Observational design Flashcards
Observational design
List
Structured observation Unstructured observation Behavioural categories Sampling methods └Event sampling └Time sampling
Structured observation
- researcher records target behaviours only, can be broken up into behavioural categories
- produces observations that can be quantified
Structured observation
Evaluation
Strengths -produces quantitative data └=easier to analyse and compare -less risk of observer bias └as objective categories
Limitations
-less rich detail data collected
Unstructured observation
- researcher records everything they see
- produces accounts of behaviour that is rich in detail
Unstructured observation
Evaluation
Strengths
-richer detail of data collected
Limitations -produces qualitative data └=more difficult to analyse and compare -risk of observer bias └as no objective categories
Behavioural categories
-when a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and measurable
Behavioural categories
Evaluation
Strengths
-can make data collection more structured and objective
Limitations
- must be observable and measurable
- behavioural categories must not overlap
Sampling methods
List
Event sampling
Time sampling
Event sampling
- a target behaviour or event is first established
- then the researcher records this event every time it occurs
Event sampling
Evaluation
Strengths
-useful when target behaviour or event doesn’t happen frequently
Limitations
-if event is too complex, observer may overlook important details
Time sampling
-a target behaviour or event is first established
-then the researcher records this event in a fixed timeframe
└e.g. every 60 seconds
Time sampling
Evaluation
Strengths
-reduces number of observations that have to be made
Limitations
-may be unrepresentative
