Sampling observational data

Question 1

What is quantitative data?

Answer 1

data in the form of numbers

Question 2

What is qualitative data?

Answer 2

data in the form of words

Question 3

What are tally counts?

Answer 3

the observer writes down when and how many times certain behaviours occurred

Question 4

What are observer narratives?

Answer 4

the observer may take noted during observation and go back later to collect data and discern behaviour patterns from the notes

Question 5

What are audio or video recordings?

Answer 5

researcher may decide to make audio or video taped recordings of each observation
-sometimes observers record everything that happens in detail
-sometimes researchers use a sampling technique as it may be difficult to record everything ( time, event sampling)

Question 6

What is event sampling?

Answer 6

• the observer records each event that meets a predetermined definition (ticking a box every time someone does something)
• ADV- less chance of behaviour of interest being missed
• DISADV- if too many observations happen at once it may be difficult to record everything
• DISADV - the researcher must specify and work out when one event ends and the next begins

Question 7

What is time sampling?

Answer 7

-occurs when the researcher decides on a time interval (e.g 5 seconds) and then records what behaviour is occurring.
- ADV- efficient, inexpensive
- ADV- appropriate for frequently occurring behaviours
- DISADV- less useful for infrequently occurring behaviours, behaviours could be missed during observation
- DISADV- behaviours may be missed if time samples are limited, may not be appropriate in situations where there is a high concentration of individuals, interruptions.