Research Methods P4 Flashcards
What are observations?
Researchers watch + record behaviours
- Need to decide what observing (become operationalised)
- Measure DV in experiment
What is a structured observation?
Predetermined behaviour coding sheet with operationalised behaviour categories
What is an unstructured observation?
No predetermined coding sheet, but record all instances of behaviour that feels relevant
What is a naturalistic observation?
- Natural setting
- Env. free to vary
- Unstructured (less control)
What is a controlled observation?
- Lab/ artificial setting
- Aspects of env. controlled by researcher
- Structured (more control)
What are the strengths of a naturalistic observation?
P= High ecological validity
E= Takes place in natural setting
E= Natural behaviour (no DC)
What are the weaknesses of a naturalistic observation?
P= Ethical issues
E= Ppts studied in public
E= Ppts should be studied in env. they know they’re likely to be observed
P= Low reliability
E= Hard to control extraneous variables
E= Harder to replicate
What are the strengths of a controlled observation?
P= Less ethical issues
E= Give consent before observation
E= Adhere to ethical guidelines
P= High reliability
E= Standardised procedure + control EV
E= Easier to replicate
What are the weaknesses of controlled observation?
P= Low ecological validity
E= Artificial setting
E= Prone to DC
What is an overt observation?
- Ppts aware they are being studied
- Ppts agree before research conducted
What is a covert observation/ undisclosed observation?
- Ppts not aware they are being studied
- Behaviours observed must be public
What are the strengths of a covert observation?
P= High validity
E= Not aware of observation
E= Reduce DC
What are the weaknesses of a covert observation?
P= Ethical issues
E= Ppts can’t give informed consent
E= Privacy violation seems unethical
P= Practical difficulties
E= Difficult for researchers to remain unobserved
E= Reduced validity (may not record everything)
What are the strengths of an overt observation?
P= Less ethical issues
E= Already gave consent
E= Agreed to take part in research
What are the weaknesses of an overt observation?
P= Low validity
E= Ppts aware of observation
E= Display DC
What is a participant observation?
- Researcher becomes part of study
- Research provide 1st hand account
- Overt or covert
What is a non-participant observation?
- Researcher remains separate from study
- Overt or covert
What are the strengths of a participant observation?
P= More insight into behaviour studied
E= 1st hand account of what’s happening
E= Improves validity
What are the weaknesses of a participant observation?
P= Practical difficulties
E= Problematic to get accurate notes whilst participating (relying on memory)
E= Reduces validity
P= Investigator bias
E= Researcher interacts with ppts
E= Researcher identify with ppts (affects validity)
What are the strengths of a non-participant observation?
P= Less practical difficulties
E= Remains separate
E= Increase validity (make notes during)
P= Less prone to investigator bias
E= Remains separate
E= Researcher remains objective (increase validity)
What is an observational design?
How we conduct the different types of observations
What are behavioural categories?
- Decides in advance what behaviours to record (structured)
- Record continuous stream of data (unstructured)
- Tally chart
- Improve inter-rater reliability + intra- rater reliability
What is behaviour sampling?
Deciding how frequently we are going to record instances for behaviour
What is event sampling?
Decide what behaviours to focus on + record when it happens
What is time sampling?
Behaviour recorded at set time intervals
What is inter-rater reliability?
2+ observers conduct an observation simultaneously but separately + compare recordings (assess consistency)
