Observation

Question 1

What is a research aim

Answer 1

The concept that the researcher is investigating. Reflects what is wanting to be found out

Question 2

What is a research question

Answer 2

This must be a question with a ? At the end of the

Question 3

What is a coding frame

Answer 3

This is a chart that uses a tally to look for specific behaviours

Question 4

What is a structured observation

Answer 4

This is an observation where the behaviours that are being looked out for are presented in a coding frame before hand

Question 5

What is an unstructured observation

Answer 5

This is an observation where the behaviours you are looking for are not noted down before hand

Question 6

What is an advantage of a structured observation

Answer 6

Reliable data
Easily replicable
Produces quantitative data

Question 7

What is a disadvantage of a structured observation

Answer 7

If coding frame is unclear and ambiguous low inter rated reliability

Question 8

What are the advantages of an unstructured observation

Answer 8

More detailed qualitative data

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of an unstructured observation

Answer 9

Difficult to analyse qualitative data
Risk of observer bias

Question 10

What is a naturalistic observation

Answer 10

This is where you observe people in a natural environment

Question 11

What are the advantages of a naturalistic observation

Answer 11

High ecological validity
More natural behaviours.

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of a naturalistic observation

Answer 12

Hard to replicate
Not in control over extraneous variables

Question 13

What is a controlled observation

Answer 13

You observe people in a controlled lab like situation

Question 14

What are the advantages of a controlled observation

Answer 14

Replicated- standardised
Control over extraneous variables

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of a controlled observation

Answer 15

Low ecological validity
Higher chance of demand charecteristics

Question 16

What is a participant observation.

Answer 16

When the observer is amongst the people they are observing

Question 17

What are the advantages of a participant observation

Answer 17

Researcher unlikely to miss behaviours
Rich qualitative data

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of a participant observation

Answer 18

Researchers presence may influence participants behaviour

Question 19

What is a non participants observation

Answer 19

This is an observation where the observer is far away from the participants

Question 20

What are the advantages non participant observation

Answer 20

No effect of the researchers presence

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of non participant observation

Answer 21

Researcher may miss some behaviours

Question 22

What is a covert observation

Answer 22

Where the participants don’t know that they are being observed

Question 23

what are the advantages of a covert observation

Answer 23

natural charecteristics
high ecological validity
no socially desireable behaviour

Question 24

what are the disadvantages of a covert observation

Answer 24

• ethical issues
• may be difficult to collct data while remainin hidden

Question 25

what is an overt observation

Answer 25

This is an observation where the participants know that they are being watched

Question 26

what are the advantages of an overt observation

Answer 26

possible to obtaininformed consent

Question 27

what are the disadvantages of an overt observation

Answer 27

socially desireable charecteristics are shown

Question 28

what is event sampling

Answer 28

this is where the obervation is done over a period of time with no breaks

Question 29

what are the advantages of event sampling

Answer 29

-wont miss anything -more data collected

Question 30

what are the disadvantages of event sampling

Answer 30

-time consuming difficult to maintain concentration

Question 31

what is time sampling

Answer 31

This is where the behaviours are observed at reggular intervals

Question 32

what are the advantages of time sampling

Answer 32

less time consuming easy to maintain concentration

Question 33

what are the disadvantages of time sampling

Answer 33

less data ,ay miss key behaviours

Question 34

what is a pilot study and how does it improve the reliability

Answer 34

-a practice run before the observation occurs -allows you to figure out weaknesses in the cosing frame

Question 35

why does training the observers in how to use a coding frme improve reliability

Answer 35

-lets he observers know what they are looking for -increases inter rater reliability

Question 36

why does carrying out an observation with a large sample improve the reliability

Answer 36

- increased external reliability easier to spot a pattern and eliminate anomolies

Question 37

why carry out an observation with multiple observers

Answer 37

-uses inter rater reliability and allows the observers to compae teir results

Question 38

what is inter rater reliability

Answer 38

this would mean that if there is more than one person observing the same behaviour/individual or different observers watching different individuals, they should agree on the behaviour measured to have inter-rater/observer reliability