Observations

Question 1

What are structured observations ?

Answer 1

The researcher has pre determined behaviours ready to tally

Question 2

Strengths of structured observations?

Answer 2

There’s a clear direction

Good for inter reliability

Easy to record and analyse

Less likely to miss behaviours

Question 3

Weaknesses of structured observations ?

Answer 3

Behaviours may occur that aren’t on the checklist and then don’t get recorded

Observers bias could occur when making checklist behaviours

Question 4

What are unstructured observations ?

Answer 4

The researcher does not have a pre determined behaviour checklist and records any behaviours they see.

Question 5

Strengths of unstructured observations ?

Answer 5

Allows the observer to record any behaviours they see.

Not restricted to a checklist

Question 6

Weaknesses of unstructured observations ?

Answer 6

May lose sight of the actual observation and have too many behaviours to record

Difficult to record and analyse

Question 7

What are naturalistic observations ?

Answer 7

An observation carried out in a natural environment/ where you would expect to see that behaviour occur

Question 8

Strengths of naturalistic observations ?

Answer 8

Higher ecological validity

Question 9

Weaknesses of naturalistic observations ?

Answer 9

Less control by researcher

Less replicable

May be unethical

Question 10

What are controlled observations ?

Answer 10

Observations in a controlled setting

Question 11

Strengths of controlled observations ?

Answer 11

Researcher has more control over the observation

Easy to replicate

Question 12

Weaknesses of controlled observations ?

Answer 12

Low ecological validity

Question 13

What are participant observations ?

Answer 13

Where the observers are part of or pretending to be part of participants that are being observed

Question 14

Strengths of participant observations ?

Answer 14

Observers gain first hand data. This may lead to greater accuracy and detail

Less likely to miss behaviours

Question 15

Weaknesses of participant observations ?

Answer 15

May show observer bias, they may get caught up in the observation and interpret the behaviours how they want

Question 16

What are Non participant observations ?

Answer 16

The researcher is not part of the observation

Question 17

Strengths of no participant observations ?

Answer 17

Less chance of observer bias if not involved in the observation

Question 18

Weaknesses of non participant observations ?

Answer 18

May miss certain behaviours

Difficult to observe every behaviour

Data may be less detailed

Question 19

What are overt observations ?

Answer 19

Participants know they are being observed

Question 20

Strengths of overt observations?

Answer 20

Reduces ethical issues

Question 21

Weaknesses of overt observations ?

Answer 21

Participants may change their behaviour if they know they are being observed

Question 22

What are covert observations ?

Answer 22

They don’t know they are being observed

Question 23

Strengths of covert observations ?

Answer 23

No chance of observer effect

No demand characteristics/ observer bias

Question 24

Weaknesses of covert observations ?

Answer 24

Less ethical and must only be done in a public place

Question 25

What is time sampling ?

Answer 25

Observes a specific time

Records at fixed time intervals

Question 26

Strengths of time sampling ?

Answer 26

Less likely to miss behaviours as observer should be more focused

Easier to record

Question 27

Weaknesses of time sampling ?

Answer 27

May miss some behaviours if they occur when the observer isn’t recording behaviours

Question 28

What is event sampling ?

Answer 28

A researcher records behaviours every time it happens

Question 29

Strengths of event sampling ?

Answer 29

Validity is increased if all behaviours are recorded

Question 30

Weaknesses of event sampling ?

Answer 30

May miss some behaviours if several happen at once and it’s difficult to keep track

Question 31

What are behavioural categories ?

Answer 31

When there are categories of behaviours

Question 32

Strengths of behavioural categories ?

Answer 32

Gives the researcher direction

More likely to record every behaviour they need to

Question 33

Weaknesses of behaviour categories ?

Answer 33

May restrict the researcher and only focus on listed behaviours

Question 34

What are coding frames ?

Answer 34

When behavioural categories are coded and can be rated

Question 35

Strengths of coding frames ?

Answer 35

Allows the behaviour checklist to contain more detail .

Question 36

Weaknesses of coding frames ?

Answer 36

Observers may interpret

Question 37

What is an observer effect ?

Answer 37

When the presence of the observer on an overt observation changes the participants behaviours

Question 38

What is inter rated reliability ?

Answer 38

2 or more observers observe at the same time and record the same behaviours. They compare the data

Question 39

What is observer bias ?

Answer 39

When observers see why they expect to see/ want to see