Observational Techniques

Question 1

What’s an observation?

Answer 1

A way of collecting data (information) on people’s behaviour. Can be used to gather own information or can be used as PART of an experiment (lab, field, natural, quasi)

Question 2

What are the 6 observational techniques?

Answer 2

Naturalistic, controlled, overt, covert, participant, non-participant

Question 3

What is naturalistic observation?

Answer 3

watching and recording behaviour in the setting which it would normally occur

Question 4

What is naturalistic observation?

Answer 4

watching and recording behaviour in the setting which it would normally occur

Question 5

What is a strength of naturalistic observations?

Answer 5

high external validity as the behaviour is studied within the environment where it would normally occur

Question 6

What is a weakness of naturalistic observations?

Answer 6

low reliability- lack of control over the research situation makes replication of the investigation difficult. There may also be many uncontrolled extraneous variables

Question 7

What is controlled observation?

Answer 7

watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment ie one where some variables are managed

Question 8

What is a strength of controlled observations?

Answer 8

high reliability- extraneous variables may be less of a factor so replication of the observation becomes easier

Question 9

What is a weakness of controlled observations?

Answer 9

low external validity- may produce findings that cannot be as readily applied to real-life settings

Question 10

What is covert observation?

Answer 10

Participants behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent- under cover

Question 11

What is a strength of covert observation?

Answer 11

less prone to demand characteristics- the fact that participants do not know they are being watched removes the problem if participant reactivity and ensures any behaviour is natural and increases the validity of the data

Question 12

What is a weakness of covert observation?

Answer 12

less ethical;y appropriate- the ethics of these studies may be questioned as people may not wish to be observed

Question 13

What is overt observation?

Answer 13

participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent- open observation

Question 14

What is a strength of overt observation?

Answer 14

more ethically acceptable- p’s can give consent

Question 15

What is a weakness of overt observation?

Answer 15

demand characteristics- the knowledge participants have that they have are being observed may act as a significant influence on their behaviour

Question 16

What is participant observation?

Answer 16

the researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording

Question 17

What is a strength of participant observation?

Answer 17

the researcher can experience the situation as the participants do- giving them increased insight into the lives of the people being studied therefore increasing the validity of the findings

Question 18

What is a weakness of participant observation?

Answer 18

researcher bias- the researcher may come to identify too strongly with those they are studying and lose objectivity

Question 19

What is non-participant observation?

Answer 19

the researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording

Question 20

What is a strength of non-participant observation?

Answer 20

allows the researcher to maintain an objective psychological distance from their participants so there is less danger of them ‘going native’

Question 21

What is a weakness of non-participant observation?