Observational design

Question 1

Unstructured observation

Answer 1

Everything recorded which can be quite difficult if a lot is going on.

Question 2

Structured observation

Answer 2

Includes behavioural categories and sampling methods. A naturalistic method often uses structured design.

Question 3

Behavioural categories

Answer 3

The target behaviour to be observed should be broken up into a set of observable categories. This is similar to operationalisation.

Question 4

What is one limitation of using behavioural categories?

Answer 4

Difficult to make clear an unambiguous.
Categories should be self evident and not overlap, which is not always possible to achieve.
Smiling and grinning would be poor categories.

Question 5

What is a second limitation of using behavioural categories?

Answer 5

Dustbin categories.
All forms of behaviour should be in one list and not in one dustbin.
Dumped behaviours go unrecorded.

Question 6

Event sampling

Answer 6

A target behaviour/event is recorded every time it occurs.

Question 7

What is a strength of event sampling?

Answer 7

Useful for infrequent behaviour.
The researcher will still pick up behaviours that do not occur at regular intervals.
Such behaviours could easily be missed using time sampling.

Question 8

What is a limitation of event sampling?

Answer 8

Complex behaviour oversimplified.
If the event is too complex, important details may go unrecorded.
This may affect the validity of the findings.

Question 9

Time sampling

Answer 9

Observations are made at regular intervals e.g. once every 15 seconds.

Question 10

What is a strength of time sampling?

Answer 10

Reduces the number of observations.
Rather than recording everything that is seen (continuous) data is recorded at certain intervals.
The observation is more structured and systematic.

Question 11

What is a limitation of time sampling?

Answer 11

May be unrepresentative.
The researcher may miss important details outside of the time scale.
May not reflect the whole behaviour.

Question 12

What is one strength of structured observations?

Answer 12

Involves the use of behavioural categories making it easier to record data and more systematic.

Question 13

What is a second strength of structured observations?

Answer 13

Data produced is likely to be numerical.
This means that analysing and comparing data between participants is more straightforward.

Question 14

What is one limitation of unstructured observations?

Answer 14

Tend to produce qualitative data.
May be more difficult to record and analyse.

Question 15

What is a second limitation of unstructured observations?

Answer 15

Greater risk of observer bias.
This is because there is no objective behavioural categories.
Researcher may only record behaviours that catch their eye.

Question 16

What is a strength of unstructured observations?

Answer 16

Benefit from more richness and depth in detail in the data collected.

Question 17

What is a limitation of structured observations?

Answer 17

Less in depth and detailed data is being collected.

Question 18

Inter-observer reliability

Answer 18

When data from at least two observers is compared to check for consistency (reliability).

Question 19

How do you check for inter-observer reliability?

Answer 19

• Observers should familiarise themselves with the behavioural categories to be used.
• Then they observe the same behaviour at the same time, perhaps as a pilot study.
• Observers should compare the data they have recorded and discuss any differences in interpretations.
• Finally observers should analyse the data from the study. It is calculated by correlating each pair of observations made and an overall figure is produced.