Observational Techniques Flashcards
What is a controlled observation?
Where researchers observe behaviour in a structured environment e.g. lab
What is a naturalistic observation?
Where researchers observe participants in their natural environment e.g. home
What is a covert observation?
Where participants are unaware that they are being observed
What is an overt observation?
Where participants are aware that they are being researched
What is a participant observation?
Where the researcher becomes part of the group being studied
What is a non- participant observation?
Where the researcher observes the group from a distance, they are not involved in any activities
What is a structured observation?
Researcher uses behavioural categories to observe and record behaviours
What is an unstructured observation?
Doesn’t involve behavioural categories. The researcher records all behaviours as they occur
What is meant by ‘event sampling’?
Recording every instance of a particular behaviour whenever it occurs during the observational period
What is meant by ‘time sampling?’
Observing and recording behaviours at specific, regular time intervals e.g. every 5 mins
What are the advantages and disadvantages of controlled observations?
ADVANTAGE- more standardised than a natural observation, this increases the reliability of the results
DISADVANTAGE- demand characteristics could occur as the environment isn’t natural, participants may act differently which reduces external validity
What are the advantages and disadvantages of naturalistic observations?
ADVANTAGE- demand characteristics can be eliminated as participants are unaware, this increases external validity
DISADVANTAGE- little control over other external variables, lowering internal validity
What are the advantages and disadvantages of covert observations?
ADVANTAGE- demand characteristics can’t interfere as participants are unaware they are being observed, this increases validity
DISADVANTAGE- ethical implications-> issues such as invasion of privacy and deception may occur
What are the advantages and disadvantages of overt observations?
ADVANTAGE- ethical issues are reduced, informed consent gained
DISADVANTAGE- demand characteristics, participants may change their behaviour which reduces validity
What are the advantages and disadvantages of participant observations?
ADVANTAGE- lower demand characteristics
DISADVANTAGE- objectivity is reduced, researcher bias may be prominent
What are the advantages and disadvantages of non- participant observations?
ADVANTAGE- more objective, the observer is removed from the situation
DISADVANTAGE- demand characteristics could be increased as participants can see that the researcher is observing them
What are the advantages and disadvantages of structured observations?
ADVANTAGE- makes collecting data easier, inter-observer reliability is easier to establish
DISADVANTAGE- some behaviours may not be important, quantitative data collected which may lack detail
What are the advantages and disadvantages of unstructured observations?
ADVANTAGE- more detailed and in depth results are provided
DISADVANTAGE- greater risk of observer bias, qualitative data is collected which is harder to analyse than quantitative
What are the advantages and disadvantages of event sampling?
ADVANTAGE- useful if desired behaviour happens infrequently
DISADVANTAGE- too complex, observer may overlook details
What are the advantages and disadvantages of time sampling?
ADVANTAGE- reduces the number of observations that must be made
DISADVANTAGE- outside of specific time interval behaviours could be missed, this makes the results not as representative
