Observations

Question 1

What is Participant Observation?

Answer 1

The observer acts as a part of the group being watched

Question 2

Strengths of Participant Observation…

Answer 2

-Get better understanding being around them (increases reliability

Question 3

Weaknesses of Participant Observation…

Answer 3

-Miss things happening with other participants elsewhere
-Might influence participants in group and be bias( decreases reliability/validity)

Question 4

What is Non-Participant Observation?

Answer 4

The observer doesn’t become part of the group being watched

Question 5

Strengths of Non-Participant Observation…

Answer 5

-Less observer bias as they’re not a part of the group(High validity)
-Able to observe everybody and not miss behaviour happening

Question 6

Weaknesses of Non-Participant Observation…

Answer 6

-Wont fully understand as they’re not in the group(decreases reliability)

Question 7

What is a Naturalistic Observation?

Answer 7

Observation that takes place in natural/ real setting

Question 8

Strengths of Naturalistic Observation

Answer 8

-Higher Ecological Validity- showing real behaviour

Question 9

Weaknesses of Naturalistic Observation

Answer 9

-Lots of confounding variables could happen( weather, uncoded behaviour)

Question 10

What is a Controlled Observation?

Answer 10

Observation that takes place where some variables are controlled and manipulated

Question 11

Strengths of Controlled Observation…

Answer 11

-Can control variables to prevent them from becoming confounding and affecting the results

Question 12

Weaknesses of Controlled Observation…

Answer 12

-Lower Ecological Validity- behaviour is in a controlled environment

Question 13

What is a Structured Observation?

Answer 13

Determine the behaviours to be observed and sampling to be used

Question 14

Strengths of a Structured Observation…

Answer 14

-Compare with others to increase reliability
-Can agree on specific behaviour types to tick right ones (increases validity)

Question 15

Weaknesses of a Structured Observation…

Answer 15

-Unanticipated behaviour might happen- can’t record it- (lose validity)

Question 16

What is an Unstructured Observation?

Answer 16

Observer records everything that happens with no preconception

Question 17

Strengths of Unstructured Observation…

Answer 17

-Records all behaviour (increases validity)

Question 18

Weaknesses of Unstructured Observation…

Answer 18

-Qualitative data- hard to compare
-Might miss something if observing everything (impacts validity)

Question 19

What is Overt ?

Answer 19

Open, people know they’re being observed

Question 20

Strengths of Overt …

Answer 20

• More ethical (informed consent)

Question 21

Weaknesses of Overt…

Answer 21

-Might show demand characteristics (impacts validity)
-Social Desirability Bias- want to be seen positively (validity)

Question 22

What is Covert?

Answer 22

People don’t know they’re being observed

Question 23

Strengths of Covert…

Answer 23

• More Ecological Validity- true behaviour as they’re unaware of observer

Question 24

Weaknesses of Covert…

Answer 24

-Less Ethical no informed consent

Question 25

What is Time Sampling?

Answer 25

Observations recorded at fixed time intervals and coded

Question 26

What is Event Sampling?

Answer 26

Keep a tally chart of each time a type of behaviour occurs- constantly observing for specific behaviours

Question 27

What is Time Event Sampling?

Answer 27

Combined Time and Event Sampling- Still observing at specific times but with a tick list of the behaviours.

Question 28

Why are Behavioural Categories needed in structured observations?

Answer 28

So that what is going to be observed and how its going to be observed is decided before

Question 29

What is a Coding Frame?

Answer 29

-List different behaviours as different categories or codes -Allows other information to also be recorded quickly such as the severity and duration of the incident or who was involved

Question 30

Why do Observations lack reliability?

Answer 30

Something would be different each time you observe (confounding variables)

Question 31

How can you check consistency within observations?

Answer 31

-Use Inter-Rater Reliability by repeating the observation with a different observer, you should get the same results.

Question 32

How can you improve reliability?

Answer 32

- Use a good coding scheme -Use wider categories -Single blind technique -Check validity by asking participants

Question 33

How can you use Inter- Rater Reliability within an Observation?

Answer 33

-Agree beforehand what will be observed -Carry out a pilot study to ensure it works -Each observer then observes the same things independently -Results compared at the end -Greater level of similarity= greater inter rater reliability -This means your coding system is consistent- works the same way and produces the same results when used by different people