observations

Question 1

what is a structured observation?

Answer 1

the researcher will have predetermined behaviours and they tally behaviours as they occur

Question 2

what are the strengths of structured observations?

Answer 2

• higher inter rater reliability
• easier to record and analyse data

Question 3

what are the weaknesses of structured observations?

Answer 3

• lower validity
• many miss behaviours
• increased observer bias

Question 4

what is an unstructured observation?

Answer 4

the researcher has no predetermined behaviours to look for and so records any behaviours they see

Question 5

what are the strengths of unstructured observations?

Answer 5

• higher validity
• less likely to miss behaviours
• reduced observer bias

Question 6

what are the weaknesses of unstructured observations?

Answer 6

• lower inter rater reliability
• harder to record and analyse data

Question 7

what is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 7

observation is carried out in a natural environment where you would expect to see the target behaviour occur

Question 8

what are the strengths of naturalistic observations?

Answer 8

higher ecological validity

Question 9

what are the weaknesses of naturalistic observations?

Answer 9

• less control of the environment
• harder to replicate
• less ethical

Question 10

what is a controlled observation?

Answer 10

observation is carried out in an environment the researcher has control over

Question 11

what are the strengths of controlled observations?

Answer 11

• more control of the environment
• easier to replicate
• more ethical

Question 12

what are the weaknesses of controlled observations?

Answer 12

lower ecological validity

Question 13

what are participant observations?

Answer 13

the observers are part of (or pretending to be) part of the group that is being observed

Question 14

what are the strengths of participant observations?

Answer 14

more accuracy and detail

Question 15

what are the weaknesses of participant observations?

Answer 15

increased observer bias + risk of ‘going native’

Question 16

what are non-participant observations?

Answer 16

the observers are not part of the group that is being observed

Question 17

what are the strengths of non-participant observations?

Answer 17

decreased observer bias

Question 18

what are the weaknesses of non-participant observations?

Answer 18

decreased accuracy and detail

Question 19

what are overt observations?

Answer 19

participants are aware that they are taking part in an observation

Question 20

what are the strengths of overt observations?

Answer 20

increased ethics

Question 21

what are the weaknesses of overt observations?

Answer 21

increased observer effects

Question 22

what are covert observations

Answer 22

participants are not aware that they are taking part in an observation

Question 23

what are the strengths of covert observations?

Answer 23

decreased observer effects

Question 24

what are the weaknesses of covert observations?

Answer 24

decreased ethics

Question 25

what is time sampling?

Answer 25

the observer records what the participant is doing at fixed time intervals

Question 26

what are the strengths and weaknesses of time sampling?

Answer 26

STRENGTHS:
- easier to record data

WEAKNESSES:
- likely to miss behaviours occurring outside time period

Question 27

what is event sampling?

Answer 27

researcher records the behaviour every time it occurs

Question 28

what are the strengths and weaknesses of event sampling?

Answer 28

STRENGTHS:
- less likely to miss behaviours due to no timeframe

WEAKNESSES:
- may miss behaviours due to speed of behaviours
- harder to record data

Question 29

what are behavioural categories?

Answer 29

where the observer has predetermined categories of behaviour to observe

Question 30

what are the strengths and weaknesses of behavioural categories?

Answer 30

STRENGTHS:
- gives researcher a reminder of what behaviours to look for
- all data will be relevant
- increased reliability

WEAKNESSES:
- restricts the researcher to only the listed categories
- may miss important behaviours not on the list

Question 31

what are coding frames?

Answer 31

where the behavioural categories are coded and can be rated for severity

e.g. a ‘P’ may indicate punching with a scale of 1-5 for severity

Question 32

what are the strengths and weaknesses of coding frames?

Answer 32

STRENGTHS:
- allows for more detail than behaviour checklists

WEAKNESSES:
- open to interpretation and therefore may not be consistent

Question 33

what is meant by the term observer effects?

Answer 33

when the presence of an observer changes participant behaviour

Question 34

what is inter-rater reliability?

Answer 34

comparing the data recorded by 2 or more observers to see how similar they are

Question 35

what is observer bias?

Answer 35

when observers focus on the behaviour they expect or want to see

Question 36

what are the overall strengths of observations?

Answer 36

tend to be high in ecological validity if the observer remains undetected

avoids demand characteristics if observer remains undetected

Question 37

what are the general limitations of observations?

Answer 37

a number of ethical issues can arise including problems with a lack of consent and invasion of privacy

difficult to replicate

little to no control of extraneous variables in observational studies

problems with observer bias