Booklet 9: Observations

Question 1

What is a controlled observation

Answer 1

• Occurs in a lab
• Researcher has control
• May be obbserved through a one way mirror

Question 2

What is a naturalistic observation

Answer 2

• Occurs in a natural setting/environment
• The focus is on people’s natural behaviour

Question 3

What is a participant observation

Answer 3

• Observer immerses themselves in the group’s situation

Question 4

What is a non-perticipant observation

Answer 4

• Observer remains external to the group being observed

Question 5

What is an overt observation

Answer 5

• Participants are aware that they are being observed

Question 6

What is a covert observation

Answer 6

• Participants are unaware that they are being observed

Question 7

What is a structured observation

Answer 7

• Observer designs coding frame/behavioural checklist to record behaviour (Quantitative data collected)

Question 8

What is an unstructured observation

Answer 8

• No structure is determined before the observation
• Field notes are made (Qualitative data collected

Question 9

What is time sampling

Answer 9

• Pre-determined time intervals are used when recording, e.g. every 5 mins for 1 min

Question 10

What is event sampling

Answer 10

• Observer decides the time frame and observes continuously and uninterrupted for the duration

Question 11

How can researchers increase the inter rater reliability of an observation

Answer 11

• Researchers meet before the study to establish and agree on behavioural categories
• Conduct a pilot study
• Ensure behaviour is fully operationalised

Question 12

Strength of controlled observation

Answer 12

• High control of extraneous variables due to highly artificial setting (increasedinternal validity)

Question 13

Weakness of contolled observation

Answer 13

• Low ecological validity due to articicial setting (cannot generalise to real life)

Question 14

Strength of naturalistic observtations

Answer 14

• High ecological validity since they are conducted in a real life setting (can generalise to real life)

Question 15

Weakness of naturalistic observations

Answer 15

• More potential for extraneous variables due to lack of controls (low interal validity)

Question 16

Strengh of participant observation

Answer 16

• Allows observers to gather more detailed accounts due to flexibility, and the researcher is involved in the events (more insight and therefore more useful)

Question 17

Weakness of participant observation

Answer 17

• Hard to remain hidden due to the observer being involved in what they are observing (demand characteristics/social desirability bias)

Question 18

Strength of non-participant observation

Answer 18

• Reduces the effect of the observer on he participants since participants are unaware of the observation taking place (reduced risk of demand characteristics)

Question 19

Weakness of non-participant observation

Answer 19

• The observer may miss vital information because they are external to the participants (decreased internal validity)

Question 20

Strength of covert observations

Answer 20

• Reduces risk of demand characteristics (increases internal validity)

Question 21

Weakness of covert observations

Answer 21

• Difficult to remain hidden because the observer will have to make notes and may look suspicious (risk of demand characteristics, unethical)

Question 22

Strength of overt observations

Answer 22

• Removes ethical issues (improves reputation of psychology)

Question 23

Weakness of overt observations

Answer 23

• Risk of demand characteristics (decreases internal validity)

Question 24

Strength of structured observation

Answer 24

• Quantitative data gathered (increased reliability)

Question 25

Weakness of structured observation

Answer 25

- Due to predetermined categories, other spontaneous behaviour cannot be recorded (decreased internal validity)

Question 26

Strength of unstructured observation

Answer 26

- All potential behaviour can be recorded since tehre are no set behavioural categories (increased internal validity)

Question 27

Weakness of unstructured observation

Answer 27

- Difficult to check for consistency (decreased external reliability)

Question 28

Strength of time sampling

Answer 28

- Reduces researcher fatigue as you don't have to constantly watch behaviour (allows for focus on the behaviours, increased validity)

Question 29

Weakness of time sampling

Answer 29

- Potential to miss behaviours occurring outside of the times scheduled (decreased internal validity)

Question 30

Strength of event sampling

Answer 30

- Less likely to miss behaviour as it it continuously recorded (increased internal validity)

Question 31

Weakness of event sampling

Answer 31

- It may get difficult to record all behaviour, so some may be missed (decreased internal validity)