research methods: observational techniques

Question 1

What are the 6 types of observation?

Answer 1

• naturalistic
• controlled
• overt
• covert
• participant
• non-participant

Question 2

Why do psychologists use observations?

Answer 2

• an alternative experimental method in addition to experiments and self-report techniques
• provide the researcher with a way of seeing what people do without having to ask them
• allow researchers to study observable behaviour in a controlled or natural environment

Question 3

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 3

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would naturally occur
- all aspects of the environment are free to change

Question 4

What are the advantages of a naturalistic observation?

Answer 4

• high external validity
• findings can be generalised to everyday life as the behaviour is studied in the environment it would normally take place in

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of a naturalistic observation?

Answer 5

• lack of control over the situation makes replication of the investigation difficult
• there may be uncontrolled extraneous variables that make it more difficult to identify any pattern of behaviour

Question 6

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 6

Watching and recording behaviour within a structured and controlled environment
- data can still be recorded discreetly
- you can manipulate variables to observe effects

Question 7

What are the advantages of a controlled observation?

Answer 7

• extraneous variables are less of a problem as the setting is controlled
• more easily replicated due to control and standardisation over specific factors

Question 8

What is a disadvantage of a controlled observation?

Answer 8

• the artificiality of the observational environment might result in unnatural behaviour, not like behaviour shown in real-world situations
• Findings cannot be as easily generalised to real life

Question 9

What is an covert observation?

Answer 9

Participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent
- behaviour being observed must be public for the research to be ethical

Question 10

What is an advantage of covert observations?

Answer 10

• Participants do not know they are being studied which removes the problem of participant reactivity
• far more likely to show naturalistic behaviour free from demand characteristics or social desirability bias

Question 11

What is a disadvantage of covert observations?

Answer 11

Ethical issues - informed consent
- people might not want to be studied and haven’t given permission

Question 12

What is an overt observation?

Answer 12

Participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge or consent

Question 13

What is an advantage of an overt observation?

Answer 13

More ethical as informed consent has been given

Question 14

What is a disadvantage of an overt observation?

Answer 14

Since participants know they are being observed, they might change their behaviour
- demand characteristics and social desirability bias are more likely to be demonstrated

Question 15

What is a participant observation?

Answer 15

The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording

Question 16

What are advantages of participant observations?

Answer 16

• the researcher experiences the situation as the participants do, giving them more insight
• might increase the validity of the findings
• by taking part, the researcher might build rapport, more trust and comfort leading to participants behaving more naturally and disclosing more

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of participant observations?

Answer 17

• The researcher may identify too much with the group being studied and lose objectivity
• going native -> the line between being a researcher and a participant is blurred

Question 18

What is a non-participant observation?

Answer 18

The researcher remains outside the group they are observing and recording

Question 19

What is an advantage of non-participant observations?

Answer 19

Allows the researcher to maintain an objective psychological distance - less of a chance of them “going native”

Question 20

What is a disadvantage of non-participant observations?

Answer 20

They may lose valuable insight as they are far too removed from the individuals they are observing due to lack of trust/rapport

Question 21

What is the overall advantage of using observations

Answer 21

• observations can be useful in helping capturing what people actually do in certain situations
• sometimes not possible to ask someone why they are behaving in a certain way
• observation might be the only way to study their behaviour

Question 22

What is an overall disadvantage of using observations?

Answer 22

• Observations may be prone to observer bias
• they will interpret an observed event with their own biases
• unlike experiments, observations cannot demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships between variables