observation

Question 1

what is an observation

Answer 1

a study where the experimenter watches and records the behaviours of participants

Question 2

what are overall strengths of the observational method

Answer 2

we can see what participants actually do and how they actually behave which is more valid than self reports as participants can lie about their behaviours on these

Question 3

what are overall weaknesses of the observational method

Answer 3

observations can be subject to researcher bias- the researcher might interpret behaviours in an incorrect way, since they’ve already created a hypothesis- this limits validity

Question 4

what is a covert observation

Answer 4

when the participants do not know they’re being observed e.g researchers may use a one way mirror

Question 5

what’s good/ bad about covert observations

Answer 5

+

Question 6

what is an overt observation

Answer 6

when the participants are aware they’re being observed

Question 7

what’s good/ bad about overt observations

Question 8

what is a participant observation

Answer 8

where the researcher joins in with the activity being studied as a participant

Question 9

what’s good/ bad about participant observations

Answer 9

+ the researcher can gain more insight on the group, so can interpret behaviour more accurately

-the researcher can lose objectivity or show researcher bias as they build a rapport with the group they’re working with

Question 10

what are non participant observations

Answer 10

when the researcher does not join in with the activity being studied and instead observes as an outsider

Question 11

what’s good/ bad about non participant observations

Answer 11

+ the researcher can focus on the observation and is unlikely to lose objectivity when observing from outside the group

• the researcher has little insight into what’s going on in the group so may interpret behaviours incorrectly, invalidating the study

Question 12

what is a naturalistic observation

Answer 12

when the researcher does not control any variables and the observation is done in a real life situation

Question 13

what’s good/bad about naturalistic observations

Question 14

what’s a controlled observation

Answer 14

when the researcher controls some variables and the observation is done in an artificial environment

Question 15

what’s good/bad about controlled observations

Question 16

what’s a structured observation

Answer 16

when the researchers use a pre-planned coding scheme or behaviour checklist to record participants behaviour

Question 17

what’s good/ bad about structured observations

Question 18

what’s a non-structured observation

Answer 18

when the researchers record any behaviour they can see at the time without the use of pre-planned criteria

Question 19

what’s good/ bad about non-structured observations