Observations Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is a naturalistic observation?
When the participants are in their natural surroundings and the experimenter studies their natural behaviour
What is a controlled observation?
When the experiment takes place in a lab, so is not in natural surroundings
Advantages of naturalistic behaviour
- gives a natural response, giving more accurate and reliable results
- ecological validity
Disadvantages of naturalistic observations
- 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
Advantages of controlled observations
- observer is more in control of results
- more ethical
- able to make experiment the same for everyone
Disadvantages of controlled observations
- less ecologically reliable
- could change the participants behaviour
- demand characteristics
What is a covert observation
Participants are unaware they are being observed
What is an overt observation?
Participants are aware they’re being observed
Advantages of covert observations
- natural behaviour
* avoid demand characteristics
Disadvantages of covert observations
- unethical
* no consent to be recorded
Advantages of overt observations
- ethical
* have the choice to back out
Disadvantages of overt observations
- demand characteristics
* become more aware of your behaviour
What is participant observations
Observations are made by someone that is taking part in the activity being observed
What are non-participant observations?
Observations are made by someone that is not taking part in the activity being observed
Advantages of participant observations
•it allows us to observe situations which we would not be able to do in more over ways
Disadvantages of participant observations
- unethical
- bigger risk of participant finding out you’re observing them
- harder to take notes
Advantages of non-participant observations
- more ethical
* smaller risk of participants finding out you’re observing them
Disadvantages of non-participant observations
- doesn’t allow you to close to the situation
- might miss small behaviours
- might set yourself too far away from what you’re observing
What is a structured observation
Where the researchers design a coding system to record the behaviours. E.g., tally every time they see a specific behaviour
What is an unstructured observation?
The researchers just write down all the behaviours they see
Advantages of a structured observation
- quicker to note down behaviours
- less chance of missing behaviours when writing
- more scientific than unstructured
Disadvantages of structured observations
- categories unclear
* behaviours may occur that aren’t in the coding system
Advantages of unstructured observations
- More behaviours can be recorded
* clear categories when taking notes
Disadvantages of unstructured observations
- may miss behaviours while writing
* less scientific