Research Methods: Observations - KU/KB

Question 1

“The conditions are manipulated by the researcher”

What type of observation is this?

Answer 1

Controlled observation

Question 2

What type of observation she carry out?

Answer 2

Controlled observation

Question 3

Define controlled observation

Answer 3

An observation whereby the conditions are manipulated by the researcher, this observation is carried out in a lab type situation

Question 4

Mary Ainsworth carried out a naturalistic observation.

TRUE/FALSE?

Answer 4

FALSE - it was a controlled observation

Question 5

Why are controlled observations praised for high reliability?

Answer 5

The environment is controlled and standardised - therefore the observations can be easily repeated to check for consist results

Question 6

What does reliability mean?

Answer 6

When you can repeat a study and check for consistency in results

Question 7

Which observation is the most reliable?

Answer 7

Controlled observation

Question 8

Explain why controlled observations lack ecological validity?

Answer 8

This observation method takes place in an artificial setting which doesn’t reflect real life and therefore the findings cannot be generalised beyond the setting of the observation - lowering the external validity

Question 9

When can you use demand characteristics as an evaluation point?

Answer 9

Only if the PPTs are over the age of 10 years old

Question 10

If the PPTs were over the age of 10 - why might a controlled observation be prone to demand characteristics?

Answer 10

As the PPTs are more likely to know they are being watched therefore they are likely to change their natural behaviour and may help or hinder the research based on clues given

Question 11

Over what age might the PPTs show demand characteristics in a controlled observation?

Answer 11

If they are over the age of 10

Question 12

A researcher wanted to measure children’s helping behaviour. They set up a play area environment where an adult would enter with a pile of books. The adult would ‘accidentally’ drop the books. They observed this using a two way mirror and controlled when the adult would drop the books and how long the adult would wait before beginning to pick up the books themselves.

What type of observation method is this?

Answer 12

Controlled observation

Question 13

In what observation method is there no manipulation of the variables?

Answer 13

Naturalistic observations

Question 14

Define a naturalistic observation (2m)

Answer 14

Watching the natural behaviour for PPTs where the target behaviour would normally occur - there is no manipulation of the variables

Question 15

Researcher wanted to investigate whether being in daycare made children more aggressive. He observed the children in the play area three times a week

What type of observation method is this?

Answer 15

Naturalistic observation

Question 16

Why does a naturalistic observation NOT suffer from demand characteristics with PPTs that are over the age of 10?

Answer 16

PPTs are less likely to know they are being watched therefore unlikely to change their natural behaviour, and are less likely to help or hinder the researcher - increasing the internal validity

Question 17

Why does a naturalistic observation have high internal validity?

Answer 17

PPTs are less likely to know they are being watched therefore unlikely to change their natural behaviour, and are less likely to help or hinder the researcher

Question 18

Which observation method has high internal validity: controlled/naturalistic?

Answer 18

Naturalistic observation

Question 19

Why has a naturalistic observations been praised for high external validity?

Answer 19

As the observation takes place in a natural setting therefore findings can be generalised to other similar settings increasing the external validity

Question 20

Which observation method has high ecological validity?

Answer 20

Naturalistic observation

Question 21

Explain why naturalistic observations have been criticised for low reliability?

Answer 21

PPTs are observed in their natural environment therefore very difficult to replicate the observation and obtain consistent results

Question 22

Why is it difficult to obtain consistent results in a naturalistic observation?

Answer 22

You are observing PPTs in their natural environment and therefore difficult to replicate the observation in the exact same conditions to obtain consistent results

Question 23

Why might naturalistic observations be unethical?

Answer 23

Lack if informed consent as people might not be aware they are being observed due to being observed in their natural setting and therefore not giving their consent to take part

Question 24

Which observation method is the most unethical?

Answer 24

Naturalistic observations

Question 25

Why has naturalistic observations been criticised for lack of informed consent?

Answer 25

People might not be aware they are being observed due to being observed in their natural setting and therefore not given their consent to take part

Question 26

Define overt observation (2m)

Participants are aware of their behaviour is being observed, so will be aware of the purpose of the research (1m)

What do you need for the second mark?

