observations Flashcards
observations: what are the 4 types of observations?
- participants
- non-participants
- covert
- overt
observations: what is a participant observation?
individuals know that they are involved in an observation
observations: what is a non-participants observation?
observing an individual from a distance
observations: what is a covert observation?
an individual knows about an observation but doesn’t know when it’s going to happen.
observations: what is an overt observation?
an individual does know about it and when it’s going to happen.
observations: should consent be given?
yes permission always must be given.
observations: what sort of sample size do you need?
10-15 depending on your target question
observations: what is a sample size?
a group that might vary according to what your question is and what your looking for.
observations: what are you looking for?
observing individuals behaviour in their natural setting/can look at changes in health data as well.
observations: how can you collect information when observing?
watching and taking notes or recording
observations: what are the potential problems?
individuals not being honest
observations: what type of data is being collected?
qualitative and quantitative.
observations: how can you record the data?
in many different ways depending on what the question of research is.
observations: advantages of participants observations
- allows a wide range of new ideas to e developed as you can use different insights
- can help you reach areas of data and info that you couldn’t do in another way.
observations: disadvantages of participants observations
- doesn’t allow any proof to back researchers knowledge and findings.
- may only be more beneficial to smaller groups instead of wider society
observations: advantages of non-participants observations
- many help make sure that there isn’t any behaviour changes, if the individuals don’t know that they are being observed.
- observations can be recorded at the same time (so it’s more memorable)
- your able to make your own judgement of what an individuals body language is like
observations: disadvantages of non-participants observations
- if recording info from a distance then things might get missed, if it’s less clear
- less trusting data as no relationship has been built
- doesn’t allow researcher to get confirmation in their answers that they are seeing as it’s almost undercover.
observations: advantages of covert observations
- researchers don’t need a large amount of knowledge beforehand
- allows greater level of reliability
- allows researchers to get detailed responses
observations: disadvantages of covert observations
- time consuming
- has the potential to have ethical issues
- stress of making sure the fact your observing
- might not get the answers they were looking for.
observations: advantages of overt observations
- researcher can ask questions.
- can make notes at the same time
- allows individuals to be in their natural settings
- greater details and evidence as you can ask them questions.
observations: disadvantages of overt observations
- time consuming
- might not always be a positive representation
- false answers if individuals change how they are acting
- hard to repeat again.