Observational Design

Question 1

What is an unstructured observation?

Answer 1

• Where the reseacher just writes down everything they see
• Method may be appopriate when observations are small in scale & involve few ppts
• But often there may be too much going on in a single observation for researcher to record it all

Question 2

What is a structure observation?

Answer 2

• Simplifying of the target behaviours that will become main focus of investigation using behavioural categories

Question 3

How do psychologists attempt to overcome ambiguity of observing their chosen behaviours?

Answer 3

• By clearly defining (operationalising) these
• Usually involves producing a behaviour checklist or behaviour categories, so researcher knows exactly what to look out for.

Question 4

What are the sampling methods in observational design?

Answer 4

• Continuous recording
• Time sampling
• Event sampling

Question 5

What is continuous recording?

Answer 5

• Key feature of unstructured observations
• All instances of a target behaviour are recorded

May be used for complex behaviours

Question 6

What is event sampling?

Answer 6

• Involves counting the number of times a particular behaviour occurs in a target individual or group

e.g. event sampling of a dissent at a football match would mean counting the number of times a player disagreed w the referee

Question 7

What is time sampling?

Answer 7

• Involves recording behaviour within a pre established time frame

e.g. In a football match we may only be interested in one specific player, so we may make a note (using behavioural checklist) of what our target individual is doing every 30 seconds

Question 7

Structured vs unstrucuted interviews?

Answer 7

• Sturcutred observations that involve use of behavioural categories make recording of data easier & more systematic- data produced is likely to be numerical
• Unstructured observations benefit from more richness & depth of detail
• Though may be greater risk of observer bias
• Researcher may only record what catches their eye & those behaviours may not be important or useful

Question 7

Advantages of behavioural categories & how they should be correctly made.

Answer 7

ADV:
- Can make data more strucutred & objective
*
- Should make sure categories are clear & require no further interpretation
- Categories shld be exclusive & not overlap, e.g. difference between smiling & grinning wld be v difficult to discern

Question 8

Advanatges & disadvantages of sampling methods?

Answer 8

ADV:
- ES in useful when target behaviour or event happens quite infreuquently & cld be missed if time sampling was used
- TS is effective in reducing amount of observations that need to be made

Dis:
- If specified event is too complex observer may overlook important details if using event sampling