observations

Question 1

what is observation

Answer 1

looking at participant behaviour and recording it, often in a specific setting

Question 2

what is covert observation

Answer 2

where the group being studied do not know they’re being observed or where research goes undercover

Question 3

weakness covert - consent

Answer 3

causes issues and concerns about obtaining informed consent and deception

Question 4

strength covert - effects

Answer 4

investigator effects are unlikely so participants behaviour will be genuine
no hawthorne effect, demand characteristics and participant variables

Question 5

what is overt observation

Answer 5

when the researcher tells the group they are conducting research (they know they’re being observed)

Question 6

strength - overt - consent

Answer 6

can gain consent, no deception

Question 7

weakness - overt - effects

Answer 7

increased chance of hawthorne effect as the participants will alter their behaviour under the influence of being watched

Question 8

what is controlled observation

Answer 8

behaviour observed under controlled lab conditions such as banduras bobo doll study

Question 9

strength - controlled - replication

Answer 9

can easily be replicated by other researchers by using same observation schedule, it is easy to test for reliability

Question 10

strength - data and time - controlled

Answer 10

data is easier and quicker to analyse because its quantitative so its less time consuoming than naturalistic methods
quick to conduct so many observations can take place - can obtain large sample representative and generalisation

Question 11

weakness - controlled - effects

Answer 11

lack validity due to hawthorne effect as participants aware of being observed

Question 12

what is a natural observation

Answer 12

spontaneous behaviour recorded in a natural setting

Question 13

strength natural - ec val

Answer 13

greater ecological validity due to being able to observe the flow of behaviour in its own setting

Question 14

strength natural - new ideas

Answer 14

often used to generate new ideas because researcher given opportunity to study total situation it gives new avenues of inquiry - flexibility

Question 15

weakness natural - micro

Answer 15

conducted on a micro scale so may lack a representative sample

Question 16

weakness natural - reliability

Answer 16

less reliable as other variables can’t be controlled so its difficult for another researcher to repeat the study in the same way

Question 17

what is participant observation

Answer 17

where the observer has direct contact with the group of people they’re observing

Question 18

participant - weakness - recording

Answer 18

difficult to get time and privacy for recording. eg with covert researchers can’t take notes openly as this would blow their cover. so they might have to wait until they’re alone and rely on memory, problem as they may forget details (inaccurate recall) lowering validity

Question 19

participant - weakness - objectivity

Answer 19

if researcher becomes too involved they may lose objectivity and becomed biased, they may selectively report information instead of everything they observe

Question 20

participant - strength - data

Answer 20

they can obtain in-depth data as they are near participants so they’re unlikely to overlook or miss behaviours - increased validity

Question 21

what is non-participant observation

Answer 21

the researcher does not have direct contact with the people being observed

Question 22

non participant strength - effects

Answer 22

investigator effects and evaluation apprehension are less likely as the researcher is not visible

Question 23

non participant weakness - proximity

Answer 23

due to a lack of proximity the researcher may overlook or miss behaviours of interest