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Observations-research methods Flashcards

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1
Q

research aim

A

is a statement of what we are interested in investigating. E.g. to investigate if there is a gender difference in mobile phone use.

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2
Q

research question

A

is a question relating to what is being investigated (?). It is often more specific than a research aim.

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3
Q

What do you need to consider when carrying out an observation?

A

When to observe (which day of the week, what time, for how long?)
Where to observe (naturalistic or controlled setting)
What to observe (what behaviours are you going to focus on?
How to observe (overt or covert, participant observer or non-participant, event or time sampling?)
Who to observe (sample, sample size, sampling method)

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4
Q

Structured observations

A

A structured observation is where you look for very specific behaviours and keep a tally of every time you see a certain behaviour. To use a structured observation you need a coding frame. This means you can collect quantitative data.

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5
Q

Unstructured observations

A

An unstructured observation is where you observe participants without knowing what behaviours you are looking out for. Unstructured observations generally create a qualitative description of what you’ve seen.

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6
Q

Advantages of structured observations

A

Useful- key guidelines have been set out to find out specif things
Easy to compare results

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7
Q

Disadvantage of structured observations

A

Spontaneous behaviour is not counted for if it is not in the pre-test list.
We don’t know why we only know the amount of time something happens (a tally)
Subjective it’s coding is not spefic

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8
Q

Example of structured observations

A

Bandura

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9
Q

Unstructured interview advantages

A

more detail
more accature as we are recording everything
does not limit data that can be collected
high in construct validity

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10
Q

Unstructured interview disadvantage

A

Difficult to record all data
low inter rater reliability
very difficult to compare and analyse we cannot replicate

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11
Q

Example of unstructured interview

A

Stanford Prison experiment

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12
Q

Naturalistic observations

A

are when you observe people in a natural setting (like in a field experiment).

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13
Q

Controlled observations

A

are when you put people in a controlled, lab-like environment and observe their behaviour.

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14
Q

Strength of naturalistic observations

A

Natural behaviours seen (higher ecological validity)
May allow you to record unexpected behaviours

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15
Q

Weaknesses of naturalistic observations

A

Less control of extraneous variables
Harder to record behaviour (e.g. in distance, other people in the way)

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16
Q

Strengths of controlled observations

A

Less control of extraneous variables
Harder to record behaviour (e.g. in distance, other people in the way)

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17
Q

Weaknesses of controlled observations

A

Risk of demand characteristics if participants know they are being observed
Lower ecological validity

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18
Q

What is a coding frame

A

Set perimeters to know what berhaviours need to be tallied- only needed for structured interviews

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19
Q

behaviour categorizes

A

List of behaviours your recording

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20
Q

Ethics of observational studies

A

Observations are only acceptable in public situations where those observed would expect to be observed by strangers.

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21
Q

Informed consent for observations

A

A poster can be displayed beforehand explaining where and when the observation will be taking place, what behaviours will be observed, and advising people of what to do if they wish to avoid being observed.

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22
Q

Debrief for observations

A

A poster is displayed afterwards explaining what had happened which means that they can find out about the purpose of the study after and why they were not informed before and giving a contact number if anyone wants to find out more

23
Q

What ethical issues are protected when the observations is done overtly

A

informed consent or right to withdraw or no deception as participants are aware of the observation and can avoid taking place is they want to and consent is also not need in a public seeting.

24
Q

Participant observations

A

Participant observations are when the observer goes ‘undercover’ and pretends to be in the group of people that he/she is observing.

25
Q

Non-participant observation

A

Non-participant observations are when the participants are observed by someone from outside the group (e.g. when CCTV is used).

