Observations Flashcards
Unstructured observations
Is it focused on one particular thing?
What type of data is collected?
Structured observation
What type of data is collected?
What is the observation of behaviour guided by?- allows researchers to
Unstructured observations
non focused
Collects qualitative data about the behaviours seen
Structured observations
Quantitative data
Observation of behaviour is guided by specific behavioural categories which are defined before the observation through a coding frame. Through a coding frame, observers are able to focus on specific behavioural events and the frequency of which they occur
What is the difference between a naturalistic observation and a
controlled observation
A naturalistic observation is when participants are observed in their natural environment
A controlled observation is when participants are observed in conditions created by the researcher such as a laboratory setting
Naturalistic observation
Advantages - High in which validity?
Disadvantages - what may impact results? why? recording data?
Examples where naturalistic observation was used?
Advantages
Natural setting = High in ecological validity/Natural behaviours are able to be observed
Disadvantages
As the observation is in a natural setting there is a high risk of extraneous variables impacting behaviour as there are no controls
It could be difficult to observe and record behaviour accurately
Examples: Piliavin
Controlled observation
Advantages? recording data what variables are reduced?
Disadvantages? low in which validity? what may participants do if they figure out that they are being observed?
Examples where controlled observations were used
As the observation is in a controlled setting, researchers are able to identify behaviours and record them easily. A controlled environment also reduces the likelihood of extraneous variables impacting results
However as the environment is artificial, the results are low in ecological validity. Participants may change their behaviour if they find out they are being observed.
Examples: Bandura and Sperry
What is the difference between a participant observation and non participant observation?
A participant observation is when the researcher is involved in what they are observing and a non participant observation is when the researcher does not involve themselves in the group that they are observing- look from the ‘outside’
Participant observation
Advantages?- what is able to be gained, why?
Disadvantages?- what may the results lack? What kind of bias may impact results?
Example where participant observation was carried out?
Advantages- by being an ‘insider’ the researcher is able to gather detailed information and gain a deeper understanding into their results as they are able to interact with participants - true insight into the social reality of what is observed
Disadvantages- As the researcher is involved with the participants, it may decrease the objectivity of the results obtained as the results could be impacted by researcher bias
Example: Piliavin
Non participant observation
Advantages? What are the results high in? why? what are results not effected by?
Disadvantages? What is the researcher not able to gain?
Example where non participant onservation was used?
Advantages- As the researcher is not involved with the participants, results will have high objectivity as findings are completely factual and not effected by researcher bias
Disadvantages- However, by not being involved with the participants being observed the researcher is not able to gain more information on the reasoning behind what was observed. Therefore, there is a lack of insight into the behaviour and it is difficult to establish a true insight into the social reality
Example: Bandura
What is the difference between covert obervation and overt observation
