Observations

Question 1

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 1

When the participants are in their natural surroundings and the experimenter studies their natural behaviour

Question 2

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 2

When the experiment takes place in a lab, so is not in natural surroundings

Question 3

Advantages of naturalistic behaviour

Answer 3

• gives a natural response, giving more accurate and reliable results
• ecological validity

Question 4

Disadvantages of naturalistic observations

Answer 4

• no consent to take part in the experiment
• they could realise they’re being observed
• less control of the experiment so can’t make the environment the same for everyone

Question 5

Advantages of controlled observations

Answer 5

• observer is more in control of results
• more ethical
• able to make experiment the same for everyone

Question 6

Disadvantages of controlled observations

Answer 6

• less ecologically reliable
• could change the participants behaviour
• demand characteristics

Question 7

What is a covert observation

Answer 7

Participants are unaware they are being observed

Question 8

What is an overt observation?

Answer 8

Participants are aware they’re being observed

Question 9

Advantages of covert observations

Answer 9

• natural behaviour

* avoid demand characteristics

Question 10

Disadvantages of covert observations

Answer 10

• unethical

* no consent to be recorded

Question 11

Advantages of overt observations

Answer 11

• ethical

* have the choice to back out

Question 12

Disadvantages of overt observations

Answer 12

• demand characteristics

* become more aware of your behaviour

Question 13

What is participant observations

Answer 13

Observations are made by someone that is taking part in the activity being observed

Question 14

What are non-participant observations?

Answer 14

Observations are made by someone that is not taking part in the activity being observed

Question 15

Advantages of participant observations

Answer 15

•it allows us to observe situations which we would not be able to do in more over ways

Question 16

Disadvantages of participant observations

Answer 16

• unethical
• bigger risk of participant finding out you’re observing them
• harder to take notes

Question 17

Advantages of non-participant observations

Answer 17

• more ethical

* smaller risk of participants finding out you’re observing them

Question 18

Disadvantages of non-participant observations

Answer 18

• doesn’t allow you to close to the situation
• might miss small behaviours
• might set yourself too far away from what you’re observing

Question 19

What is a structured observation

Answer 19

Where the researchers design a coding system to record the behaviours. E.g., tally every time they see a specific behaviour

Question 20

What is an unstructured observation?

Answer 20

The researchers just write down all the behaviours they see

Question 21

Advantages of a structured observation

Answer 21

• quicker to note down behaviours
• less chance of missing behaviours when writing
• more scientific than unstructured

Question 22

Disadvantages of structured observations

Answer 22

• categories unclear

* behaviours may occur that aren’t in the coding system

Question 23

Advantages of unstructured observations

Answer 23

• More behaviours can be recorded

* clear categories when taking notes

Question 24

Disadvantages of unstructured observations

Answer 24

• may miss behaviours while writing

* less scientific