26
Q

Strengths of participant observation

A

Allows you to see behaviours which are difficult to spot
Provides greater depth as you can record reasons for behaviours

27
Q

Weaknesses of participant observation

A

Observers may become too involved and lose objectivity
Presence of the observer may affect behaviour

28
Q

Strengths of non participant observation

A

More ethical as researchers are not directly impacting the behaviour
Easier to record the behaviour accurately

29
Q

Weaknesses of non participants observations

A

Less insight into the reasons for the behaviour shown
View may be obstructed (observing from a distance)

30
Q

Covert observation

A

Covert observations involve observing people without their knowledge

31
Q

Overt observation

A

Overt observations are carried out in a way the participants are aware they are being observed

32
Q

Strength of overt observations

A

Avoids the ethical issues as participants are aware they are being studied
Can be open in tallying behaviours so it’s easier to record data

33
Q

Weaknesses of overt observations

A

Participants know they are being observed so could change their behaviour
Biased sample as only those who agree to be observed are included

34
Q

Strengths of covert observations

A

Allows natural behaviours to be observed (so more valid - no demand characteristics)

35
Q

Weaknesses of covert observations

A

Difficult to record behaviours without raising suspicion
Ethical issues of a lack of consent, participants cannot withdraw

36
Q

Event sampling

A

In the event sampling, the observer keeps a count of each time a particular pre-determined behaviour occurs. They record behaviours for the whole duration of the observation.

37
Q

Time sampling

A

In time sampling, the time period to be observed in broken up into a series of time intervals, and records of behaviour are related to these time intervals.

38
Q

Event sampling advantages

A

All behaviours are recorded (nothing is missed out)
Better for recording behaviours which are not frequent.

39
Q

Disadvantageous of event sampling

A

Time consuming and difficult to keep concentration over a long period of time.
Difficult to record all behavior is there is a lot going on
Does not tell you when the behaviours occurred

40
Q

Advantages of time sampling

A

Can see when behaviour occurs and if it changes over the time period
Does not require the observer to concentrate throughout the time period

41
Q

Disadvantages of time sampling

A

Data recorded may not be full representative of what occurred
Can miss interesting data between time periods

42
Q

Type and level of data of coding frame

A

quantitative and nominal level

43
Q

Observer bias

A

Observer only records data that fits there aim-this can be unconscious

44
Q

Observer effect

A

Participants behaviour differently due to being observed

45
Q

How can carrying out the observation covertly effect the validity

A

Participants would show natural behaviours as they are unaware their behaviours is being observed (no demand characteristics) this increases internal validity
This could cause ethical issues as participants would not have informed consent.

46
Q

How can carrying out the observations in a naturalistic observation effect the validity

A

Ecological validity is increased as behaviours are likely to reflect what participants typically do

Could mean a lack of control over exteronous variables may make it more difficult for observers to record all behaviors accurately.

47
Q

How can having an independent observer effect the validity

A

The observers have no interest in proving a particular theory so will be more objective in recording the behaviour reduced the observer bias which improves the internal validity
They could still interpret the behavior wrong which reduces internal validity

48
Q

How can maiming the operationalise the coding frame effect the reliability

A

It can improve the reliability as it should help all observers to be consistent with each other on exactly what will or won’t count in the actual use of the coding frame.

Reliability is reduced as it is very difficult to be precise on exactly what will or won’t count as each behaviour category.

49
Q

How can training the observer in how to use the coding frame effect validity

A

It could improve reliability as this should help all observers to be consistent with each other in how they are applying the coding frame
It could be reduced as behaviours could occur which has not been anticipated in training therefore it could still be unclear on how to categorize them

50
Q

How does running a pilot effect the reliability of the observation

A

It improves the reliability as the practice run should help bring out any possible issues which could occur
It could reduce the reliability as not all unclear or unanticipated behaviours will crop up in a practice run.

51
Q

How can using a number of different observers effects the reliability

A

It improves the reliability as it enables a check on whether inter-rater reliability has been found
It can reduces the reliability as it throws up the issue of what to do if the observers are not in agreement with each other on the data recorded

52
Q

How a large sample can effect the external reliability

A

It will help to establish of a consistent trend if behaviours has been found across participants during the observations
It can reduces reliability as it can be time consuming to find or observe enough participants.

53
Q

Inter rater reliability

A

Consistency between two or more observers of some behavior and coding and compare-high comparison means high inter rater reliability.

Psychology (32 decks)

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