Oberversational Design

Question 1

Strength of event sampling

Answer 1

This requires the observer to watch everything that happens, meaning they don’t miss anything.

Question 2

Limitation of event sampling

Answer 2

The researcher may be overwhelmed with data. If there’s a lot happening (especially if the behavioural categories are complex), then the researcher may be unable to record everything that happens

Question 3

Strength of time sampling

Answer 3

This technique offers a way of reducing the amount of data the observer needs to watch. This makes the observation quicker and helps prevent the observer being overwhelmed by the amount of behaviour in the data

Question 4

Limitation of time sampling

Answer 4

The researcher may miss instances of behavioural categories that occur in between the points at which they record their observations.