Types of Observations Flashcards
What are 4 types of observation?
- Controlled
- Naturalistic
- Overt/Covert
- Participant/Non-participant
What is a controlled observation?
Participants’ behaviour is observed and measured in a controlled environment. E.g., through a one way mirror or on a video.
What are the advantages of controlled observation?
- Control over extraneous variables - The researcher manipulates the environment and/or the variables so it is unlikely that other factors will confound the results. This is a strength because it increases internal validity of the study.
- Replicability - Replicable because the researcher has high control and uses standardised procedures. This is a strength because if the exact study is repeated and the same results are obtained the study has high external reliability.
What are limitations of controlled observations?
- Demand characteristics and investigator effects are more likely to confound results - This decreases internal validity of the study.
- Low ecological validity - The setting is not a typical one so behaviour demonstrated may not reflect how ppts would behave outside the research setting. This is a limitation because it decreases external (ecological) validity of the study.
What is a naturalistic observation?
Ppts’ behaviour is watched and measured in a natural environment.
What are advantages of naturalistic observation?
- High ecological validity - Ppts are in a natural environment so their behaviour is likely to be natural. This is a strength because it increases external (ecological) validity of the study.
- Reduction of demand characteristics - Ppts are unaware that they are part of a study so their behaviour is unlikely to be affected by demand characteristics. This study is likely to be measuring natural behaviour which increases internal validity of the study.
What are limitations of naturalistic observations?
- Low control over extraneous variables - The situation is naturally occurring so it is impossible to control extraneous variables. This is a limitation because it can reduce the internal validity of the study.
- Difficult to replicate - Low control over extraneous variables and no standardised procedures means that replicating a natural observation would be more difficult than with a controlled observation.
What is a overt observation?
The observer is clearly visible and ppts know that they are being observed.
What is a strength of overt observations?
Ethical - Ppts know that they are being observed so they can give informed consent and be fully debriefed at the end of the study.
What is a weakness of overt observations?
Demand characteristics may confound results - Ppts know that they part of a study so their behaviour may not reflect how they would act outside of the study. This decreases the internal validity of the study.
What is a covert observation?
The observer is not clearly visible and ppts do not know they are being observed.
What is a strength of covert observations?
Demand characteristics will not confound results
What is a weakness of covert observation?
Unethical - Ppts do not know they are being observed so they cannot give informed consent and be fully debriefed at the end of the study.
What is a participant observation?
The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour he/she is observing.
What is a strength of participant observations?
Increased insight - The researcher can experience the situation as the ppts do which gives them increased insight into the lives of the people being studied. This increases the internal validity of the study.
What is a limitation of participant observation?
- Presence of the researcher may confound the results - The researcher becomes part of the group they are observing which may cause the ppts to behave unnaturally. This decreases the internal validity of the study.
- Researcher bias may confound results - The researcher becomes part of the group which means they may become too involved in the group and may lose objectivity. This decreases the internal validity of the study.
What is a non-participant observation?
The researcher remains outside of the group and does not become a member of the group whose behaviour he/she is observing.
What are strengths of non-participants observations?
- Presence of the researcher will not confound the results - The researcher does not become part of the group which means ppts will behave naturally. This increases the internal validity of the study.
- Researcher bias will not confound results - The researcher does not become part of the group which means they will be more objective than if carrying out a participant observation. This increases the internal validity of the results.
What are the limitations of non-participant observations?
Decreased insight - The researcher will not experience the situation as the participants do so they may miss important info and likely to gather less data than in a ppt observation. This decreases the internal validity of the study.
