Observations: Technique & Design

Question 1

What is Naturalistic observation?

Answer 1

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting
within which it would normally occur.

Question 2

What is Controlled observation?

Answer 2

Controlled observation: watching and recording behaviour within a
structured environment (one where variables and managed).

Question 3

What is Covert observation?

Answer 3

It is when participants behaviour is watched and recorded
without their knowledge or consent.

Question 4

What is Overt observation?

Answer 4

It is when participants behaviour is watched and recorded with
their knowledge and consent.

Question 5

What is Participant observation?

Answer 5

It is when the researcher becomes a member of the
group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording.

Question 6

What is Non-participant observation?

Answer 6

It is when the researcher remains outside of the
group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording.

Question 7

What are the strengths of Covert observation?

Answer 7

Less risk of investigator effects
Less chance of demand characteristics
More natural and representative of everyday behaviour.

Question 8

What are the weaknesses of covert observation?

Answer 8

Participants are not aware that they are being observed, they cannot give fully informed consent

Question 9

What are the strengths of overt observation?

Answer 9

More ethical than covert
It is possible to inform participants in advance of the aims and therefore informed consent is able.

Question 10

What are the weaknesses of overt observations

Answer 10

Higher risk of investigator effects
Higher chance of demand characteristics
NOT natural and representative of everyday behaviour.

Question 11

What are the strengths of participant observation?

Answer 11

Gather in depth data
Unlikely to overlook any behaviour

Question 12

What are the weaknesses of participant observation?

Answer 12

Investigator effects
Demand characteristic (If they know they are there)
Less validity (No natural behaviour)

Question 13

What are the strengths of Non-participant Observations

Answer 13

Investigator effects are less likely
Behaviour is more likely to be representative of a natural and unaltered human conduct.

Question 14

What are the weaknesses of Non-participant Observations

Answer 14

Lack of proximity
Human behaviour being observed will be overlooked because of not being involved personally.

Question 15

What are the strengths of Natural observations?

Answer 15

Higher ecological validity
More representative of everyday activities

Question 16

What are the weaknesses of Natural observations?

Answer 16

Issues with reliability (consistency)
Often lacks replicability

Question 17

What are the strengths of Controlled observations?

Answer 17

Can be replicated to check for reliability (consistency),
Has replicability

Question 18

What are the weaknesses of Controlled observations?

Answer 18

Lower level of external validity.
No longer represents real life
occurrences.

Question 19

What are the strengths of Structured observations?

Answer 19

The researcher can compare behaviour
Makes coding data easier.

Question 20

What are the Weaknesses of Structured observations?

Answer 20

There problems with internal validity in a structured observation, this is because the researcher may miss some crucial behaviours

Question 21

What are the strengths of Unstructured observations?

Answer 21

Rich in detail
Obtain comprehensive view of human behaviour.

Question 22

What are the Weaknesses of unstructured observations?

Answer 22

Prone to observer bias
Problem with inter-observer reliability

Question 23

What is Event sampling?

Answer 23

It is counting the number of times a behaviour occurs

Question 24

What is Time sampling?

Answer 24

It is counting behaviour in a set time frame, for example, recording what behaviour is being shown every 30 seconds.