The observation method

Question 1

WHAT IS THE NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION?

Answer 1

Involves observing spontaneous naturally occurring behaviour.

Question 2

STRENGTHS OF NATURALISTIC?

Answer 2

High ecological validity.

Reduces chance of demand characteristics.

Question 3

WEAKNESSES OF NATURALISTIC?

Answer 3

No consent given- ethical issues raised.

Lack of control therefore less replicable.

Question 4

WHAT IS CONTROLLED OBSERVATION?

Answer 4

Involving recording spontaneous behaviour in conditions manipulated by the researcher.

Question 5

STRENGTHS OF CONTROLLED?

Answer 5

Greater levels of control therefore more replicable.

Less issues with ethics.

Question 6

WEAKNESSES OF CONTROLLED?

Answer 6

Lower ecological validity.

Increased chance of demand characteristics.

Question 7

WHAT IS PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION?

Answer 7

Involves the researcher engaging with the ps.

Question 8

STRENGTHS OF PARTICIPANT?

Answer 8

High in ecological validity.

Provides an insight into behaviour which would be otherwise difficult to observe.

Question 9

WEAKNESSES OF PARTICIPANT?

Answer 9

Ethics raised.

Hard to record data.

Question 10

WHAT IS NON PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION?

Answer 10

The researcher doesn’t engage with ps.

Question 11

STRENGTHS OF NON PARTICIPANT?

Answer 11

High ecological validity.

Less chance of demand characteristics because theres less chance of the researcher getting seen.

Question 12

WEAKNESSES OF NON PARTICIPANT?

Answer 12

Ethics raised- no consent, no debrief etc…

Can’t always access behaviour you are trying to gather.

Question 13

WHAT IS OVERT OBSERVATION?

Answer 13

Ps are aware that they are been observed.

Question 14

STRENGTHS OF OVERT?

Answer 14

Consent given- more ethical as ps are aware.

Question 15

WEAKNESSES OF OVERT?

Answer 15

Increase in demand characteristics

Question 16

WHAT IS COVERT OBSERVATION?

Answer 16

Ps are unaware they are been observed.

Question 17

STRENGTHS OF COVERT?

Answer 17

Less likely to display demand characteristics.

Question 18

WEAKNESSES OF COVERT?

Answer 18

No consent- less ethical, ps don’t know they are been observed.

Question 19

WHAT IS A STRUCTURED OBSERVATION?

Answer 19

Specific pre-determined categories.

Question 20

STRENGTHS OF STRUCTURED?

Answer 20

Specific categories- more standardised easy to replicate.

Gives you quantitative data which is easier to analyse.

Question 21

WEAKNESSES OF STRUCTURED?

Answer 21

May end up missing behaviours that are outside the categories designed.

Not much detail- quant data.

Question 22

WHAT IS UNSTRUCTURED OBSERVATION?

Answer 22

Record of any relevant behaviour.

Question 23

STRENGTH OF UNSTRUCTURED?

Answer 23

Record all behaviours.

Lots of detail- qual data.

Question 24

WEAKNESSES OF UNSTRUCTURED?

Answer 24

Hard to replicate- not standardised.

Gives you qual data which is harder to analyse.

Question 25

WHAT IS EVENT SAMPLING?

Answer 25

Categories of behaviour and tally every time the behaviour occurs.

Question 26

STRENGTHS OF EVENT SAMPLING?

Answer 26

Limits the behaviour observed so less likely to be missed.

Produces quant data.

Question 27

WEAKNESSES OF EVENT SAMPLING?

Answer 27

Behaviours may be missed if lots occur at the same time.

Question 28

WHAT IS TIME SAMPLING?

Answer 28

Behaviour is observed for discrete periods of time e.g. every 5 seconds.

Question 29

STRENGTHS OF TIME SAMPLING?

Answer 29

More accurate as not observing for long periods of time.

Question 30

WEAKNESSES OF TIME SAMPLING?

Answer 30

May miss behaviour that occurs in breaks.