Observational techniques

Question 1

Participant observation

Answer 1

When the observer is part of the group being observed.

Question 2

Non-participant observation

Answer 2

The observer is merely watching or listening.
The observer is at a distance and does not interact with those being observed.

Question 3

Overt

Answer 3

Participants know that they are being observed.

Question 4

Covert

Answer 4

Participants don’t know that they are being observed.

Question 5

Unstructured observation

Answer 5

The researcher records all relevant behaviour.
This provides qualitative data

Question 6

Unstructured observation - advantage

Answer 6

More flexible and open-ended.

Question 7

Unstructured observation - disadvantage

Answer 7

We may find that there is too much to record or we may only record the behaviours that are most visible rather than those which are most important or relevant to our research.

Question 8

Behavioural categories

Answer 8

Dividing a target behaviour into a subset of specific and operationalised behaviours.

Question 9

Event sampling

Answer 9

Counting each time a particular behaviour is observed.

Question 10

Time sampling

Answer 10

Recording data at particular intervals.