observational techniques Flashcards

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1
Q

observation

A

provide psychologists a way of seeing what people do without having to ask them in self report methods

allow researchers to study observable behaviour in a natural or controlled setting

allows a researcher the flexibility to study more complex interactions between variables

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2
Q

strength of all observations

A

able to capture what people actually of which may include unexpected behaviour

people often do not act the sae as they say they would

so observational methods are useful because they give special insight into behaviour

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3
Q

limitation of all observations

A

observer bias

observes interpretation of a situation may be affected by their expectations

can be reduced by using more than one observer

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4
Q

naturalistic observations

A

take place in the setting or context where the tarter get behaviour would usually occur

all aspects of the environments are free to vary

much better to study interaction in a naturalistic observation

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5
Q

strenght of naturalistic observation

A

high external validity as findings can often be generalised into everyday life

this is because behaviour is studied within the environment that it would usual occur

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6
Q

limitation of naturalistic observations

A

lack of control over research situations makes replication of the investigation difficult

may also be many uncontrolled confounding and extraneous variables that make it difficult to establish cause and effect

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7
Q

controlled observations

A

control certain aspects of the research situation

some control over variables including manipulating variables to observe effects

also control of confounding and extraneous variables

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8
Q

strength of controlled observation

A

confndning anf extraneous variables may be less og a factor so replication of observation becomes easier

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9
Q

limitation of controlled observations

A

may produce findings that cannot be applied to everyday life due to the artificial environment created

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10
Q

covert observation

A

particpants are unaware they are th focus of study and their behaviour is observed in secret

such behaviour must be pub;of when it is being observed to be ethical

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11
Q

limitation of covert observation

A

ethics are questioned

even though it is public people may not want their behaviour to be recordered

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12
Q

strenght og covert observation

A

particpants don’t know that they’re being watched

removes the problem of demand characteristics and ensures that any behaviour observed will be natural

increases internal validity

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13
Q

overt observations

A

know their behaviour is being observed and have given their informed consent beforehand

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14
Q

strenght of overt

A

more ethically acceptable as there is knowledge that they are being observed so that means they can give informed consent to the study

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15
Q

limitation of overt

A

due to the particpants knowing that hey are being observed this could significantly influence their behaviour and they could respond to demand characteristics

decreases internal validity

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16
Q

participant observation

A

observer becomes part of the group they are studying

17
Q

strength of particpant

A

researcher can experience the situation as the particoants fo

gives them increased insight into the lives of th people being studied

may increases the external validity of the findings

18
Q

limiatation of particpants

A

the researchers may come to identify too strongly with the particpants and lose objectivity

adopting local lifestyle

19
Q

non particpant

A

researcher remains seperare from the particpants and records behaviour in a more objective manner

20
Q

strenght of non particpant observation

A

allows researcher to maintain an objective psychological distance from the particpants so there is less danger for them to adopt a local lifestyle

21
Q

limitation of non participant

A

may lose valuable insight to be gained in a particpant observation as they are far too removed from the propel and behaviour that they are studying