RM4- Observations Flashcards
operationalise
turning abstract concepts into measurable observations
naturalistic observation
a qualitative research method where you record the behaviours of your subjects in real-world settings
controlled observation
researchers watch participants in a controlled environment, e.g. in a laboratory
overt observation
those being observed are aware of what they are being observed for
covert observation
where the researcher is ‘undercover’ and the participants are unaware that they are being observed
participant observation
the researcher is immersed in the day-to-day activities of the participants
non-participant observation
observing participants without the researcher actively participating
what are observations?
when researchers watch and record behaviours that they are interested in studying
what are the two types of observations?
structured and unstructured
what are structured interviews?
the researcher uses a predetermined behaviour coding sheet with operationalised behaviour categories that they think exemplify what behaviours they will see
what are unstructured interviews?
the researcher doesn’t have a predetermined coding sheet but records all instances of behaviours
in a naturalistic observation, what are aspects of the environment free to….
VARY
-most likely to be unstructured
in a controlled observation, aspects of the environment are….
CONTROLLED by the researcher
-most likely to be structured
AO3
are naturalistic observations high or low in ecological validity
high
-take place in natural settings
-behaviour is likely to be natural
-this reduces demand characteristics
AO3
are naturalistic observations ethical?
ethical issues could arise
-ppts are studied in public, in a natural setting
-may not have given consent to be studied
AO3
are naturalistic observations high or low in reliability?
low in reliability
-hard to implement standard procedures
-less control in natural setting
-hard to replicate
AO3
are controlled observations high or low in ecological validity?
low in ecological validity
-take place in an artificial setting
-demand characteristics may show
AO3
are ethical issues more or less likely in controlled observations?
less likely
-studied in artificial environment
-aware they are being studied
AO3
are controlled observations high or low in reliability?
high in reliability
-use standard procedures
-easier to replicate
describe overt observations
-participants are aware they are being studied
-they agree to participant before the research is conducted
describe covert observations
-participants are not aware they are being studied
-observation occurs in public so they are visible to others
AO3
are covert observations high or low in validity?
high
-ppts are unaware they are being observed
-demand characteristics are not shown
AO3
do covert observations have ethical issues?
ppts are unaware they are being studied
-not give informed consent
AO3
are overt observations high or low in validity?
low
-ppts are aware they are being observed
-demand characteristics may be shown
AO3
do overt observations have ethical issues?
less prone to ethical issues
-ppts are aware they are being studied
-give informed consent beforehand
describe a participant observation
-researcher becomes part of the group they are studying
-researcher can provide a first hand account
describe a non-participant observation
-the researcher remains separate from the participants they are studying
AO3
why can there be practical difficulties associated with participant observation?
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
AO3
do participant observation provide more or less insight into behaviour being studied?
more insight
-researcher is part of the group, can prompt certain behaviour?
-increases the validity
AO3
is participant observation more or less prone to investigator bias?
-more prone
-researcher interacts with the participants
-validity of their findings could be affected
AO3
are there more or less practical difficulties in non-participant observations
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
AO3
are non-participant observations more or less prone to investigator bias
less
-researcher remains separate from participants
-remains objective so increases the validity of their findings
what does observational design refer to?
HOW we conduct the different types of observations
what are behavioural categories?
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
what is event sampling?
when the researcher decides what behaviour they are going to focus on and records this every time it happens
what is time sampling?
when behaviour is recorded at set time intervals, each time the target behaviour is observed it is recorded on a tally chart
in event and time sampling, how can data be presented?
in a bar chart
-showing the number of instances of each behaviour observed
what is inter-rater reliability
when two or more observers conduct an observation simultaneously but separately and compare their recordings to assess the level of consistency
if recordings are more consistent….
they are more reliable
if there is high inter-rater reliability…
there will be a positive correlation between two recordings
