Observations

Question 1

What are the 2 ways that observations can be used to?

Answer 1

They can be used on their own as a method or can be used as a way of gathering data in an experiment

Question 2

What is a naturalistic observation

Answer 2

They are carried out in a natural setting and focus on peoples naturally occurring behaviours

Question 3

What is a controlled observation

Answer 3

It’s when research is conducted in a lab which allows the researcher more control over the environment

Question 4

What is a participant observation

Answer 4

When the researcher joins in with the activities with the group of people that are being studied.

Question 5

What is non-participant observation

Answer 5

the researcher remains external to those being observed

Question 6

What is a overt observation

Answer 6

Participants are aware that they are being observed

Question 7

What is a covert observation

Answer 7

Participant are unaware that they are being observed

Question 8

What is an unstructured observation

Answer 8

The research writes down everything that they observe and then analyse it later looking for a pattern . This produce qualitative data

Question 9

What might unstructed observations lead you to do

Answer 9

Generate a hypothesis that could be investigated experimentally or more strutted observations that could be conducted

Question 10

What is a structured observation

Answer 10

When the observer uses a coding frame and behavioural categories to count the number of times specific behaviour occur. This produces quantitative data

Question 11

What is a strength of controlled observation

Answer 11

High levels of control, easy to replicate, so high levels of reliability

Question 12

What is a weakness of controlled observation

Answer 12

Lower ecological validity, can’t generalise the results, so less useful

Question 13

What is a strength of naturalistic observation

Answer 13

High ecological validity , can generalise results to real life

Question 14

What is a weakness of naturalistic observation

Answer 14

Lack of control, means participant may behave because of different factors, reduces the validity of

Question 15

What is a strength of participant observation

Answer 15

Gather more accurate results,less likely to misinterpret, enhancing validity

Question 16

What is a weakness of participants observation

Answer 16

Potential for observer bias and more difficult to remain objective therefore reducing the validity of

Question 17

What is a strength of non-participant observation

Answer 17

Researcher remains objective , increasing validity as research doesn’t impact the results

Question 18

What is a weakness of non-participant observation

Answer 18

Observer might miss vital information so results may lack validity

Question 19

What is a strength of covert observation

Answer 19

Reduces possibility for demand characteristics, you will get more realistic behaviour, so results more valid

Question 20

What is a weakness of covert observation

Answer 20

May raise ethical issues (unless in public)
Participants might see researcher acting suspiciously by writing notes this may lead to demand characteristics decreasing the validity of

Question 21

What is a strength of overt observation

Answer 21

Removes ethical issues, won’t cause any participants distress, upholds reputation of psychology

Question 22

What is a weakness of overt observation

Answer 22

Potential for demand characteristics, reducing the validity of

Question 23

What is a strength of strutured observation

Answer 23

Produces quantitative, easy to record and analyse, good for inter-rater reliability

Question 24

What is a weakness of structure observations

Answer 24

Behaviours may be missed if they aren’t on the list of behaviour categories , results will lack validity

Question 25

What is a strength of unstructured observations

Answer 25

More valid as all behaviour are recorded Qualities data gives good insight

Question 26

What is a weakness of unstructured observation

Answer 26

Difficult to analyse qualitative data so difficult to identify patterns Also harder to achieve inter-rather reliability

Question 27

What are behavioural categories

Answer 27

Operationalised defined units of events. They must be observable actions instead of inferred states. Smiling (correct) Happy (wrong)

Question 28

What is a coding frame

Answer 28

When you use numbers or abbreviations to represent things such as the severity or duration of a behaviour

Question 29

What do you do to achieve inter-observer reliability?

Answer 29

1. Training where observers discuss coding frame and definition of behaviours 2. Practice applying the coding frame by observing the behaviour both independently 3. Then carry out a correlation on the results a positive correlation of 0.8 or above would indicate inter-observer reliability

Question 30

How would a pilot study help to achieve inter-observer reliability?

Answer 30

You can identify any misconceptions around behavioural categories/ coding frames that can be agreed on before the real study

Question 31

What is event sampling

Answer 31

You observe continuously and tick every time you see one of the behaviours you have listed

Question 32

What is time sampling

Answer 32

You observe behaviours at specific times during an event. Eg. You look up for one second every 20 seconds and note / tick any behaviours you observe

Question 33

What is time event sampling

Answer 33

It’s a combination of the two methods e.g. you would watch for 20secs every minute

Question 34

What is a strength of time sampling

Answer 34

-it gives and indication of the order of events -ensures that behaviour is observed in a reliable way

Question 35

What is a weakness of time sampling

Answer 35

-Potential to miss behaviour occurring outside the time observations are taking place - difficult to ensure that timings are precise alongside observing

Question 36

What is a strength of event sampling

Answer 36

-allows researchers to note whenever the behaviour of interest occurs -all behaviours are recorded

Question 37

What is a weakness of event sampling

Answer 37

- no indication of the order of events -some behaviours may be miss if lots of things occur simultaneously

Question 38

What is a strength of time event sampling

Answer 38

Gives an indication of the order events occur

Question 39

What is a weakness of time event sampling

Answer 39

Potential to miss behaviours as the observation period is not continuous

Question 40

What are the strengths of the observational method

Answer 40

-they can be used when other methods would be unethical or impractical -allows data to be collects for participants that would be unable to contribute to self-reports or experiments e.g. children or animals

Question 41

What is a weakness of the observational method

Answer 41

-they can only record overt actions not emotions, attitudes or beliefs and are unaware of the reasons for the actions -its harder to control extraneous variables in observations than in experiments