour is recorded periodically according to pre-determined time intervals eg every 10 mins/30 secs/1 hour

44
Q

Types of time sampling

A

One zero sampling
Instantaneous scan sampling
Predominant activity sampling

45
Q

One zero sampling (time sampling)

A

During the time interval, a record is made if each behavioural category occurs at all in this time interval
Does not account for how many times it occurs in this interval just whether it does at all

46
Q

Instantaneous scan sampling: time sampling

A

At the instant the time interval ENDS, a record is made of each behaviour that is occurring at this time on the dot

47
Q

Predominant activity sampling: time sampling

A

Observation is consistent and estimated to see, during the entire time period, which behaviour occupied most of this time period
And a record of that is made

48
Q

Advantages of event sampling

A

More accurate representation of behaviours shown in observation period because it takes note of every time behaviour was shown
So will not skip or miss out any infrequent behaviours

49
Q

Disadvantages of event sampling

A

No record of when each behaviour occurred in time period: eg if it was random or in intervals
Difficult to record all that occurs
Continuous observation leads to loss of focus
Time consuming

50
Q

Advantages of time sampling

A

You can see at what point behaviour occurred in the time period
Increased focus of observer: have to pay attention to clock
Allows time to record data properly
If you have a video, you can skip it until end of time period (instantaneous scan)

51
Q

Disadvantages of time sampling?

A

Data is not representative of the entire time period: only occurs at certain time periods so does not include behaviours if they were infrequent, did not occur at the end of the interval etc
One zero sampling + predominant activity sampling means observer fatigue

52
Q

In a structured observation, what type of data and level have we collected?

A

Quantitative data = frequency of each behavioural code
Nominal data = a headcount of the number of times each behaviour occurred, cannot be put on rating scale

53
Q

Most appropriate graph to present data for event sampling

A

Pie chart
Collected nominal level data of frequency of each behavioural cue

54
Q

Most appropriate graph to present data from a time sampling

A

Line graph: y axis with frequency of 1 behaviour and x axis with time intervals to show change in frequency of behaviours

A level psychology (54 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions