Observations Flashcards
What is an unstructured observation?
What are the pro’s and con’s?
=researcher records all action
Pro’s:
- gather a range of behaviour
- detailed
Con’s:
- missed behaviours when writing
- difficult to write everything
What is a structured observation?
What are the pro’s and con’s?
=researcher decides in advance a behaviour checklist
Pro’s:
- Quantitative date
- Easy to gather information
Con’s:
- researcher bias
- might not have correct categories
What is a covert observation?
What are the pro’s and con’s?
=PPs unaware they are being observed
Pro’s:
-reduces d.c
Con’s:
-unethical
What is an overt observation?
What are the pro’s and con’s?
=PPs aware they are being observed
Pro’s:
-more ethical
Con’s:
- d.c.
- social desirability
What is PP observation?
Pro’s and con’s?
=researcher is part of action they are recording
Pro’s:
- more natural
- researcher can develop a relationship with group
Con’s:
- researcher may loose objectivity
- researcher bias
- observer bias
What is a non-PP observation?
Pro’s and con’s?
= researcher not part of action
Pro’s:
- can remain neutral
- more qualitative data
Con’s:
- can’t gain as deep an understanding
- observer bias
What is a naturalistic observation?
What is a controlled observation?
=behaviour is studied in a natural setting where nothing is manipulated
= some variables controlled by researcher, possibly in lab setting
What is event sampling?
What is time sampling?
Pro’s and con’s?
Time:
-UNSTRUCTURED
-set lengths of time at set intervals
E.g every 5 mins for 1 hour
Pro’s:
- detailed qualitative data
- increases concentration
Con’s:
-may miss a lot of behaviour= not representative
Event:
- STRUCTURED
- watches whole event and keeps a tally of specific behaviours
Pro’s:
- catches all behaviour
- useful when behaviour is occasional
Con’s:
- difficult to concentrate
- restricted categories
- may miss behaviours
