Observations

Question 1

What are the 7 observation techniques?

Answer 1

Naturalistic
Controlled
Overt
Covert
Participant
Non-participant

Question 2

What’s a naturalistic observation?

Answer 2

Watching and recording behaviour in a setting where it would normally take place.

Question 3

+/- naturalistic

Answer 3

+high ecological
+high external validity
-unreplicable
-uncontrolled confounding and extraneous variables
-low ecological validity of ppts are aware that they’re being watched

Question 4

What’s a controlled observation?

Answer 4

Watching and recording behaviour in a structured behaviour in a structured environments e.g., lab setting

Question 5

+/-controlled environment

Answer 5

+Researcher is able to focus on a particular aspect of behaviour
+more control of extraneous and confounding variables
+replicable
-more likely to be observing unnatural behaviour
-low mundane realism and ecological validity
-demand characteristics

Question 6

What’s an overt observation?

Answer 6

Ppts are being observed and behaviour is recorded - ppts know they’re being watched

Question 7

+/- overt

Answer 7

+ethically acceptable (informed consent)
-unnatural behaviour
-demand characteristics which reduces validity

Question 8

What’s a covert observation?

Answer 8

Ppts are unaware they’re being watched and recorded

Question 9

+/- covert

Answer 9

+natural behaviour recorded resulting in high validity
-ethical issues

Question 10

What’s a participant observation?

Answer 10

Researcher is part of the group that’s being observed

Question 11

+/- participant observation

Answer 11

+can be more insightful
-researcher may lose objectivity as they might identify too strongly with the ppts

Question 12

What’s a non-participant observation

Answer 12

The researcher observed from a distance so isn’t part of the group being observed

Question 13

+- non ppt

Answer 13

+researcher can be more objective
-observer bias
-loose some valuable insight

Question 14

What’s observer bias?

Answer 14

When an observers reposts are biased by what they’re expect to see

Question 15

What’s the solution to observed reports

Answer 15

Inter observer reliability

Question 16

What’s inter observer reliability?

Answer 16

When multiple investigators gather info separately during observation and compare the similarity of their data after

Question 17

How is inter observer reliability calculated

Answer 17

Total number of agreements/ total number of observations x 100

If the score is above 80% it shows high inter observer reliability thus increasing the validity of the research

Question 18

What are the two different types of observational design

Answer 18

Unstructured
Structured

Question 19

What’s an unstructured observation

Answer 19

Researcher writes down everything they see

Question 20

+/- unstructured

Answer 20

+In depth detail
- Produces qualitative data which is more difficult to record and analyse
-greater risk of observer bias

Question 21

What’s a structured observation

Answer 21

The researcher looks for predetermined lists of behaviours and sampling methods

Question 22

+/- structured

Answer 22

+Easier and more systematic
+ Quantitative data easily analysed
+ less risk of observer bias
-not much in depth detail
-difficult to achieve high inter observer reliability

Question 23

What’s a behavioural category?

Answer 23

Target behaviour is broken down into more precise categories e.g. aggression is broken down into hitting and shouting

Question 24

What are the two sampling methods that take place during structured observation?

Answer 24

Time sampling
Event sampling

Question 25

What’s time sampling

Answer 25

Recording behaviour in a set time frame that’s pre established

Question 26

+/- time

Answer 26

+Reduced the number if observations so is less time consuming
-Unrepresentative if the whole observation

Question 27

Whats event sampling

Answer 27

Counting the number of times a particular behaviour happens

Question 28

+/- event

Answer 28

+Good for infrequent behaviours
-important details of the behaviour may be overlooked
-Counting errors
-Difficult to judge the beginning and end of the behaviour