Research Methods : Observations

Question 1

What’s an observation?

Answer 1

A researcher will just observe behaviour of a sample and look for patterns
• cannot draw a cause and effect relationship

Question 2

Naturalistic observations

Answer 2

An observation of behaviours in its natural setting, the researcher makes no attempt to influence behaviour (where its unethical to manipulate)

Question 3

Naturalistic observations advantages

Answer 3

• high levels of ecological validity as in a natural setting
• less likely to be demand characteristics (unaware of being studied)

Question 4

Naturalistic observations disadvantages

Answer 4

• little control over EVs
• replication is not often possible (can’t check reliability)

Question 5

Controlled observations

Answer 5

An observation taking place in a controlled setting where researcher can’t be seen

Question 6

Controlled observation ads

Answer 6

• less risk of extraneous variables affecting behaviour

Question 7

Controlled observations disads

Answer 7

• less ecologically valid as setting is artificial

Question 8

Structured observations

Answer 8

An observation where the researcher creates a behavioural checklist before the observation in order to code the behaviour (with event or time sampling)

Question 9

Behavioural checklist

Answer 9

Target behaviour is spilt into categories which are checked off when displayed

Question 10

Participant reactivity

Answer 10

Type of reactivity where individuals modify their win behaviour in response to their awareness of being observed (hawthorn effect/ observation effect)

Question 11

Inter-rather reliabity

Answer 11

The reliability - two observers min compare their data at the end of an experiment and the correlation should be higher than 0.8 to be reliable

Question 12

Structured obersavtions ads

Answer 12

• allows quantitative data to be collected (can be statistically analysed)
• allows for more than one observer to carry out the experiment (increase reliability)

Question 13

Structured observations disads

Answer 13

• behavioural categories can be restrictive (some behaviours may be missed)
• doesnt explain why behaviour is happening

Question 14

Unstructured observations

Answer 14

The observer notes down all the behaviours they can see in a qualitative form over a period of time (no behavioural checklist)

Question 15

Unstructured observation ads

Answer 15

• rich qualitative data that can explain behaviour collected
• researchers not limited by prior theoretical expectations

Question 16

Unstructured observations disads

Answer 16

• the observer may lose focus on what they’re researching due to eye catching behaviour
• more** subjective** and less comparable across researchers

Question 17

Overt observation

Answer 17

Ps are aware their behaviour is being studied - observer is obvious

Question 18

Overt observation ads

Answer 18

• ethical guidelines fulfilled

Question 19

Overt observation disads

Answer 19

• demand characteristics
• participant reactivity

Question 20

Covert observation

Answer 20

Ps are unaware their behaviour is being studied - observer is hidden

Question 21

Covert observation ads

Answer 21

• behaviour is more natural

Question 22

Covert observation disads

Answer 22

• may break ethical guidelines (cause Ps psychological harm)

Question 23

Participant observation

Answer 23

The observer becomes/ is involved in the P group and is not known to be an observer by Ps

Question 24

Participant observations ads

Answer 24

• deeper understanding of behaviour

Question 25

Participant observations disads

Answer 25

• presence of researcher may influence behaviour
• researcher may lose objectivity as they’re part of the group

Question 26

Non-participant observations

Answer 26

The observer is separate from the P group that’s being observed

Question 27

Non-participant observations ads

Answer 27

• observations more objective as they’re not influenced by the group

Question 28

Non-participant observations disads

Answer 28

• harder to understand reasons behind behaviour

Question 29

Behavioural checklist

Answer 29

Target behaviour is split into categories which are checked off when displayed
- some behaviours are aider to categories then others

Question 30

Behavioural categories

Answer 30

The sub sectors a certain behaviour is split into
must…
• be observable
• no need for inferences
• cover all possible components
• be mutually exclusive/ not overlap

Question 31

Pilot study

Answer 31

Small scale study carried out before the actual research. It allows researchers to practice with behavioural checklists + observation schedules

Question 32

Event sampling

Answer 32

Counting each time a particular behaviour is observed

Question 33

Event sampling ads

Answer 33

• useful when target behaviour occurs frequently
• gets all details (time sampling might miss)

Question 34

Event sampling disads

Answer 34

• if situation is busy, target behaviour could be missed

Question 35

Time sampling

Answer 35

Recording behaviour at determined time intervals

Question 36

Time sampling ads

Answer 36

• observer has time to record what they’ve seen

Question 37

Time sampling disads

Answer 37

• some behaviours will be missed between the intervals, meaning results may not be representative