observations

Question 1

controlled experiment

Answer 1

when the researcher has some measure of control over the environment
example is Bobo Doll Experiment

Question 2

advantages of controlled experiment

Answer 2

• control over extraneous variables
• inter-observer reliability
• easy to replicate

Question 3

disadvantages of controlled experiment

Answer 3

• cannot be applied to real-life settings
• may be subjective towards what the researcher want to see

Question 4

naturalistic observation

Answer 4

studying behaviour in a natural setting where everything has been left as it is normally

Question 5

advantages of naturalistic observation

Answer 5

• high external ecological validity
• natural environment - generalised to everyday life
• few demand characteristics

Question 6

disadvantages of naturalistic observation

Answer 6

• replication difficult - lack of control
• uncontrolled extraneous variables

Question 7

covert observation

Answer 7

the participants are not aware that they are being observed

Question 8

advantages of covert observation

Answer 8

• few demand characteristics

Question 9

disadvantages of covert observation

Answer 9

• ethical issues as they do not know they are being observed

Question 10

overt observation

Answer 10

the participants are aware that they are being observed

Question 11

advantages of overt observation

Answer 11

• less ethical issues as they are not being deceived

Question 12

disadvantages of overt observation

Answer 12

• there maybe demand characteristics as they know they are being observed

Question 13

participant observation

Answer 13

the observer acts as part of the group being watched

Question 14

advantages of participant observation

Answer 14

• experience situation
• insight
• increased validity

Question 15

disadvantages of participant observation

Answer 15

• lose objectivity
• difficulty in recording observations
• ethical issues

Question 16

non-participant observation

Answer 16

the experimenter does not become part of the group being observed

Question 17

advantages of non-participant observation

Answer 17

• more ethical
• more objective

Question 18

disadvantages of non-participant observation

Answer 18

• less insight
• not experiencing the same things
• lower in validity

Question 19

structured observation

Answer 19

the researcher determines precisely what behaviours are to be observed and uses a standardised checklist to record the frequency with which they are observed within a specific time frame

Question 20

advantages of structured observation

Answer 20

• it is easier to gather relevant data because you know what you are looking for

Question 21

disadvantages of structured observation

Answer 21

• interesting behaviours could go unrecorded because they weren’t pre-defined as important

Question 22

unstructured observation

Answer 22

the observer recalls all relevant behaviour but has no system

Question 23

advantages of unstructured observation

Answer 23

• can record more interesting behaviours

Question 24

disadvantages of unstructured observation

Answer 24

• it is harder to gather relevant data because you don’t know what you’re looking for

Question 25

summary of observations

Answer 25

• must be adequate data sampling to se sure that a representative sample of participants behaviour is seen
• language must be accurate and appropriate and have valid operationalised definitions
• researcher bias must be avoided