Observational Methods

Question 1

Define covert

Answer 1

The observer is being concealed so participants don’t know they’re being observed

Question 2

Give an advantage and disadvantage of covert observation

Answer 2

A- participants will behave more naturally as they don’t know they’re being observed so cant respond to demand characteristics

D- it is unethical if it happens where participants are not expected to be observed e.g. Not in a public place

Question 3

Define overt

Answer 3

The observer is not concealed so participants know they’re being observed

Question 4

Give an advantage and disadvantage of an overt observation

Answer 4

A- it is ethical, participants know they’re part of the study

D- they might change their behaviour and respond to demand characteristics meaning the results will be less valid

Question 5

Define what a participant observation is

Answer 5

When the observer themselves is part of the target population/ Independent variable group

Question 6

Give an advantage and disadvantage of a participant observation

Answer 6

A- the observer can develop a better understanding of the behaviour because they experience the same conditions

D- the observer may be more subjective (personal opinion/bias) because they’re involved in the situation

Question 7

Define what a non-participant observation is

Answer 7

The observer is not part of the group being observed

Question 8

Give an advantage and disadvantage of non-participant observations

Answer 8

A- the observer may be more objective (facts) and therefore less bias

D- the observer may not have as a deep of an understanding of the behaviour and conditions

Question 9

Define what a structured observation is

Answer 9

The investigator looks for a certain set of pre-determined behaviours they’re looking for

Question 10

Give an advantage and disadvantage of structured observation

Answer 10

A- easier to record and analyse data so it makes it easier to answer a specific research question

D- can be different to locate the behaviour you’re interested in… And you might ignore other significant behaviours

Question 11

Define what an unstructured observation is

Answer 11

When the investigator doesn’t have a particular set of behaviours they’re looking for

Question 12

Give an advantage and disadvantage of an unstructured observation

Answer 12

A- easier to locate behaviours you’re interested in… And you might take notice in other significant behaviours

D- harder to record and analyse so it makes it harder to answer a specific research question

Question 13

Define what a naturalistic observation is

Answer 13

When participants are observed in a natural environment, real life setting

Question 14

Give an advantage and disadvantage of a naturalistic observation

Answer 14

A- higher mundane realism, as in this setting they are going to experience everything in everyday life they would have already. This makes their behaviour more natural

D- greater effect of extraneous variables, which therefore reduces validity

Question 15

Define what a controlled observation is

Answer 15

When participants are observed in an environment the investigator has set up themselves

Question 16

Give an advantage and disadvantage of a controlled observation

Answer 16

A- more control over the extraneous variables, which therefore increases validity

D- lower mundane realism, as in this setting they may act more unnatural (may react to demand characteristics)

Question 17

Define coding frame

Answer 17

In a structured observation, the investigator will create a table showing exactly what behaviours the observer should look for and any other instructions for the observation.
When to record and how to define behaviours

Question 18

Define behavioural categories

Answer 18

A behaviour is broken down into individual acts that you can record

Question 19

Define observer bias

Answer 19

When the observer watching, expects to see a certain behaviour, which could influence their data e.g. Expecting a certain emotion in a certain situation (more subjective)

Question 20

Define observer effects

Answer 20

When the participants change their behaviour because of the person watching them, either intentionally or unintentionally

Question 21

Define pilot study

Answer 21

When you do a preliminary run through of your experiment, usually with a small number of participants, to test whether your procedure works

Question 22

Define operational

Answer 22

When a term used in an investigation is specified in detail so that all investigations interpret it in the same way (e.g. In an observation, every behaviour category has to be very specific so all observers know what they’re looking for

Question 23

Define self-report method

Answer 23

Method by which we ask participants about their own feelings, thoughts or opinions. It is the only method we can use to directly measure thoughts, feelings and opinions. Self-reports can use questionnaires or interviews.

Question 24

Give an advantage and disadvantage of self-report method

Answer 24

A- they can give a valid measure of thoughts,feelings and opinions

D- participants might lie, show social desirability or misunderstand the questions. This all reduces the validity

Question 25

Define questionnaire

Answer 25

Participants record their own responses. Often use a pen and paper but can be done over the telephone or internet.

Question 26

Give an advantage and disadvantage of questionnaires

Answer 26

A- they can be quick and easy to carry out, and are cheap to give to a large number of geographically diverse people
-participants may be happier to reveal honest information in a questionnaire rather that a face to face interview

D- they can contain leading questions, ambiguous questions or too many questions

• people may feel they need to answer in a particular way (social desirability)
• also they can tend to have a low response rate

Question 27

Define interviews

Answer 27

Are usually conducted face to face. They can be written down on the spot or tape recorded and transcribed

Question 28

Give an advantage and disadvantage of interviews

Answer 28

A- participants can ask questions if they feel they do not understand
-a skilled interviewer may be able to reveal more information than would be gained in a questionnaire

D- because they are conducting face to face, participants cannot be entirely anonymous. This could lead to greater evaluation anxiety and social desirability answers.
-it can be harder to maintain inter-rater reliability where more than one interviewer is being used

Question 29

Define social desirability

Answer 29

When participants change their behaviour or responses in order to look good or to be liked

Question 30

Define inter-rater reliability

Answer 30

When this is high, it means everyone judging a certain response or behaviour gives a similar rating or interprets it in the same way