Observational Techniques

Question 1

What are the 6 types of observation?

Answer 1

• Naturalistic Observation
• Controlled Observation
• Covert Observation
• Overt Observation
• Participant Observation
• Non-Participant Observation

Question 2

What are naturalistic & controlled observations?

Answer 2

• Naturalistic observations take place in setting/context where target behaviour wld usually occur e.g. wld not drag workers into a lab if measuring work environment
• Sometimes useful to control certain aspects of research situation so controlled observation may be preferred.
• Controlled observation there is some control over variables, including manipulating variables to observe effects & also control of confounding/extraenuous variables

Question 3

What are covert & overt observations?

Answer 3

Covert:
- Those in which the ppts are unaware they are the focus of the study & their behaviour is observed in secret
- Such behaviour must be public & happening anyway if observation is to be ethical

Overt:
- When ppts know their behaviour is being observed & have given informed consent beforehand

Question 4

What are participant & non-participant observations?

Answer 4

Participant Observation:
- When observer becomes part of the group they are studying

Non Participant Observations:
- When researcher remains seperate from those they are studying & records behaviour in a more objective manner
- May often be impractical or even impossible to join particular groups so that non-participation is the only option

Question 5

Give a strength evaluation point for all of the types of observation.

Answer 5

• Observations of behaviour have the benefit of capturing what people actually do which may be unexpected behaviour
• People often do not act the same as they say they would
• So observational methods are useful because they give special insight into behaviour

Question 6

Give a weakness of all types of observational techniques.

Answer 6

• OL of observation is observer bias
• The observers interpretation of a situation may be affected by their expecations
• ASW observational studies cannot demonstrate causal relationships- though observational techniques may be used in experiments & aid in detecting cause & effect relationships

This may be reduced by using more than one observer

Question 7

Give one strength & one limitation of naturalistic observations.

Answer 7

+
Naturalistic observations tend to have high external validity as findings can often be generalised to everyday life- this is due to behaviour being studied in environment where it wld usually occur
-

• Lack of control over the research makes replication of investigation difficult
• There may also be many uncontrolled confounding/extraenuous variables that make it more difficult to judge any pattern of behaviour

Question 8

Give one strength & one limitation of controlled observations.

Answer 8

+
- Confounding/extraenuous variables may be less of a factors so replication of the observation becomes easier

-
- Controlled observations may produce findings that cannot be as readily applied to everday life

Question 9

Give one strength & one limitation of Covert observations.

Answer 9

+
- Because ppts do not know they are being watched removes the problem of demand characteristics & ensures any behaviour observed will be natural
- This increases internal validity of data gathered

-
- The ethics of these studies maybe questioned as people, even in public may not wish to have their behaviours noted down (right to privacy)

Question 10

Give a strength & a limitation of Overt observations.

Answer 10

+
- Overt observations are ethically acceptable

-

• But the knowlege ppts have that they are being observed may act as a significant influence on their behaviour.

Question 11

Give a strength & limitation of participant observations.

Answer 11

+
- Because researcher can experience situation as ppts do, giving them increased insight into the lives of the people being studied- this may increase external validity of findings
-
- There is a danger that researcher may come to identify too strongly w those they are studying & lose objectivity
- Also known as adopting a ‘local lifestyle’ when line between being a researcher & being a ppt becomes blurred

Question 12

Give a strength & limitation for non-participant observations.

Answer 12

+
- Non-ppt observations allow researcher to maintain an objective psychological distance away from their ppts so there is less danger of them adopting a local lifestyle
-
- Hwvr, may lose valuable insight to be gained in a ppt observation as they are too far removed from the people & behaviour they are studying