Observations

Question 1

What are naturalistic observations

Answer 1

Carried out in a natural setting and focus on peoples naturally occurring behavior

Question 2

What are controlled observations

Answer 2

Conducted in a laboratory which allows the researcher more control over the environment. behavior may be observed through a one way mirror

Question 3

What is a participant observation

Answer 3

Involved the observer becoming part of the group situation and infiltrating social groups-typically produce qualitative data

Question 4

What is a non participant observation

Answer 4

where the researcher remains external and watches participants from a distance

Question 5

What are overt observations

Answer 5

Where participants are aware they are being observed

Question 6

What are covert observations

Answer 6

Where participants do not know they are being observed

Question 7

What are unstructured observations

Answer 7

Can be conducted when the researcher simply writes down everything they observe in field notes and analyzing it later by looking for patterns of behavior in the information recorded

Question 8

What are structured observations

Answer 8

Involves the observer using a coding frame like a behaviour checklist of predetermined behaviours to count the number of times specific behaviors occur by using a tally system

Question 8

What do you use if its a structures observations with more than one observer

Answer 8

Inter rater reliability

Question 9

How would you establish if an observation has inter-rater reliability

Answer 9

researchers need to initially compare observations and check if they matched-to do this the observers would all need to watch the same individuals but record the participants behaviour independantly
results compared using a correlation
if observers agree and a positive correlation is established then inter-observer reliability is achieved

Question 10

What is one way to increase the level of inter-rater reliability

Answer 10

researchers meeting prior to he study to establish and agree on behaviour catagories
Pilot study could be used to assess the ease of the coding scheme and to identify any problems before real observation so they can be amended
Important that behaviour is fully operationalised so that all observers know what constitutes a certain behaviour

Question 10

What level of agreement must be reached to have high inter rater reliability

Answer 10

80%

Question 11

What is event sampling

Answer 11

The technique of listing all the behaviours you might see and observe continuously ticking every time you see them uninterrupted for the whole duration of the observation period

Question 12

What is time sampling

Answer 12

Enables the observer to record some information about when behaviours occur. An observation time is decided and then the observation period is divided into predetermined time intervals and records of behaviour are related to thee

Question 13

What are the strengths of a controlled observation

Answer 13

High control over extraneous variables due to an artificial setting= increased internal validity

Question 14

What are the weaknesses of a controlled observation

Answer 14

Lower ecological validity because they are potentially more artificial due to controlled nature= not generalized to real life

Question 15

What are the strengths of a naturalistic observation

Answer 15

High in ecological validity because they are conducted in a real life setting observing natural behaviour= more generalizable to real life

Question 16

What are the weaknesses of a naturalistic observation

Answer 16

More potential for confounding variables to effect the results because of the lack of controls over the situation participants are observed in = decreased internal validity

Question 17

What are the strengths of a participant observation

Answer 17

Allows observer to gather more detailed accounts due to flexibility because the observer is involved in the events =researchers are more likely to get more accurate data because of the insight it is more useful

Question 18

What are the weaknesses of a participant observation

Answer 18

Hard to remain hidden due to the observer being involved in what they are observing = could lead to demand charecteristics or social desirability bias

Question 19

What are the strengths of a non participant observation

Answer 19

Reduces the effect of the observer on the participants behaviour because participants are unaware of the observations taking place= reducing potential for demand charecteristics

Question 20

What are the weaknesses of a non participant observation

Answer 20

Observer may miss vital information because they are external to participants so may not have a full view on them = decreases internal validity

Question 21

What are the strengths of covert observations

Answer 21

Reduces possibility for demand characteristics as participants are unaware of the observation taking place - increases internal validity

Question 22

What are the weaknesses of covert observations

Answer 22

Difficult to remain hidden because the observer will still have to take notes = participant may spot the researcher looking suspicious - ethics private space and lack of consent so deception

Question 23

What are the strengths of overt observations

Answer 23

Removes ethical issues such as invasions of privacy because the participants know they are being observed= improved reputation of Psychology

Question 24

What are the weaknesses of overt observations

Answer 24

Potential for demand charecteristics as they know theyre being observed so may change behaviour to suit what the observer wants = (observer effect) decreases internal validity

Question 25

What are the strengths of structured observations

Answer 25

Simplifies the data recording process and makes it easier to establish inter-rater reliability as there is a predetermined list of operationalised behaviors= standardised quant data so most reliable by all means increases internal reliability

Question 26

What are the weaknesses of structured observations

Answer 26

Due to predetermined categories other spontan eous behavior cannot be recorded therefore only giving a limited view of behavior = decreased internal validity

Question 27

What are the strengths of unstructured observations

Answer 27

All potential behavior can be recorded as there are no set behavioral categories = more insight in behavior

Question 28

What are the weaknesses of unstructured observations

Answer 28

Difficult to check for consistency and establish inter rater reliability as lots of difficult behaviours can be recorded = lowers external reliability

Question 29

What are the strengths of time sampling

Answer 29

Reduces researcher fatigue as you dont have to constantly watch behavior because you only observe at set intervals = simplified data recording

Question 30

What are the weaknesses of time sampling

Answer 30

Potential to miss behavior that is occurring outside of the time schedules when the observation takes place = lack of validity

Question 31

What are the strengths of event sampling

Answer 31

Less likely to miss behavior as its continuously recorded and all occurrences of behavior can be noted down = allows connection of valid data as no behaviors are missed like time sampling

Question 32

What are the weaknesses of event sampling

Answer 32

May be difficult to record behavior so you may miss some behavior whilst recording others as you have to observe continously= leads to a lack of validity as only most eye catching may be noted