observational techniques Flashcards
naturalistic
watching and recording behaviour in the setting where it would normally take place
advtange of naturalistic
high ecological validity
high external validity as done in natural environment
controlled obs
watching/recording behaviour in structured envrionemt
strength of controlled
- easy replication
- more control over extraneous and co founding variables
disadvantage of naturalistic
low ecological validity if p become aware they’re being watched
replication can be difficult
uncontrolled cofounding and extraneous variables are rpesented
weakness of controlled
unnatural environment = unnatural behaviour
demand characteristics presented
overt
p watched, behaviour is recorded with them knowing they’re beingg watch
overt strength
- ethically acceptable as informed consent given
overt limitation
- more likely to be recording unnatural behaviour as p know they’re being watched
- demand characteristics likely =. reduces validity
covert obs
unaware behaviour is being watched/ recorded
covert strength
- natural behaviour recorded =high internal validity for results
covert limitation
- ethical issues presented, no informed consent given
- invading privacy
participant obs
- part of group being observed
participant obs strength
- might insightful,= increases validity of findings
participant obs limitation
- possibility that behaviour may change if p were to find out they were being watched
- may lose objectivity as may start identify too strongly with the group
non participant
- from a distance so is not apart of group being observed
non participant strength
- r can be more objective, as less likely to identify with p since watching from outside group
non participant limitation
- research may lose some valuable insight. compared to participant
name one problem with carrying out observations
- observer bias easily presented
what is observer bias
- reports are bias by what they expect to see
solution for observer bias
- checking the inter observer reliability of the observation
