Observational techniques Flashcards
What is the importance of observations in psychology?
Provide psychologists a way of seeing what people do without having to ask them, allowing the researcher to study more complex interactions between variables.
What are the limitations of observations?
-observer bias- expectations may affect interpretation of behaviour.
- cannot demonstrate casual relationships.
What are the 6 types of observations?
Naturalistic and controlled
Covert and overt
Participant and non-participant
What is a naturalistic observation?
Watching or recording behaviour in the setting or context where the target behaviour would usually occur.
What is the strength and limitations of a naturalistic observation?
S: High external validity as findings can often be generalised.
L: - Lack of control makes replication difficult.
- Extraneous variables make it hard to judge any pattern in behaviour.
What is a controlled observation?
Watching or recording behaviour with a structured environment, certain aspects are controlled including manipulating variables to observe effects and controlling extraneous variables.
What is the strength of controlled observations?
(Low external validity) extraneous variables may be less of a factor so replication is easier.
What is a covert observation?
Participants behaviour is watched or recorded without their knowledge or consent (must be public and happening anyway to be ethical).
What is an overt observation?
Participants behaviour is watched or recorded with their knowledge and/or consent.
What are the strengths and limitations of covert observations?
S: no demand characteristics, high external validity as observed behaviour is natural.
L: may not be ethically acceptable as no informed consent.
What are the strengths and limitations of overt observations?
S: more ethically acceptable.
L: their knowledge of being observatory may influence their behaviour (unnatural).
What is a participant observation?
The researcher becomes part of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching or recording.
What is a non-participant observation?
The researcher remains outside the group of whose behaviour he/she is watching or recording.
What are the strengths and limitations of participant observations?
S: high external validity as observer gains an insight into the lives of the people being studied.
L: observer may lose objectivity as they identify too strongly with those being studied.
What are the strengths and limitations of non-participant observations?
S: allow observers to maintain an objective psychological distance from their participants (decreasing chance of them adopting a local lifestyle)
L: lose valuable insight as they are too far removed from the people they are studying.
