Observational Techniques

Question 1

Why do psychologists conduct observations?

Answer 1

To analyse behaviour in a more natural and authentic way

Question 2

What are covert observations?

Answer 2

Observing people without their knowledge

Question 3

Strengths of covert (3)

Answer 3

• less risk of investigator effects
• less chance of demand characteristics occurring
• more natural behaviour (high internal validity)

Question 4

Weaknesses of covert (1)

Answer 4

• ethical issues (no informed consent or option to withdraw)

Question 5

What are overt observations?

Answer 5

Participants are aware they are being observed

Question 6

Strengths of overt (1)

Answer 6

• more ethical (consent, right to withdraw)

Question 7

Weaknesses of overt (3)

Answer 7

• investigator effects
• demand characteristics (reduces validity)
• unnatural behaviour (reduces validity)

Question 8

What are participant observations?

Answer 8

Researcher conducting the research also takes part in the activity being observed

Question 9

Strengths of participant (2)

Answer 9

• gathers in depth/insightful data as researcher is in close proximity (increases validity)
• unlikely to overlook any behaviour that may be missed

Question 10

Weaknesses of participant (3)

Answer 10

• investigator effects
• demand characteristics occurring
• unnatural behaviour (reduces validity)

Question 11

What are non-participant observations?

Answer 11

Where the researcher doesn’t participate

Question 12

Strengths of non-participant (1)

Answer 12

• investigator effects are less likely so more natural behaviour

Question 13

Weaknesses of non-participant (1)

Answer 13

• lack of proximity so may miss behaviours of interest/valuable insights overlooked

Question 14

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 14

Carried out in an unaltered setting and the observer doesn’t interfere in any way/just observes the behaviour

Question 15

Strengths of naturalistic (1)

Answer 15

• high ecological validity (behaviour more representative of everyday activities as in natural environment)

Question 16

Weaknesses of naturalistic (2)

Answer 16

• issues with reliability as difficult to replicate
• uncontrolled confounding and extraneous variables

Question 17

What are controlled observations?

Answer 17

Conducted under strict conditions where extraneous variables are highly controlled (usually overt)

Question 18

Strengths of controlled (2)

Answer 18

• can be replicate to check reliability
• variables are highly controlled

Question 19

Weaknesses of controlled (3)

Answer 19

• lower level of external validity due to artificial environment (doesn’t represent real life, questions validity)
• low mundane realism
• demand characteristics occurring

Question 20

What are structured observations?

Answer 20

Researcher uses coded schedules to document behaviour and organise data into behavioural categories

Question 21

What are behavioural categories?

Answer 21

Deciding which behaviours should be examined and breaking the target behaviours into measurable components

Question 22

Strengths of structured (3)

Answer 22

• can compare behaviour
• use of operationalised behaviour categories makes coding data easier
• if there is more than 1 observer then there is a greater inter-observer reliability

Question 23

Weaknesses of structured (1)

Answer 23

• low internal validity if crucial behaviour is missed (findings not portraying a full picture)

Question 24

What are unstructured observations?

Answer 24

Every instance of the observed behaviour is recorded in detail

Question 25

Strengths of unstructured (2)

Answer 25

- rich in detail (obtains a comprehensive view of human behaviour) - high internal validity

Question 26

Weaknesses of unstructured (3)

Answer 26

- prone to observer bias (lack of objective behaviour categories) - observer may only record behaviour which is subjective value to them (not a valid representation) - problems with inter-observer reliability (lack of consistency)

Question 27

What are the 2 sampling procedures?

Answer 27

1. Event 2. Time (NOT USED IN UNSTRUCTURED)

Question 28

What is event sampling?

Answer 28

Counting the number of times a behaviour occurs

Question 29

What is time sampling?

Answer 29

Counting behaviours in a set time frame

Question 30

What is inter-observer reliability?

Answer 30

Recommended that researchers don’t conduct observations alone (should be at least 2) as they may miss details or findings may be biased/subjective The researchers should be consistent in their judgement and trained to establish inter-observer reliability

Question 31

What are the 4 steps of inter-observer reliability?

Answer 31

1. Familiarise themselves with the behavioural categories being used 2. Observe the same behaviour at the same time independently 3. Compare data and discuss any differences 4. Analyse the data, calculated by correlating each pair of observations and producing an overall figure