Psychology Paper 3: Observations Flashcards
Participant observations
the researcher becomes part of the group that they observes. Intimate strategy
Reactivity
Critics of the the non-participant observation argue that people who are observed do not behave naturally
Naturalistic observation
Simply means that the observation takes place in the participants’ natural environment.
Overt observation
The participants know they are being observed.
Covert observation
The participants are not aware they are being studied, so they have not agreed to it
Inter-observer reliability
Multiple observers in the same field can compare data to ensure a match of the data. One observer might notice what another has missed. Make sures observations are credible
Inducive content analysis
Reading and rereading the field notes in an interactive way.
The researcher must be able to identify bits of data and create categories.
Strengths of participant observations
Avoids researcher bias
Holistic interpretation of the topic. Takes into account many aspects of the observation
Limitations of non-participant observation
Reactivity
Limitation of participant observations
Difficult to record data promptly. Time consuming, researcher needs to be physically present . Might lose objectivity. Involvement vs detachment
Strengths of naturalistic observation
High ecologicl validiuty
Collects data in cases where it would be unethical otherwise
Limitation of naturalistic obervations
Reactivity
If data is collected alone it might be a problem checking the data
Ethical considerations about watching strangers without their knowledge