Answer 26

Observer is clearly visible to the PPT (2m)

Question 27

What observation is it when the observer is clearly visible to the PPT?

Answer 27

Overt observation

Question 28

Why is overt observation the most ethical?

Answer 28

PPTs know they are being observed so they can give consent for their data to be used

Question 29

Which observation method is the most ethical: Overt/Covert?

Answer 29

Overt observation

Question 30

Why is overt observation more ethical than covert?

Answer 30

PPTs know they are being observed so PPTs can give their consent for their data to be used

Question 31

Why is overt observation prone to demand characteristics only if the PPT is over the age of 10?

Answer 31

PPTs are more likely to know they are being watched therefore change their natural behaviour and help or hinder the research based on clues given off by the observer

Question 32

Why may overt observations have low internal validity?

Answer 32

If the PPTs are over the age of 10 they might know they are being watched and therefore change their natural behaviour, help or hinder the research based on clues - lowering the internal validity

Question 33

Researcher wanted to investigate whether being in daycare made children more aggressive. He recorded the children in the play area three times a week using hidden CCTV cameras

What observation is this an example of?

Answer 33

Covert observation

Question 34

Define covert observation

Answer 34

Observations that are conducted without the awareness of the PPTs and can be done through an observer being hidden

Question 35

Give an example of how you might carry out a covert observation

Answer 35

Secret cameras or from behind a 2 way mirror

Question 36

Why is the Strange Situation an example of a covert observation?

Answer 36

It was carried out using a 2 way mirror

Question 37

Why may a covert observation be less likely to suffer from demand characteristics?

Answer 37

PPTs know they are being watched therefore they are unlikely to change their natural behaviour, and are less likely to help or hinder the research increasing the internal validity

Question 38

What is a disadvantage of covert observation?

Answer 38

Raises ethical issues as PPTs are unaware they are being watched therefore they have not given their informed consent and invasion of privacy would be a problem

Question 39

Why are covert observations unethical?

Answer 39

PPTs are unaware they are being observed, raising ethical issues such as lack of informed consent and invasion of privacy that would need to be resolved

Question 40

What is meant by a participant observation?

Answer 40

The researcher is involved with the group, data collected whilst being part of a group

Question 41

What type of observation method is where the researcher is involved with the group?

Answer 41

Participant observation

Question 42

Name 1 strength of participant observation

Answer 42

Observer can gain an in-depth understanding of the groups behaviour

Question 43

Why are you able to gain an in-depth understanding of the groups behaviour with participant observation?

Answer 43

As the observer is part of the group, they will not miss out important aspects of the research

Question 44

Why does a participant observation have high internal validity?

Answer 44

As the observer is part of the group, they will not miss out important aspects of the research e.g. feelings and motivations, therefore increasing the internal validity of the observation

Question 45

Identify a disadvantage of participant observation

Answer 45

Risk of researcher bias

Question 46

Why might participant observation have researcher bias?

Answer 46

As the observer is part of the group - it decreases the objectivity of the observation as the researcher’s own thoughts and behaviours might impact the observation and lower the internal validity

Question 47

Why may participant observation have low internal validity?

Answer 47

As the observer is part of the group - it decreases the objectivity of the observation as the researcher’s own thoughts and behaviours might impact the observation and lower the internal validity

Question 48

What is meant by a non-participant observation?

Answer 48

An observation where the researcher is not involved with the group, data is collected from a distance

Question 49

In what type of observation method is the researcher not involved with the group?

Answer 49

Non-participant observation

Question 50

Why does a non-participant observation have high internal validity?

Answer 50

There is reduced researcher bias as the observer is not part of the group - increasing the objectivity of the observation as the researchers own thoughts are less likely to impact the observation

Question 51

Why might it be difficult to gain in-depth understanding of a groups behaviour in a non-participant observation?

Answer 51

The researcher is not involved with the group and the data is collected from a distance so they may miss important aspects e.g. feelings and motivations

Question 52

Why does non-participant observation have low internal validity?

Answer 52

The researcher is not involved with the group and the data is collected from a distance so they may miss important aspects e.g. feelings and motivations - lowering the internal validity of the observation