Observations Flashcards
An experiment is not always the most suitable way of studying?
An experiment is not always the most suitable way of studying human behaviour and there are a number of non-experimental research methods available to psychologists (i.e. research methods that do not have an IV).
What is one important non-experimental method?
The observation.
What is an observation?
An observation involves watching a participant and recording relevant behaviour for later analysis.
What are the general strengths and weaknesses of observations?
They capture what people actually do
What people say and what people do can be very different!
There is the possibility of observer bias
Our interpretation of what we see can be influenced by our expectations
You cannot establish cause and effect with an observation
Although do note that observational techniques may be used in experiments and aid in detecting cause and effect relationships
Whats and naturalistic observation?
Naturalistic observations involve the watching and recording of spontaneously occurring behaviour in the participant’s own natural environment.
What is a controlled observation?
Controlled observations involve the watching and recording of behaviour within a structured environment in which the conditions are manipulated by the researcher.
What is a covert observation?
Covert observations involve the watching and recording of behaviour without the knowledge or awareness of the participants and the observer is hidden from the participant
What is a overt observation?
Overt observations involve the watching and recording of behaviour with the knowledge or awareness of the participants and the observer is clearly visible to the participant.
What are non-participant observations?
Non-participant observations involve the watching and recording of behaviour with the observer remaining outside of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording.
What are participant observations?
Participant observations involve the watching and recording of behaviour with the observer becoming a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording.
Recording data-
What is an unstructured observation.
Or will you focus on recording SPECIFIC behaviours only? This is known as a structured observation.
Will you record EVERY behaviour of interest that you see? This is known as an unstructured observation.
What is a structured observation?
Or will you focus on recording SPECIFIC behaviours only? This is known as a structured observation.
Unstructured observations + and -?
Unstructured observations
+Appropriate when observations are small in scale and involve few participants, e.g. observing interactions between a couple and a therapist in a marriage guidance counselling session
+Richness and depth of detail in data collected (qualitative data)
-There may be too much going on in an observation to record it all
Structured observations + and -?
Structured observations
+Recording data is easier and more systematic (quantitative data)
-Lack of richness and depth of data
What is event sampling?
Event sampling: Counting the number of times a particular behaviour (the ‘event’) occurs across a whole event.
For example, event sampling affection during a date would mean counting every time the couple on the date showed the agreed on behavioural categories for affection.
