types of observations

Question 1

What are the types of observations?

Answer 1

• covert
• overt
• ppt
• non-ppt
• naturalistic
• controlled

Question 2

What are covert observations?

Answer 2

ppts do not know they are being observed

Question 3

What are strengths for covert observations?

Answer 3

behaviour is more natural
- no demand characteristics
- increases validity

Question 4

What are limitations for covert observations?

Answer 4

ethical issues:
- ppts may not have given consent (only acceptable to observe people in a public places)

Question 5

What are overt observations?

Answer 5

ppts are aware they observed

Question 6

What are strengths for overt observations?

Answer 6

ethical: ppts gave consent

Question 7

What are limitations for overt observations?

Answer 7

• ppts more likely to behave differently from normal if they know they’re being watched
• demand characteristics
• lacks validity

Question 8

What are ppt observations?

Answer 8

observer is taking on an active role in the observer

Question 9

What are strengths for ppt observations?

Answer 9

researcher can experience first hand behaviours, which helps to understand why they are occuring - giving more realistic results and increasing validity.

Question 10

What are limitations for ppt observations?

Answer 10

• The observer may identify too strongly with the role and lose objectivity.
• Deceptive - ppts don’t know researcher is involved

Question 11

What are non-ppt observations?

Answer 11

observer watches from outside the observation sector, e.g. cameras/windows

Question 12

What are strengths for non-ppt observations?

Answer 12

• Researcher can be more objective when standing back, from the group being observed.
• Not deceptive - ppts know there is a researcher involved

Question 13

What are limitations for non-ppt observations?

Answer 13

• Researcher may miss special insights into behaviour that can only be gained from the ‘inside’.
• decreased validity - researcher is not experiencing first hand behaviours, which does not help to understand why they are occuring

Question 14

What are naturalistic observations?

Answer 14

occur in the environment we would expect the behaviour to be seen

Question 15

What are strengths for naturalistic observations?

Answer 15

• Ecological validity - can generalise our findings
• High external validity – results can be generalised to everyday life.

Question 16

What are limitations for naturalistic observations?

Answer 16

lack of control of extraneous variables - replication is difficult

Question 17

What are controlled observations?

Answer 17

lab-based

Question 18

What are strengths for controlled observations?

Answer 18

control of extraneous variables - replication is easier

Question 19

What are limitations for controlled observations?

Answer 19

• Lacks ecological validity - can’t generalise findings
• Findings cannot be as readily applied to real-life settings.