observations

Question 1

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 1

it is conducted in the context where the behaviour would typically be seen

Question 2

naturalistic observation
evaluation

Answer 2

+ strong ecological validity as non artificial task
- lack of control low internal validity / replicability

Question 3

what is a controlled observation?

Answer 3

behaviour is observed within a structured environment

Question 4

evaluation of controlled observation

Answer 4

+ control increases internal validity knowing iv=dv
- artificial task > lack ecological validity > less generalisable

Question 5

What is a covert observation?

Answer 5

Where participants are unaware they are being observed

Question 6

What is an overt observation?

Answer 6

where participants are aware they are being studied

Question 7

covert observation evaluation

Answer 7

+no demand charactersitics > increases internal validity
- lacking informed consent (ethical issues)

Question 8

overt observation evaluation

Answer 8

+ethical as gained consent
- demand characteristics may influence

Question 9

what is participant observation?

Answer 9

where the observer acts as though they are part of the group

Question 10

participant observation evaluation

Answer 10

+ more valuable insight from ppt perspective increasing validity

• danger to the researcher / may lose objectivity and ‘go native

Question 11

what is a non- participant observation?

Answer 11

where the observer watches from outside the group

Question 12

non participant observation evaluation

Answer 12

+ less risk of bias as researcher detached unable to influence

• loss of that personal insight from ppt perspective

Question 13

what is a behavioural catergory?

Answer 13

where a target behavipur is broken up to components that are observable and measurable > operationalise behavioural catergories

Question 14

What does a behavioural category allow for?

Answer 14

Allow observers to tally observations into pre- arranged groupings

Question 15

Strengths of behavioural categories

Answer 15

• Provides a clear focus for the researcher
• Categorisation allows for proposal of a testable hypothesis
• Enables greater reliability
• Provides data that is easy to quantify and analyse

Question 16

what is inter observer reliability?

Answer 16

Where multiple observers are used to remove bias and make it more subjective

Question 17

what must observers be trained in?

Answer 17

• familiarise themselves with the behavioural catergories
• can observe behaviours at the same time
• compare the data they have recorda and discuss differences

Question 18

What is a structured observation?

Answer 18

simplifies the target behaviour to the act that is specifically defined
* allows researcher to quantify data using a predetermined list of beahviours

Question 19

what is an unstructured observation?

Answer 19

researcher writes down everything they notice
* produces accounts of behaviour rich in detail
* may be appropriate for smaller scale research

Question 20

structured observation evaluation

Answer 20

+ when using behavioural catergories makes data record easier and more systematic
+ produces numerical and quantifiable so comparisons easier to make

Question 21

unstructured observation evaluation

Answer 21

+ more depth and rich detail of data

• qualitative data harder to analyse
• possibility of bias as behavioural catergories not present

Question 22

What are the two types of data sampling techniques?

Answer 22

• time
• event

Question 23

What is time sampling?

Answer 23

involves recording the behaviour within a pre-established time frame e.g every 60 seconds

Question 24

What is event sampling ?

Answer 24

counting the number of times a behaviour occurs every time that it occurs

Question 25

time sampling evaluation

Answer 25

+ easier to manage
+ appropriate over long periods of time where things unlikely to change

• not appropriate for dynamic behaviours / behaviours could be missed not being - representative

Question 26

event sampling evaluation

Answer 26

+ not missing data points
+ large target
- highly time and eddort - risk of missing things if too much on at once