research method (observation)

Question 2

Five. Key question of observation

Answer 2

Who (age [16 or above], gender, from where, number [max 20]) 
What (structured observation, unstructured observation)[operationalised] (coding frame, raw data table)
Where (only acceptable in public situation where those observer would expect to be observed by stranger)
When (the day during the week, the time during the day, season of the year)
How?

Question 3

Definition of unstructured observation

Answer 3

Nonfocused
Generating description /qualitative data of the range of behaviour going on

Question 4

Definition of structured observation

Answer 4

The observation of behaviour is guided by the use of specific behavioural category, define Prior to the observation through the development of what is known as a coding frame

Question 5

Advantage and disadvantage of structured and unstructured observation

Answer 5

Structure

Advantage
Quantitative data, allowed, analyse and compare
Higher reliability , clear, category, consistent, standardise

Disadvantage
Lack of insight a reason why for our behaviour/may not fully understand why behaviour are happening
(Both)
Lower validity , may missed out important information so we are not measuring what we want (if its too precise)
Unable to spot out unusual behaviour

Vise versa

Question 6

Advantage and disadvantage of using CCTV for observation

Answer 6

Advantage
Stop and replay
Less limitation in vision
From different part /aspect, allowed full view

Disadvantage
Can not see anyone have the back facing camera
Too many people at once, cannot observe

Question 7

advantage and disadvantage of participant and non participant observation

Answer 7

participant
advantage
- collect more data as you are in amongst the group (better view, more detail)
- access certain groups (e.g. prison/ hospital) which cant do non participant observation
Disadvantage
- miss out some info depending on the setting as you are in the same place as the participant
- social desirability bias (participant may change their acti to fit in with the group)

non participant
advantage
- less chance of the researcher affecting other behaviour as they are not in amongst the group when data collect , natural behaviour. increase validity
- easier to conduct using cctv camera
Disadvantage
- missout behaviour as they are not with the participant
- difficult to investigate some topic without being there at the time of the research

Question 8

definition of participant observation

Answer 8

the researcher to be involved with those that are being observed

Question 9

definition of non participant observation

Answer 9

the researcher could try to stand apart from what they are observing and look at it from the outside

Question 10

Advantage and disadvantage of covert and overt observation

Answer 10

covert
A- high construct validity (participant are not aware they are being observe so should t have change their behaviour, natural)
D- ethical issue (no right to withdraw, maybe protection from harm)
*consented - in public place

vise versa

Question 11

definition of covert observation

Answer 11

participant are unaware that they are being observed {cover}

Question 12

definition of overt observation

Answer 12

participant know that they are being observed {open}

Question 13

advantage and disadvantage of naturalistic and controlled observation

Answer 13

Naturalistic
A- enable the researcher to see the real life behaviour , high validity
D- difficult to retain clear sight of all the behaviour that occur, so might miss out
- lack of controls, extraneous variable might affect construct validity

Question 14

researcher/ observer bias definition

Answer 14

if the researcher has a particular expectation of what they are likely to see during the observation period, they could be more likely to record the data in the way they expected

Question 15

researcher / observer effect definition

Answer 15

if the participant are aware of the observer watching them then it may result in the participant changing their behaviour and the data recorded not being a truly accurate representation of what individuals would do in the given situation.

Question 16

advantage and disadvantage to get an independent researcher to carry out the observation

Answer 16

a- ensure result are objective, not affect by the researcher bias
d- extra effort/ expense, and no guarantee they won’t affect by own biases/ prejudice

Question 17

advantage and disadvantage of train the observer

Answer 17

a - ensure they are consistent with one another in how to apply coding frame
d- even with training, some behaviour not anticipate/ unclear

Question 18

advantage and disadvantage of pilot study

Answer 18

a - bring out what issue like to be (unanticipate behaviour/ how to categorize)
d- not all behaviour can be crop up , some unecpected

Question 19

Definition of naturalistic observation

Answer 19

Experiment carried out in natural environment

Question 20

Definition of controlled observation

Answer 20

Observation carryout in laboratory setting, where are the extraneous variable is controlled

Question 21

Describe two things that may influence the inter-rater reliability of this study (improve/ reduced)

Answer 21

how well they operationalised the behavioural categories are in the coding frame. clarified the detail, so inter-rater reliability would be increased as different observers can agree about whether they have seen an example of certain behaviour

how much training observers have beforehand. The observers could then compare their coding frames after pilot trail against the definitive coding frame,
and if there was anything they had got wrong then this could be explained to them so that when they do the real observation they know what to look for.

trial identify what problem they encounter