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Psychology A-Level > RM4- Observations > Flashcards

RM4- Observations Flashcards

1
Q

operationalise

A

turning abstract concepts into measurable observations

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2
Q

naturalistic observation

A

a qualitative research method where you record the behaviours of your subjects in real-world settings

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3
Q

controlled observation

A

researchers watch participants in a controlled environment, e.g. in a laboratory

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4
Q

overt observation

A

those being observed are aware of what they are being observed for

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5
Q

covert observation

A

where the researcher is ‘undercover’ and the participants are unaware that they are being observed

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6
Q

participant observation

A

the researcher is immersed in the day-to-day activities of the participants

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7
Q

non-participant observation

A

observing participants without the researcher actively participating

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8
Q

what are observations?

A

when researchers watch and record behaviours that they are interested in studying

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9
Q

what are the two types of observations?

A

structured and unstructured

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10
Q

what are structured interviews?

A

the researcher uses a predetermined behaviour coding sheet with operationalised behaviour categories that they think exemplify what behaviours they will see

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11
Q

what are unstructured interviews?

A

the researcher doesn’t have a predetermined coding sheet but records all instances of behaviours

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12
Q

in a naturalistic observation, what are aspects of the environment free to….

A

VARY
-most likely to be unstructured

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13
Q

in a controlled observation, aspects of the environment are….

A

CONTROLLED by the researcher
-most likely to be structured

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14
Q

AO3
are naturalistic observations high or low in ecological validity

A

high
-take place in natural settings
-behaviour is likely to be natural
-this reduces demand characteristics

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15
Q

AO3
are naturalistic observations ethical?

A

ethical issues could arise
-ppts are studied in public, in a natural setting
-may not have given consent to be studied

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16
Q

AO3
are naturalistic observations high or low in reliability?

A

low in reliability
-hard to implement standard procedures
-less control in natural setting
-hard to replicate

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17
Q

AO3
are controlled observations high or low in ecological validity?

A

low in ecological validity
-take place in an artificial setting
-demand characteristics may show

17
Q

AO3
are ethical issues more or less likely in controlled observations?

A

less likely
-studied in artificial environment
-aware they are being studied

18
Q

AO3
are controlled observations high or low in reliability?

A

high in reliability
-use standard procedures
-easier to replicate

19
Q

describe overt observations

A

-participants are aware they are being studied
-they agree to participant before the research is conducted

20
Q

describe covert observations

A

-participants are not aware they are being studied
-observation occurs in public so they are visible to others

21
Q

AO3
are covert observations high or low in validity?

A

high
-ppts are unaware they are being observed
-demand characteristics are not shown

22
Q

AO3
do covert observations have ethical issues?

A

ppts are unaware they are being studied
-not give informed consent

23
Q

AO3
are overt observations high or low in validity?

A

low
-ppts are aware they are being observed
-demand characteristics may be shown

24
Q

AO3
do overt observations have ethical issues?

A

less prone to ethical issues
-ppts are aware they are being studied
-give informed consent beforehand

25
Q

describe a participant observation

A

-researcher becomes part of the group they are studying
-researcher can provide a first hand account

26
Q

describe a non-participant observation

A

-the researcher remains separate from the participants they are studying

27
Q

AO3
why can there be practical difficulties associated with participant observation?

A

it can be hard for the researcher to accurately note and view behaviours whilst also participating
-validity could be reduced
-inaccurate details and information may be obtained

28
Q

AO3
do participant observation provide more or less insight into behaviour being studied?

A

more insight
-researcher is part of the group, can prompt certain behaviour?
-increases the validity

29
Q

AO3
is participant observation more or less prone to investigator bias?

A

-more prone
-researcher interacts with the participants
-validity of their findings could be affected

30
Q

AO3
are there more or less practical difficulties in non-participant observations

A

less practical difficulties
-researcher is able to remain separate to the ppts and make recordings as they go
-high validity and accuracy of information obtained

31
Q

AO3
are non-participant observations more or less prone to investigator bias

A

less
-researcher remains separate from participants
-remains objective so increases the validity of their findings

32
Q

what does observational design refer to?

A

HOW we conduct the different types of observations

33
Q

what are behavioural categories?

A

they improve inter-rater reliability (extent to which a single observer is consistent when observing the same behaviour)
-a behaviour checklist/ coding sheet can be used to record the frequencies of behaviours seen to then draw conclusions
-in structured observations, the researcher decides in advance what behaviours they are recording.
-in unstructured observations, there is no predetermined behaviour checklist, they attempt to record a continuous stream of data

34
Q

what is event sampling?

A

when the researcher decides what behaviour they are going to focus on and records this every time it happens

35
Q

what is time sampling?

A

when behaviour is recorded at set time intervals, each time the target behaviour is observed it is recorded on a tally chart

36
Q

in event and time sampling, how can data be presented?

A

in a bar chart
-showing the number of instances of each behaviour observed

37
Q

what is inter-rater reliability

A

when two or more observers conduct an observation simultaneously but separately and compare their recordings to assess the level of consistency

38
Q

if recordings are more consistent….

A

they are more reliable

39
Q

if there is high inter-rater reliability…

A

there will be a positive correlation between two recordings

Psychology A-Level (12 decks)

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