Observations Flashcards
Controlled
Participants are observed in a controlled setting, such as a laboratory
Naturalistic
Participants are observed in a natural setting, such as in an office or on a street corner
Covert
Participants are not aware they are being observed
Overt
Participants are aware they are being observed
Participant observation
When the researcher actively takes part in the group or situation being observed
Non-participant
When the researcher doesn’t take part in the group or situation being observed
Observations
Method in which the researcher makes use of a naturally occurring change in the IV to observe the behaviour of participants
To reduce observer bias:
Behavioural categories
Event sampling
Time sampling
Inter-rater reliability
Behavioural categories
Before the observation, psychologists brainstorm all possible behaviours they might observe in their research, before dividing them into behavioural categories
Target behaviours will have then been broken down into observable categories
Event sampling
Psychologists list the target behaviours and record the frequency of each event in a tally chart by counting the number of times it is observed
Time sampling
Psychologists decide on a specific time frame that is suited to their research (e.g. every 30 seconds) and record all target behaviours at this given time
Inter-rater reliability
This is when 2 or more researchers independently observe the same behaviours using the same behavioural categories
They then compare results, plotting them as a correlation and using a statistical test
Correlation coefficient of +0.8 or higher suggests the results have high inter-rater reliability and are reliable.
Observations (generally) strength
Ethical: low levels of harm
A strength of observations is that they allow us to investigate psychological phenomena where it may be unethical to investigate with direct manipulation of the IV
Because doing so would cause harm (which participants have the right not to experience)
This is because observations only record behaviour (without direct manipulation)
And so there is no potential for harm
Observations (generally) limitations
They are open to high observer bias
Which is when the observer shows unintentional bias in recording data to unfairly support their experimental hypothesis
This is because the experimenter may inadvertently only record data that supports the anticipated findings of the research
Meaning the results will not be valid
Controlled observations strength
They have low levels of extraneous and confounding variables
That may randomly or systematically affect the DV
This is because controlled observations are performed in highly controlled laboratory settings
Meaning they minimise the impact of these unwanted variables
Controlled observations limitation
They have low mundane realism
Which is when the procedure doesn’t seem mundane or like real life, decreasing the external validity of research
This is because they are performed in artificial and controlled setting,
Meaning the participants are less likely to show natural behaviour
Naturalistic strength
High mundane realism
Which is when the procedure seems mundane or like real life, increasing external validity of research
This is because they are performed in a natural setting, which is close to everyday life
Meaning the participants are more likely to show natural behaviour
Naturalistic limitation
High levels of confounding or extraneous variables
That may randomly or systematically affect the DV
This is because naturalistic observations are performed in natural settings, where the impact of these unwanted variables cannot be minimised
Meaning the results may not be valid
Covert strength
Low evaluation apprehension
Which is when participants do not feel concerned that their behaviour may be judged by the experimenter, increasing the external validity of research
This is because participants are not aware that they are taking part in research
And therefore are only likely to show natural behaviour
Covert limitation
Not possible to gain participants informed consent
Which is when participants are not made aware of the research aims, procedures and anticipated findings before signing their agreement to take part in the study
This is because participants are not aware that they are taking part in research
Therefore cannot be approached to provide consent before the observation
Overt strength
Possible to gain participants informed consent
Which is when participants are made aware of the research aims, procedures and anticipated findings before signing their agreement to take part in the study
This is because participants are aware that they are taking part in research
Therefore can be approached to provide consent before the observation
Overt limitation
High evaluation apprehension
Which is when a participant feels concerned that their behaviour may be judged by the experimenter, decreasing external validity of research
This is because participants are aware that they are taking part in research
Making them less likely to show natural behaviour
Participant strength
They provide rich qualitative data with high external validity
Which is when the findings can be easily generalised to wider populations, in other settings and over time
As the experimenter takes part in the observation, they are likely to record a higher level of qualitative data
Meaning it will be rich in detail
Participant limitation
High opportunity for experimenter effects
Which is when some characteristic of the observer causes participants to behave unnaturally, lowering the internal validity of research
This is because the experimenter actually takes part in the observation itself
Meaning they may inadvertently influence the behaviour of participants
Non-participant strength
Low experimenter effects
Where it is impossible for some characteristic of the observer to cause participants to behave unnaturally, lowering the internal validity of research
This is because the experimenter doesn’t take part in the observation
Meaning they cannot influence the behaviour of participants
Non-participant limitation
They provide data which is sometimes lacking in detail and external validity
Meaning it is more difficult to generalise the findings to wider populations, in other settings and over time
As the experimenter doesn’t take part in the observation, they are less able to record a high level of qualitative data
Meaning it is less rich in detail
