Psychology - Research Methods - Observations Flashcards
Observations
When a researcher watches or listens to participants engaging in behaviour that is being studied
What are the observational techniques?
Controlled/Naturalistic, Covert/Overt, Participant/Non-Participant
Non participant observation
The researcher is not involved in what is going on. The researcher is external to what is going on/the people being observed.
What are advantages of Non-Participant observation?
- Allows researcher to remain objective - More validity as the participants won’t act differently
Disadvantages of Non-Participant Observations
- Researcher is less able to contextualise the observed behaviour - Demand characteristics due to someone watching
Participant Observation
Researcher is involved in participants activities
Advantages of participant observation
More understanding of what’s going on so more validity
Disadvantages of participant observation
Loses objectivity - Retrospective invalidity
Covert Observation
Psychologist goes undercover and doesn’t reveal their true identity
Evaluation of covert observation
- Unethical and debriefing is required + Less demand characteristics
Overt observation
Participants know they are being observed, psychologist reveals true identity
Overt observation advantage
More ethically acceptable
Overt observation disadvantage
- Demand characteristics so less valid and reliable due to observer effect
Naturalistic observation
observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
Advantages of naturalistic observation
- Participants are unaware they are observed so less demand characteristics - High mundane realism so high ecological validity - usually more ethical
disadvantages of naturalistic observation
- Impossible to control extraneous variables - Hard to determine cause of behaviour due to lack of control - Observer bias if overt observation is used
Controlled observation
Researcher observes participants in a controlled environment for manipulation of an IV
Controlled observation advantages
- Cause and effect determined because the observation is highly controlled - Extraneous variables can be controlled in this type of observation so more valid results - Yield qualitative data increasing validity
Controlled observation disadvantages
- Low levels of mundane realism and ecological validity due to high control - Observer effects can occur as participants know they are being observed
Observer bias
When observer knows study’s purpose and may observe behaviours that they think meet their aims and hypothesis, influencing how they record the data as it may be subjective
Behavioural categories
Specific types of behaviour that are being looked for in an observation
What are the two types of Sampling procedures?
Event sampling, Time interval sampling
Event sampling
Observer decides in advance what types of behaviour they are interested in and records all occurrences . All other types of behaviour are ignored
Time interval sampling
Observer decides in advance that observation will take place only during specified time periods and records the occurrence of the specified behaviour during that period only
Inter rater reliability
The extent to which two or more raters agree on the results they have gained in order to improve reliability and increase consistency
Pilot studies
A small-scale study to identify any flaws in the procedure
