Observational Design

Question 1

Structured vs Unstructured A03?

Answer 1

Structured:
- Behavioural catagories make recording of data easier and more systematic. Quantitative data - easy to compare
Unstructured:
- Produce qualitative data, more difficult to record and analyse
- Benefit from richness and depth in detail
- Greater risk of observer bias

Question 2

What is a Structured vs Unstructured Observation?

Answer 2

• Researcher may want to record everything they see (unstructured|) or use a predetermined list of behaviours and sampling methods (structured)

Question 3

What are the Evaluations of Either Sampling Methods?

Answer 3

• Event sampling is useful when target behaviour or event happens infequently however is event is too complex, overloom details
• time sampling effective in reducing number of observations, instances when behaviour is sampled might be unrepresentative of observation as whole

Question 4

What are Event/Time Sampling?

Answer 4

• Counting number of times a particular behaviour occurs (event) or recording behaviour within a pre-established time-frame (time)

Question 5

What Defines an Effective Behavioural Categories?

Answer 5

• Should be measurable, not overlap and avoid ‘dustbin categories’ within which many behaviours are recorded

Question 6

What kind of data is recorded?

Answer 6

• Observers may record quantitative data (easy to analyse but narrow in scope) or qualitative data (which is rich in detail but conclusion may be biased)

Question 7

What is a Behavioural Categories?

Answer 7

• In order to structure what is recorded, researchers need to clearly define target behaviours.