RM - Observational techniques

Question 1

What happens in an observational study?

Answer 1

A researcher watches of listens to participants engaging in whatever behaviour is being studied.

Question 2

When/why are observational techniques used?

Answer 2

Often used in an experiment as a means of measuring the dependent variable.

Question 3

What figure would show that data has a high inter-observer reliability?

Answer 3

If there is more than 80% agreement on the observations.

Question 4

What happens in a naturalistic observation?

Answer 4

Behaviour is studied in a natural situation where everything has been left as it is normally.

The researcher doesn’t interfere in any way with what is happening.

Question 5

What type of observation includes the fact that the researcher doesn’t interfere in any way with what is happening and behaviour is studied in a natural situation where everything has been left as it is normally?

Answer 5

Naturalistic.

Question 6

What happens in a controlled observation?

Answer 6

Some variables in the environment are regulated by the researcher, reducing the ‘naturalness’ of the environment and, most importantly, the naturalness of the behaviour being studied.

Participants are likely to know they are being studied and the study may be conducted in a laboratory.

Question 7

What does a controlled observation allow?

Answer 7

Allows the researcher to investigate the effects of certain things on behaviour, for example in Bandura’s study of social learning various toys were present to see how the children would interact with these.

Such ‘things’ aren’t the same as independent variables unless another group of participants had a different set of toys as a comparison.

Question 8

What type of observation includes the fact that some variables in the environment are regulated by the researcher and the participants are likely to know they are being studied?

Answer 8

Controlled.

Question 9

What type of observation is it if the person being observed may be aware of the observations?

Answer 9

Overt.

Question 10

How might an observer try to be unobtrusive and hide themselves?

Answer 10

One way mirrors.

Question 11

What type of observation is it if the participant doesn’t have any knowledge of being observed at least not before or during the study?

Answer 11

Covert.

Question 12

What type of observation is it if the observer is just watching or listening to the behaviours of others?

Answer 12

Non-participant

Question 13

What type of observation is it if the observer is part of the group being observed?

Answer 13

Participant

Question 14

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 14

A form of investigation in which behaviour is observed but under conditions where certain variables have been organised by the researcher.

Question 15

What are covert observations?

Answer 15

Observing people without their knowledge. Knowing that behaviour is being observed is likely to alter a participant’s behaviour.

Question 16

What is inter-observer reliability?

Answer 16

The extent to which there is agreement between two or more observers involved in observations of behaviour.

Question 17

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 17

An observation carried out in an everyday setting, in which the investigator doesn’t interfere in any way but merely observes the behaviour(s) in question.

Question 18

What is a non-participant observation?

Answer 18

The observer is separate from the people being observed.

Question 19

What is observer bias?

Answer 19

Observers’ expectations affect what they see or hear. This reduces the validity of the observations.

Question 20

What is an overt observation?

Answer 20

Observational studies where participants are aware that their behaviour is being studied.

Question 21

What is a participant observation?

Answer 21

Observations made by someone who is also participating in the activity being observed, which may affect their objectivity.

Question 22

What are the strengths of observational studies in general?

Answer 22

• High validity: they record what people actually do rather than what they say they do.
• They may capture spontaneous and unexpected behaviour.
• Are often used as a way to measure the DV in an experiment and therefore are a fundamental method of gathering data.

Question 23

What are the limitations of observational studies in general?

Answer 23

• Serious issue of observer bias as it is difficult to be objective when making the observations because what people observe is distorted by their expectations of what is likely or what they would hope to see.
• Only observable behaviour is recorded and not information about what people think or feel.

Therefore data from observations must be interpreted carefully.

Question 24

How could you reduce the risk of observer bias in observational studies?

Answer 24

Use more than one observer to reduce the risk of observer bias affecting the validity of the observations.

Question 25

What are the strengths of naturalistic observations?

Answer 25

• Gives a realistic picture of spontaneous behaviour.

- So high ecological validity.

Question 26

What are the strengths of controlled observations?

Answer 26

• An observer can focus on particular aspects of behaviour.

Question 27

What are the limitations of naturalistic observations?

Answer 27

• There is little control of all the other things that are happening, which may mean that something unknown to the observer may account for the behaviour being observed.

Therefore there is a trade-off between ecological validity and control.

Question 28

What are the limitations of controlled observations?

Answer 28

• The control comes at the cost of the environment feeling unnatural and participants’ behaviour also being less natural.

Therefore there is a trade-off between ecological validity and control.

Question 29

What are the strengths of overt and covert observations?

Answer 29

In covert observations participants are unaware of being observed and thus their behaviour is more natural.

Question 30

What are the limitations of overt observations?

Answer 30

Participants are aware of being studied which may affect the naturalness of their behaviour - they may respond to demand characteristics.

Question 31

What are the limitations of covert observations?

Answer 31

• There are more important ethical issues - it is acceptable to observe people in a public place as long as the behaviours being observed are not private ones, such as kissing your boyfriend.
• Participants by definition can’t give informed consent, although it may be possible to seek retrospective consent.

Both overt and covert have contrasting strengths and limitations.

Question 32

What are the strengths of participant observations?

Answer 32

May provide special insights into behaviour from the ‘inside’ that may not otherwise be gained.

Question 33

What are the strengths of non-participant observations?

Answer 33

Observers are likely to be more objective because they are not part of the group being observed.

Question 34

What are the limitations of participant observations?

Answer 34

More likely to be overt and thus have issues of participant awareness.

Question 35

What are the limitations of non-participant observations?

Answer 35

More likely to be covert and then there are ethical issues.