Observations

Question 1

observation

Answer 1

starting point for any research in psychology and can be used as methods on their own or a way to gather data when conducting an experiment

Question 2

using observational method

Answer 2

psychologists observe behavior in real life situations or in a lab without manipulating an independent variable. Useful when it is not possible to manipulate variables due to ethical or practical problems

Question 3

naturalistic observation

Answer 3

occur in a natural setting and focus on people’s naturally occurring behavior

Question 4

controlled observation

Answer 4

occur in a lab which allows the researcher more control over the environment

Question 5

participant observation

Answer 5

observer joins in with the group of people being observed

Question 6

non participant

Answer 6

observer remains external to those being observed

Question 7

overt observation

Answer 7

participants are made aware that research is taking place

Question 8

covert observation

Answer 8

participants are unaware the research is taking place

Question 9

unstructured observation

Answer 9

conducted with the researcher writing everything down he or she observes and analyzing it later by looking for patterns in the data that has been recorded

Question 10

structured observation

Answer 10

observer uses a coding frame and behavioral categories in order to count the number of times specific behaviors occur

Question 11

strength of controlled observations

Answer 11

high levels of reliability

Question 12

weakness of controlled observations

Answer 12

likely to have lower ecological validity

Question 13

strength of naturalistic observations

Answer 13

high in ecological validity

Question 14

weakness of naturalistic observation

Answer 14

low levels of internal validity

Question 15

strength of participant observation

Answer 15

allows observer to gather more detailed accounts due to flexibility

Question 16

weakness of participant observation

Answer 16

may be potential for observer bias as it is harder to remain objective

Question 17

strength of non participant observation

Answer 17

reduces the effect of the observer on the participants behavior

Question 18

weakness of non participant observation

Answer 18

the observer may miss vital information

Question 19

strength of covert observation

Answer 19

reduces the possibility for demand characteristics

Question 20

weakness of covert observation

Answer 20

difficult to remain hidden

Question 21

strength of overt observation

Answer 21

removes ethical issues such as invasion of privacy

Question 22

weakness of overt observation

Answer 22

potential for demand characteristics

Question 23

strength of structured observation

Answer 23

easy to compare and analyze data

Question 24

weakness of structured observation

Answer 24

behaviors ma be missed if they weren’t in the list of behavioral categories

Question 25

strength of unstructured observation

Answer 25

more valid as all behaviors are recorded

Question 26

weakness of non structured observation

Answer 26

difficult to analyze as data tends to be qualitative

Question 27

behavioral categories

Answer 27

operationally defined units of events used in structured observations to break a continuous stream of activity into separate recordable events. Must be done by recording actions rather than states

Question 28

coding frame

Answer 28

system for differentiating behaviors to be recorded in an observation adding detail to the behavioral categories

Question 29

inter observer reliability

Answer 29

observers would all need to watch the same individuals but record the participant’s behaviors separately. The results from each observer are then compared using a correlation. If the observers appear to agree and a positive correlation is established then inter observer reliability can be said to have been achieved

Question 30

why would a pilot study be useful to help achieve inter observer reliability

Answer 30

each observer would observe separately
then compare behavioral schedules using a correlation
positive correlation is a high agreement so high inter observer reliability
negative correlation is a low agreement so low inter observer reliability
for any categories where they have different tallies they can discuss what constitutes that behavior
new coding frame used i full scale observation

Question 31

time sampling

Answer 31

researcher observes behavior at specific times during an event

Question 32

event sampling

Answer 32

researcher observes continuously

Question 33

time -event sampling

Answer 33

observing at prescribed intervals like every 5 minutes for 20 seconds

Question 34

strength of time sampling

Answer 34

gives an indication into the order in which events occur

Question 35

weakness of time sampling

Answer 35

potential to miss behaviors that occur outside of the time when the observation takes place

Question 36

strength of event sampling

Answer 36

allows all behaviors to be recorded which increases validity

Question 37

weakness of event sampling

Answer 37

gives no indication into the order that events took place

Question 38

strength of time event sampling

Answer 38

can give an indication of the order in which events happen

Question 39

weakness of time event sampling

Answer 39

observer may miss behaviors as observation period is not continuous

Question 40

strength of observation method

Answer 40

can be used when other methods would be impractical or unethical

Question 41

weakness of observation method

Answer 41

harder to control extraneous variables in observations than in experiments so can’t find a cause and effect