Observational Techniques + Designs

Question 1

naturalistic observation

Answer 1

watching and recording behaviour in the setting where it would normally take place

Question 2

naturalisitc: strength

Answer 2

high ecological validity
high external validity

Question 3

naturalistic: weakness

Answer 3

low ecological validity IF pps are aware they’re being watched
difficult to replicate
confounding/extraneous variables are uncontrolled

Question 4

controlled observation

Answer 4

watching and recording behaviour in a structured environment
e.g. lab setting

Question 5

controlled: strength

Answer 5

can focus on one particular behaviour
control over extraneous/confounding variables
easy replication

Question 6

controlled: weakness

Answer 6

unnatural behaviour bc unnatural environment
low mundane realism, therefore low ecological validity
demand characteristics

Question 7

overt observation

Answer 7

pps are aware that their behaviour is being watched and recorded

Question 8

overt: strength

Answer 8

ethically acceptable - informed consent

Question 9

overt: weakness

Answer 9

unnatural behaviour bc pps know they are watched
demand characteristics

Question 10

covert observation

Answer 10

pps are unaware that their behaviour is being watched and recorded

Question 11

covert: strength

Answer 11

natural behaviour - high internal validity
no demand characteristics

Question 12

covert: weakness

Answer 12

ethical issues - no informed consent

Question 13

participant observation

Answer 13

observer is part of the group being observed

Question 14

participant: strength

Answer 14

more insight into pps lives
external validity

Question 15

participant: weakness

Answer 15

the researcher loses objectivity bc identify with pps
inaccurate recording of data bc time difference between observation and writing down

Question 16

non-participant observation

Answer 16

researcher observes from a distance (not part of the group being observed)

Question 17

non-participant: strength

Answer 17

researcher more objective bc less likely to identify with pps

Question 18

non-participant: weakness

Answer 18

observer bias
lose valuable insight

Question 19

observer bias

Answer 19

an observer’s reports are biased by what they expect to see and the stereotypes of the situation

Question 20

observer bias: solution

Answer 20

checking the inter observer reliability

Question 21

inter-observer reliability

Answer 21

many researchers conduct the observational study, reports are compared and scores calculated to show the correlation coefficient
(total number of agreements / total number of observations) x 100
- high inter observer reliability = any score above 80%
- ‘if it ain’t 0.8 it ain’t great’

Question 22

intra-observer reliability

Answer 22

the same researcher repeats the observational study, compares the reports and scores are calculated to show the correlation coefficient

Question 23

unstructured observation

Answer 23

continuous recording where the researcher writes everything the see during the observation

Question 24

unstructured: strength

Answer 24

more richness and depth of detail

Question 25

unstructured: weakness

Answer 25

qualitative data - more difficult to record and analyse
greater risk of observer bias

Question 26

structured observation

Answer 26

researcher quantifies what they are observing into a predetermined list of behaviours and sampling methods, then tallies how many times they see this
- two types of sampling methods: time sampling, event sampling

Question 27

structured: strength

Answer 27

easier (more systematic)
quantitative data is easier to analyse and compare
less observer bias

Question 28

structured: weakness

Answer 28

no depth of detail
harder to have higher inter observer reliability bc predetermined list is subjective

Question 29

behavioural categories

Answer 29

target behaviour which is being observed is broken up into more precise components which are observable and measurable
e.g. observing aggressive behaviour = shouting, punching, swearing
- shouldn’t overlap: must be clearly operationalised + unambiguous

Question 30

time sampling

Answer 30

recording behaviour within a time frame that is pre-established before the observational study

Question 31

time sampling: strength

Answer 31

reduces number of observations, therefore less time consuming

Question 32

time sampling: weakness

Answer 32

small amount of data
unrepresentative of the observation as a whole

Question 33

event sampling

Answer 33

involves the counting of the number of times a particular behaviour is carried out by the observed group

Question 34

event sampling: strength

Answer 34

picks up infrequent behaviours

Question 35

event sampling: weakness

Answer 35

important behavioural details are overlooked
counting errors
hard to find the beginning and ending of a behaviour