Observational techniques Flashcards
What is a naturalistic observation?
Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur
What is a controlled observation?
Watching and recording behaviour within a structed enviroment, i.e. One where some variables are managed
What is an overt observation?
Participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent
What is a covert observation?
Participants behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent
What is a participant observation?
The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording
What is a non-participant observation?
The researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording
What is a structured observation?
The researcher uses various systems to organise observations such as sampling technique and behavioural categories
What is an unstructured observation?
Every instance of a behaviour is recorded in as much detail as possible. This is useful if the behaviours you are interested in do not occur very often
What are behavioural categories?
When a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and measurable (operationalisation)
What are sampling methods?
Sampling methods are the techniques used to gather a sample of participants that are representative of the target population in a study.
What is continuous sampling?
Continuous sampling method is another sampling method that is frequently used to observe behaviour. When using this method, the observer simply records all of the activity that occurs while the animals are being watched. This sampling method is very helpful in recording social interaction between two or more animals in a group.
What is time sampling?
A target individual or group is first established then the researcher records their behaviour in a fixed time frame, say every 60 seconds
What is event sampling?
A target behaviour or event is first established then the researcher records this event every time it occurs
What are 4 strengths of naturalistic observations?
- High external validity
- Can easily be generalised
- Much harder to replicate
- High ecological validty and mundane realism
What are 2 weaknesses of naturalistic observations?
- Replication difficult
- Lots of uncontrolled confounding/extraneous
variables
What are 2 strengths of controlled observations?
Because setting is controlled confounding/extraneous variables less of a problem which makes it easier to judge patterns of behaviour
Easy to replicate, so easy to see if findings can be replicated and thus considered reliable
What are 3 weaknesses of controlled observations?
- Harder to generalise
- Becuase setting is artificial, the findings may lack
ecological validity and mundane realism and thus
may not be valid - Becuase setting is artificial some types of
confounding/extraneous variables are more likely
to affect participant’s behaviour e.g. Demand
characteristics
What is a strength of overt observation?
It is more ethically acceptable
What are 2 weaknesses of overt observation?
- Increaded demand characteristics
- Increases social desirability
