Observation Flashcards
Observational Techniques
A way of seeing or listening to what people do without having to ask them.
Observation is often used within an experiment as a way of assessing the DV
One Strength of Observational Techniques
+ Can capture unexpected behaviour. People often act differently from how they say they will in self-report methods. Observations are useful as they give insight into spontaneous behaviour
One Limitation of Observational Techniques
- Risk of observer bias. Researcher’s interpretation of the situation may be affected by the expectations. Bias can be reduced by using more than one observer
Naturalistic Observation
Takes place where the target behaviour would normally occur
One Strength of a Naturalistic Observation
+ High external validity. In a natural context, behaviour is likely to be more spontaneous. More generalisable to everyday life
One Limitation of a Naturalistic Observation
- Low control. There may be uncontrolled EV’s. Makes it more difficult to detect patterns
Controlled Observation
Some control/manipulation of variables, including control of EV’s
One Strength of a Controlled Observation
+ Can be replicated. More easily repeated due to standardised procedures. Findings can be checked to see if they occur again
One Limitation of a Controlled Observation
- May have low external validity. Behaviour may be contrived as a result of the setting. Findings cannot be applied to everyday experience
Covert Observation
Participants are unaware they are being studied
One Strength of a Covert Observation
+ Demand characteristics reduced. Participants do not know they are being watched so their behaviour will be more natural. This increases the validity of the findings
One Limitation of a Covert Observation
- Ethically questionable. People may not want behaviour recorded, even in public. Participants right to privacy may be affected
Overt Observation
Participants are aware of being studied
One Strength of an Overt Observation
+ More ethically acceptable. Participants have given their consent to be studied. They have the right to withdraw if they wish
One Limitation of an Overt Observation
- Demand characteristics. Knowledge of being studied influences behaviour. Reduces the validity of the findings
Participant Observation
When the researcher becomes part of the group they are studying
One Strength of a Participant Observation
+ Can lead to greater insight. Researcher experiences the situation as the participants do. This enhances the validity of the findings
One Limitation of a Participant Observation
- Possible loss of objectivity. The researcher may identify too strongly with those they are studying. This threatens the objectivity and validity of the findings
Non-Participant Observation
When the researcher remains separate from the group they are studying
One Strength of a Non-Participant Observation
+ More objective. Researcher maintains an objective distance so less chance of bias. May increase the validity of the findings
One Limitation of a Non-Participant Observation
- Loss of insight. Researcher may be too far removed from those they are studying. May reduce the validity of the findings
Behavioural Categories
The target behaviour to be observed should be broken up into a set of observable categories.
This is similar to the idea of operationalisation
Two Limitations of Behavioural Categories
- Difficult to make clear and unambiguous. Categories should be self-evident and not overlap, not always possible to achieve. Smiling and grinning (eg) would be poor categories
- Dustbin categories. All forms of behaviour should be in the list and not one “dustbin”. Therefore, dumped behaviours go unrecorded
Time Sampling
Observations are made at regular intervals (eg once every 15 seconds)
