Flashcards in Designing observational studies Deck (44):
1
What are the key issues for the design of observational research
The design which includes a method for recording data as well as a method for sampling data
2
What is operationalisation
This is a way of dividing the behaviour being studied into a set of component behaviours e.g. observing a baby we can divide this into categories such as smiling crying sleeping eating et cetera
3
What are behavioural categories
A set of component behaviours
4
What is a coding frame
Each behaviour is given a code to make recording easier
5
What is a rating scale
you Provide a list of behaviours or characteristics and asked observers to rate each one
6
What are sampling procedures
A systematic method of sampling observations when it is
7
What is event sampling
Counting the number of times a certain behaviour occurs in a target individual or individuals e.g. counting the number of times somebody smiles in a 10 minute period
8
What is time sampling?
Recording behaviours in a given timeframe e.g. noting what a target individual is doing every 30 seconds. The researcher may take items in a coding frame
9
What is the facial action coding system
It was developed by Paul Ackman and others for observing facial expressions this can be used to investigate example what expressions are shown on a person's face when they are lying
10
Give an example of participant observation
In the 1950s the social psychologist Leon testing the joined a cult without revealing his identity
11
What is a participant observation
In some observations the observer is also a participant in the behaviour being observed
12
What is non-participant observation
When the observer is not a participant in the behaviour being observed this is most common
13
What it is overt observation
When the participant is aware of being observed and may alter their behaviour so validity is reduced
14
What is covert observation
This increases the validity by making observations without a participants knowledge such as using one-way mirrors
15
What is indirect observation
In many studies observations are made of data that has already been collected for example to see whether gender bias exists. These are indirect observations
16
What is an example of a naturalistic observation
Robert Jordan and Gordon Berg heart undertook a study of black bears in the zoo in order to determine whether the presence of observers altered the animal's behaviour i- they found a much higher activity level at Tremont zoo where the bears have more human contact. Observations were recorded every 30 seconds Through time sampling and by using a coding frame
17
Do you think that Louis Therereux is an example of a participant observation
I would say almost but not quite – what do you think?
18
Why might observations be more valid than e.g. questionnaires
What people say they do is often different from what they actually do
19
Why does naturalistic observation have high ecological validity
Naturalistic observation gives a more realistic picture of spontaneous behaviour
20
What is the value of observational research in a new area of research
It provides a means of conducting preliminary investigations to produce hypotheses for future investigations
21
What other weaknesses of naturalistic observation
There is very little control of extraneous variables which may mean that something unknown to the observer may account for the behaviour observed
22
What is observer bias
The Observer may see what he/she expects to see
23
What are the ethical problems with observation
Participants don't know they are being observed to the issues are deception and invasion of privacy
24
What could be the investigator effects
If the participants know they are being observed they may change their behaviour
25
What are the ethical issues in a naturalistic observation
Participants may be observed without their informed consent
26
What is the ethical issue with the use of one-way mirrors
This involves deception or lack of informed consent
27
What ever guidelines on invasion of privacy in public places?
Ethical guidelines generally advise that it is acceptable to observe people in public places where people expect to be seen by others - participant confidentiality and anonymity should still be protected
28
How would you approve an observational design
I would refer it to an ethical committee
29
What is one way to check reliability of an observation
Compare the observations made by two observers to see if they produce the same record if yes then they are reliable
30
What is interrater reliability or interobserver reliability
The extent to which two or more observers agree
31
How do you calculate inter-observer reliability?
A result of +.8 or more suggests good interobserver reliability and you do this by dividing the total agreements by the total number of the observations
32
How do you deal with low reliability
Observers should be trained in the use of behavioural categories and coding frames
33
What may cause observations to not be reliable or valid
If you behavioural categories or coding frames are flawed e.g. some observations may belong in more than one category or some behaviours may not be comfortable and then the result is that the data collected does not truly represent what was observed
34
What can be the effect of observer bias
What someone observe is influenced by the expectations
35
Why are observational studies likely to have greater ecological validity
Because they involve more natural behaviours
36
Why might population validity be a problem
An example is if children from a middle-class home are the only source of children to be observed
37
What does the behavioural observation unit (BEO)
It trains people in the use of observational techniques
38
When assessing reliability of observers how can you show the results in the graph?
In a nursery at their Each time three observers we used, the figures were plotted on a grass in three different colours the figures represent the relative duration of a specific behaviour category expressed as a percentage of the total time. The results was a very close mean correlation
39
What is content analysis
It is the analysis of the content of something for example a researcher might study the way men and women are represented in magazine advertisements and attempt to draw some conclusions
40
Is content analysis direct or indirect observation
It is in direct observation because you are not observing people directly but observing them through the artefacts they produce
41
How do you do content analysis
The process involved in conducting content analysis is similar to any observational study. The researcher has to make decisions about sampling method, method of recording data, method of representing data.
42
If there is a team of researchers doing content analysis what becomes important
It is important to ensure that they are applying criteria in the same way by calculating interobserver or interrater reliability
43
What is an example of event sampling in content analysis
Considerations include deciding which TV channels to include for what length of time
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