Observation

Question 1

what are the six types of observation

Answer 1

• naturalistic
• controlled
• covert
• overt
• non-participant
• participant

Question 2

what is a controlled observation

Answer 2

some variables are controlled by the researcher, reducing the ‘naturalness’ of behaviour being studied. Pts are likely to know that they are being studied.

Question 3

what is a naturalistic observation

Answer 3

behaviour is studied in a natural situation where everything has been left as it is normally.

Question 4

what is a participant observation

Answer 4

the researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording.

Question 5

what is a non-participant observation

Answer 5

the researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording.

Question 6

what is a covert observation

Answer 6

participants behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge and consent

Question 7

what is an overt observation

Answer 7

participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent

Question 8

what is an evaluation of controlled observation

Answer 8

s-fewer extraneous variables as controlled

w-low external validity as it cannot be applied to real life situations

Question 9

what is an evaluation of naturalistic observation

Answer 9

s-high external validity as findings can be generalised to everyday life
w-very little control so difficult to replicate

Question 10

what is an evaluation of overt observation

Answer 10

s-ppts have given informed consent

w-lack of control so extraneous variables so difficult to judge pattern of behaviour

Question 11

what is an evaluation of covert observation

Answer 11

s-behaviour is natural as don’t know they are being watched which increases validity
w-unethical as not given informed consent and may find it intrusive causing harm to ppt

Question 12

what is an evaluation of participant observation

Answer 12

s-increase the insight the psychologist gains so increases their understanding and so they will report more accurate behaviours
w-researcher may identify too much with the group and see them in a positive light(‘going naïve’) and link between researcher and ppt is blurred

Question 13

what is an evaluation of non-participant observation

Answer 13

s-allows researcher to observe objectively and not become emotionally involved with ppts
w-distance may mean researcher doesn’t understand behaviour observed so reports may lack validity

Question 14

what are unstructured observations

Answer 14

record everything

Question 15

what are structured observations

Answer 15

break target behaviour into a set of behavioural categories e.g. kissing

Question 16

how are observations data gathered

Answer 16

using a frequency count grid

Question 17

what is inter server reliability

Answer 17

two observers agree on categories and how they are interpreted then observe the same thing at the same time and if results/observations are similar the observation was reliable

Question 18

what are the sampling methods

Answer 18

• continuous
• event
• time

Question 19

what is continuous sampling

Answer 19

when all behaviour that is observed is recorded-occurs in unstructured observations

Question 20

what is event sampling

Answer 20

involves counting the number of times a particular behaviour occurs in an individual group

Question 21

what is time sampling

Answer 21

recording behaviour with a ore-established time frame

Question 22

what is an evaluation of structured observation

Answer 22

numerical, easier to analyse

Question 23

what is an evaluation of unstructured observation

Answer 23

may just be eye catching info, qualitive data harder to analyse, observer bias

Question 24

what is an evaluation of event sampling

Answer 24

useful for infrequent behaviour, misses complexity

Question 25

what is an evaluation of time sampling

Answer 25

less effort but may not represent whole behaviour