Observing & Measuring Behaviour Flashcards
Advantages of systematic observation
Systematic Permanent record of data Extraneous variables controlled Replication Observer bias low 80%+ reliability
Systematic observation
Data collected in way to maximise reliability. Involves coding system. Eg. Categorising behaviour
Disadvantages of systematic observation
Lacks ecological validity
Lacks behavioural spontaneity
Ethics
Naturalistic observation
Study subject in natural environment
Types of naturalistic observation
Full participant observation
Participant as observer
Observer as participant
Naturalistic observation advantages
Ecological validity
When controlled settings not pos
Naturalistic observation disadvantages
Difficult to conduct
Can be obtrusive
Observer bias higher
Replication difficulty
When observing behaviours defined by:
Form
Consequence
Behaviour form
Description based on form ie distinguishing running from walking
Behaviour consequence
What behaviour achieves
3 obvious behaviour measures
Latency (some event to first occurance)
Frequency
Duration
Types of observation
Continuous
Time-sampling
Reliability in behaviour observation
Extent to which measurements are consistent or repeatable and differ from occasion to occasion.
2 degrees of reliability
Index of concordance
Reliability coefficient
Behaviour correlation
Two sets of observations and see how well they correlate
Behaviours correlate (measures reliable) when score is:
.7 to -.8 or over
Epistemology
Study of the origin, nature and limits of human knowledge
Epistemology - positivism
One epistemology. Only study what is measurable. Anything else is irrelevant. Knowledge obtained through scientific method
Other types of epistemology:
Social constructionism
Feminism
Queer theory
Social constructionism
Research from a socially constructed perspective. How ppl construct their social reality
Positivism research methodology is mainly
Quantitative
Research not based on positivism use
Inductive approaches and are mostly qualitative
2 groups of methods for qualitative research
Emphasis on meaning for participants
Emphasis on language use
Thematic data analysis
Finds patterns or themes in data
Foucaldian discourse data analysis
How statements/images structure the way a particular thing is thought about.
Grounded theory data analysis
Theory induced/generated and grounded in the data.
Interpretive phenomenological data analysis
Processes through which individuals make sense of their own experiences.
Triangulation
Multiple methods (qual n quant) are used to help understand the said phenomonen.
Triangulation aims to
Enhance validity of research
