Observations Flashcards
What is an observation?
Where a researcher observes a situation and records what happens, but doesn’t manipulate an IV
What is a naturalistic observation?
Observing people in an environment thats natural for them. Looking at behaviour that’s spontaneously occurring.
e.g. might look at children playing in the park.
What are the strengths of a naturalistic observation?
No demand characteristics
High ecological validity
What are the weaknesses of a naturalistic observation?
Less reliable - hard to replicate
What is a controlled observation?
Researcher does manipulate some variables. Carried out in laboratory-style situations.
e.g. Milgram’s study
What are the strengths of a controlled observation?
Replicable
Collect quantitative data
What are the weaknesses of a controlled observation?
Behaviour is less likely to be natural as participant knows they are being observed - demand characteristics
What is participant observation?
Researcher gets involved with the everyday life of the group that want to observe.
e.g. Rosenhan
What are the strengths of participant observation?
Gain more insight - increase validity
What are the weaknesses of participant observation?
May lose objectivity
What is non-participant observation?
Researcher observes the group from outside the group, don’t attempt to join in.
e.g. Bandura
What are the strengths of non-participant observation?
Objectivity
What are the weaknesses of non-participant observation?
Hard to gain insight into behaviour observing
What is a covert observation?
Where the group being observed aren’t aware they are being observed.
e.g. Bandura, Rosenhan, Sherif
What are the strengths of a covert observation?
Natural behaviour - no demand characteristics
What are the weaknesses of a covert observation?
May be ethical issues
What is an overt observation?
Where the group being observed are aware they are being studied
What are the strengths of an overt observation?
Ethical - gain consent
What are the weaknesses of an overt observation?
Participants know they are being observed - lower valdiity
What is a structured observation?
Uses a coding scheme or a contingency table with specific categories.
e.g. Bandura had specific behaviour he was looking for and made a tally each time it occurred. Collects quantitative data
What are the strengths of a structured observation?
Collect quantitative data - easy to analyse
Replicable
What are the weaknesses of a structured observation?
Data is limited - doesn’t provide meaning, lowers validity
What is an unstructured observation?
Doesn’t have any predetermined categories, just record periods of behaviour and note down everything we see during that time.
Could do this using a video. Tend to use time sampling - e.g. after every 10 minutes we observe for 2 minutes
Collects qualitative data
What are the strengths of an unstructured observation?
Gain more detailed data - increases validity
What are the weaknesses of an unstructured observation?
Very time consuming to collect and analyse
Cannot replicate - lowers reliability
