research methods: observations

Question 1

naturalistic?

Answer 1

behaviour is same and observed within natural environment

Question 2

controlled?

Answer 2

some behaviour is controlled by researcher, pts likely to know they’re being observed

Question 3

structured?

Answer 3

researcher has systems in place to record what they see, they might be behavioural categories or event/ time sampling procedures

Question 4

unstructured?

Answer 4

researcher has no systems in place, they simply record all they can see

Question 5

participant?

Answer 5

observer becomes actively involved in activities of people being studied, they observe from participants pov

Question 6

non participant?

Answer 6

observer observes behaviour of pt and does not get involved in activities

Question 7

overt?

Answer 7

observers identity is known, pts are aware of their purpose

Question 8

covert?

Answer 8

observers identity is not known to pts, they may be aware of the individual but do not know their role

Question 9

what is behavioural categories?

Answer 9

researchers will need to decide how different behaviours should be categorised

Question 10

what should the behavioural categories be?

Answer 10

objective, cover all possible component behaviours, be mutually exclusive

Question 11

how do they create behavioural categories?

Answer 11

dividing target behaviour into subsets, each behavioural category needs to be operationalised, behavioural categories should not overlap.

Question 12

what is event sampling?

Answer 12

counting number of times a certain behaviour happens in a target

Question 13

what is time sampling?

Answer 13

recording behaviour in a given time

Question 14

what are advantages of time sampling?

Answer 14

less likely to miss predefined events,
increases validity and reliability

Question 15

what are the disadvantages of time sampling?

Answer 15

can miss events not coded for, can be hard if lots of behaviour occurs at once

Question 16

what are advantages of event sampling?

Answer 16

more representative over time,
easier, more reliable

Question 17

what are disadvantages of event sampling?

Answer 17

can miss important events

Question 18

strengths of observational studies in general?

Answer 18

detailed research,
can see real behaviour,
collects qualitative and quantitative

Question 19

limitations of observational studies in general?

Answer 19

small samples,
time consuming

Question 20

limitations of controlled?

Answer 20

low ecological validity as researcher records behaviour in artificial environment

Question 21

strengths of controlled?

Answer 21

replicated to check reliability as researchers in control of variables so can repeat when they wish

Question 22

strengths of naturalistic?

Answer 22

high ecological validity, with no outside interference

Question 23

limitations of naturalistic?

Answer 23

can’t be replicated to check reliability

Question 24

strengths of overt?

Answer 24

is possible to inform pts in advance to get consent

Question 25

limitations of overt?

Answer 25

behaviour can be distorted through investigator effects

Question 26

strengths of covert?

Answer 26

investigator effects are unlikely

Question 27

limitations of covert?

Answer 27

less ethical as pts are not aware and no consent

Question 28

strengths of participant?

Answer 28

obtain in depth data, unlikely to overlook or miss any behaviour

Question 29

limitations of participant?

Answer 29

researchers presence might influence pts behaviour

Question 30

strengths of non participant?

Answer 30

investigator effects are less likely as researcher not visible

Question 31

limitations of non participant?

Answer 31

due to a lack of proximity might overlook or miss behaviours