Observational studies

Question 1

What are they?

Answer 1

Investigations where the researcher observes a situation and records what happens but does not manipulate an IV

Question 2

What are they high in and why?

Answer 2

Ecological validity because there is no intervention and if the observer remains undetected the method avoids demand characteristics

Question 3

Main strength regarding natural behaviour?

Answer 3

Get to see how participants actually behave rather then how they say they do

Question 4

Strength regarding ethics?

Answer 4

Less ethical issues to carry out an observation on school children then there would be to carry out an experiment on them

Question 5

Strength regarding starting point?

Answer 5

Good starting point especially for new areas of research to provide hypothesis for future investigation/Experiments

Question 6

weakness regarding repeating?

Answer 6

Hard to replicate

Question 7

Weakness regarding cognitions?

Answer 7

Do not provide info on how the person is thinking or feeling

Question 8

Weakness regarding variables?

Answer 8

Little or No control on extraneous variables so cannot make cause and effect statements

Question 9

Weakness regarding bias?

Answer 9

Could be observer bias where they see what they want/expect to see

Question 10

Weakness regarding ethical issues?

Answer 10

-Lack of informed consent
-invasion of privacy
-

Question 11

What do ethical guidelines state?

Answer 11

that research can take place in places where someone could expect to be observed by others/Strangers

• Canteen ok
• toilets wrong

Question 12

Weakness regarding time etc?

Answer 12

• Time consuming
• Careful prep with even possible training needed
• Costs therefore very high