Research methods- Observation designs Flashcards
Behavioural Categories
If a structured observation, research must break behaviour into behaviour categories.
Categories must be fully operationalised, making it easy to identify/ record behaviour.
Will increase internal validity/ reliability.
Example of BC
Behaviour checklist/ Coding system
Behaviours are predetermined/ given a code.
Each time behaviour is displayed code is written down.
BC AO3
P- Difficult to make clear/ ambiguous
E- Categories should be self-evident and not overlap, not always possible to achieve.
E- ‘smiling’ and ‘grinning’ would be poor categories
P- Dustbin categories
E- All forms of behaviour should be in the list and not one ‘dustbin’
E- ‘Dumped’ behaviours go unrecorded
Pilot study
A small scale trail run of an investigation before completing the real thing.
Improves validity of research.
Event Sampling
Recording every instance of a behaviour when it happens.
ES AO3
P- Useful for infrequent behaviours
E- Research will still collect behaviours that do not occur in regular intervals
E- Behaviours could be easily missed
P- Complex behaviour oversimplified
E- If event too complex, important details may go unrecorded
E- May affect validity
Coding
Behavioural categories can take the form of a behaviour checklist or coding where all behaviours to be observed are pre-determined and then given a code. Each time behaviour occurs research writes down the code.
Time Sampling
Involves dividing a specific time period into smaller intervals and observing and recording behaviour during only certain parts of the interval.
TS AO3
P- Reduces the number of observations
E- Rather than recording everything that is seen (i.e. continuous) data is recorded in certain intervals.
E- Observation is more structured and systematic.
P- May be unrepresentative
E- Researcher may miss important details outside of time scale
E- May not reflect whole behaviour
