The Observational Method

Question 1

When is the observational method used?

Answer 1

When watching participants directly in order to obtain data and gather information about behavior.

Question 2

What type of method is the observational method?

Answer 2

It can be an overall research method, or a data collection method within another overall research method.

Question 3

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 3

Watching and recording behavior as it would usually occur in a setting within which it would normally occur.

Question 4

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 4

Watching and recording behavior in a structured setting where there is a deliberate attempt to manage/control or manipulate variables.

Question 5

What are the advantages of naturalistic observations?

Answer 5

• behavior is likely to be representative.
• more ecologically valid.

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of naturalistic observations?

Answer 6

• replication is not possible.
• extraneous variables are unknown but may explain behavior.

Question 7

What are the advantages of controlled observations?

Answer 7

• high control of variables.
• standardized procedures allow for the study to be repeated/replicated.

Question 8

What are the disadvantages of controlled observations?

Answer 8

• less ecologically valid.
• recordings can be subjective and open to researcher bias.

Question 9

What is a structured observation?

Answer 9

The researcher employs a system to organise recordings from an observation. This system may focus on who, when or what specific behaviors should be watched and recorded.

Question 10

What is an unstructured observation?

Answer 10

The researcher watches and records everything they see as it happens.

Question 11

What is an overt observation?

Answer 11

Participants are aware of the observers presence.

Question 12

What is a covert observation?

Answer 12

Participants are unaware they are being observed.

Question 13

What is participant observation?

Answer 13

The observer is an active part of the social setting in which the observation is taking place.

Question 14

What is non-participant observation?

Answer 14

The observer is not an active part of the setting and is often hidden from view eg behind a one way mirror.

Question 15

What are the advantages of covert observations?

Answer 15

• demand characteristics are less likely to occur.
• investigator effects are less likely to occur.
• we are more likely to see genuine behavior.

Question 16

What are the disadvantages of covert observations?

Answer 16

• If participants are unaware that they are being studied, this raises ethical issues.
• It may be difficult to record behaviors accurately and consistently.

Question 17

What is an advantage of overt observations?

Answer 17

Research is more ethical because participants have given consent and have the right to withdraw.

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of overt observations?

Answer 18

• investigator effects are more likely to occur.
• we are less likely to see genuine behavior due to social desirability.

Question 19

What are the advantages of participant observations?

Answer 19

• more detailed description of the behavior, giving a more complete picture of the behavior being studied.
• behaviors are less likely to be missed/overlooked due to the researchers proximity to the participants and the situation.

Question 20

What are the disadvantages of participant observations?

Answer 20

• investigator effects are more likely to occur.
• the researcher may lose objectivity and adopt what is known as a local lifestyle.

Question 21

What is an advantage of non-participant observations?

Answer 21

Investigator effects are less likely to occur.

Question 22

What is a disadvantage of non-participant observations?

Answer 22

Behaviors are more likely to be missed/overlooked.

Question 23

What is event sampling?

Answer 23

Where an observer records the number of times a certain behaviour occurs.

Question 24

What are the advantages of event sampling?

Answer 24

• more representative description of the behaviour, giving a more complete picture of the behaviour being studied.
• useful when the target behaviours occur infrequently.

Question 25

What are the disadvantages of event sampling?

Answer 25

• there is no information about the order in which behaviours occurred.
• it may be difficult to record behaviours accurately and consistently.

Question 26

What is time sampling?

Answer 26

a method of sampling behaviour in an observational study, where the observer records behaviour at prescribed intervals, eg every 10 seconds.

Question 27

What are the advantages of time sampling?

Answer 27

• it may be easier to record behaviours accurately and consistently.
• the number of unnecessary observations made may be reduced.

Question 28

What are the disadvantages of time sampling?

Answer 28

• behaviours may be missed/not recorded.
• less representative description of the behaviour, giving a less complete picture of the behaviour being studied.