Observational Design

Question 1

What is an unstructured observation?

Answer 1

The researcher records all relevant behaviour but has no system, which may mean there’s too much to record or that only eye-catching behaviour is recorded

Question 2

What is a structured observation?

Answer 2

Uses systems to organise observations, such as behavioural categories and sampling produces

Question 3

Describe behavioural categories in structured observations

Answer 3

• Involves breaking down behaviour into different categories through operationalisation (breaking the behaviour being studied into a set of components)
• Behavioural categories should be objective, cover all possible behaviour and be mutually exclusive

Question 4

Outline the different sampling procedures in observations

Answer 4

• Event sampling
• Time sampling
• Continuous sampling

Question 5

What is continuous sampling?

Answer 5

This is used in unstructured observation as everything is recorded all the time

Question 6

What is event sampling?

Answer 6

Used in structured observation, involves recording every time a certain behaviour occurs

Question 7

What is time sampling?

Answer 7

Used in structured observation, involves recording behaviour in a given time frame

Question 8

What is a strength of unstructured observations?

Answer 8

Produces qualitative data as it’s not limited by behavioural categories, making data valid and rich

Question 9

What is a strength of structured observations?

Answer 9

It’s more systematic so there’s a higher likelihood of inter-rater reliability. This means produces quantitative data which can be subjectively analysed, so it’s objective and reliable

Question 10

What is a limit of unstructured observations?

Answer 10

There’s a more risk of observer bias as the researcher may only record eye-catching behaviour and behavioural categories are based on preconceived decisions of the researcher on how to operationalise the behaviour

Question 11

Give evaluation of event sampling

Answer 11

• It’s useful when the target behaviour happens quite infrequently and could be missed if time sampling was used
• But, if the specified event is too complex, observers may overlook important details if using event sampling

Question 12

Give evaluation of time sampling

Answer 12

• It’s effective in reducing the number of observations that have to made
• Those instances when behaviour is sampled might be unrepresentative to the rest of behaviours

Question 13

Give evaluation of continuous sampling

Answer 13

• It’s representative as it recordes everything seen
• It isn’t easy or convenient, especially if the behaviour is complex or there’s lost to observe