Observations

Question 1

What are the three things that define an observation and give an example

Answer 1

These can directly identify and record human behaviour
These do not include IVs, they are not experiments.
Either lab or natural

E.g how a child responds to their mother

Question 2

What are the four design factors for an observation?

Answer 2

1- Lab or natural
2- PPT vs non PPT observer
3. Covert vs Overt
4. Event or Time sampling

Question 3

What is a lab observation and what are the strengths/ weaknesses?

Answer 3

these take place in a lab where researcher can manipulate variables + environment
strengths: high control, often easier to record information
weaknesses: lacks ecological validity

Question 4

What is a natural observation and what are the strengths/ weaknesses?

Answer 4

These take place in the natural world
Strengths: very realistic, can study behaviours that aren’t possible in the lab e.g gang activity
Weaknesses: low control, harder to replicate

Question 5

What are the strengths to PPT observer?

Answer 5

Strengths: they will have a first hand experience to see the fine detail involved and they will experience the emotions involved in the study

Question 6

Define PPT observer

Answer 6

where the observer actively participates in what they are observing

Question 7

What are the weaknesses to PPT observer?

Answer 7

Weaknesses: it is hard to see the whole picture because they are involved at a level or such fine detail

Question 8

What is non PPT observer?

Answer 8

Where the observer doesn’t participate in the activities they are observing

Question 9

What are the strengths to non PPT observer?

Answer 9

the observer will be able to see the whole picture more clearly

Question 10

What are the weaknesses to non PPT observer?

Answer 10

The observer may miss the fine detail and not fully understand what is happening from the PPT’s perspective.

Question 11

What is a covert observation?

Answer 11

Where the researcher is hidden and cannot be seen.

Question 12

What is the strength to a covert observation?

Answer 12

The ppts act more naturally as they aren’t aware they are being studied.

Question 13

What is the weakness to a covert observation?

Answer 13

The code of consent is broken as the ppts aren’t allowing for it to happen, only in public is it not needed.

Question 14

What is an overt observation?

Answer 14

This is where the researcher isn’t hidden and the ppts are aware they are being watched.

Question 15

What is the strength to an overt observation?

Answer 15

They are ethical as the ppts must’ve given consent.

Question 16

What is the weakness to an overt observation?

Answer 16

They may cause the ppts to change their behaviour, as they are aware they are being studied/watched, risking of the Hawthorne effect and social desirability bias (SDB)

Question 17

Define sampling data

Answer 17

Recording data/ info during an observation

Question 18

What are the two options a researcher has to record data during an observation?

Answer 18

Option 1- Episodic sampling (event)
Option 2- Interval sampling (time)

Question 19

What is episodic (event) sampling?

Answer 19

Behaviour categories are created and then each time one of the behaviours is seen, it is recorded in a table/ tally chart.

Question 20

What are the three rules to Behaviour Categorising?

Answer 20

1- exhaustive
2- mutually exclusive
3- clear

Question 21

What is the 1st rule, exhaustive, in behaviour categorising?

Answer 21

All of the categories of interest should be covered.

Question 22

What is the 2nd rule, mutually exclusive, in behaviour categorising?

Answer 22

there should be NO overlap in categories where a behaviour should fit into just one of them.

Question 23

What happens if behaviour categorising isn’t mutually exclusive?

Answer 23

The observer will not know which category to tick off, (if the options overlap) which loses both reliability and validity of the observation.

Question 24

What is the 3rd rule in behaviour categorising?

Answer 24

The categories should be clear and easy to use.

Question 25

What is interval (time) sampling?

Answer 25

Time intervals are chosen before the observation, (e.g once every 2mins). An alarm / flashing light can be set to remind the observer to write anything that is occurring down. When behaviour categorising cannot be used, this is instead.

Question 26

Define pilot studies.

Answer 26

These can be conducted to make sure the categorises chosen are appropriate and that the observers are able to achieve an elevated level of inter-observer (or inter-rater) reliability.

Question 27

What is inter-observer (inter-rater) reliability?

Answer 27

This involves checking the reliability (consistency) of the results from the involved observers. A correlational analysis is used, where each of the observer’s scores are the covariables.

Question 28

What should the result of a correlational analysis be for when pilot studies are done?

Answer 28

There should be a strong positive correlation between the two observers, with the coefficient value expected to be at least 80% similar.

Question 29

Define Hawthorne Effect

Answer 29

when observed, our behaviour changes because we feel under pressure.

Question 30

Define Social Desirability Bis (SDB)

Answer 30

we try to look as positive as we can when being observed.

Question 31

What should the relationship value be for the correlational analysis between multiple observers’ scores?

Answer 31

0.8 (80%+)