Observation

Question 1

What is a research aim?

Answer 1

What the researcher is investigating
E.g to investigate the effects of chocolate on happiness

Question 2

What are the research questions?

Answer 2

A question regarding what is being studied
E.g do brunettes hold open doors more often than blondes?

Question 3

What is event sampling?

Answer 3

Recording every time an event occurs within the observational period

Question 4

What is time sampling?

Answer 4

Recording what is observable after a given time interval (e.g every 20 seconds) during the observational period

Question 5

What are the strengths of event sampling?

Answer 5

More accurate as all behaviours in the time frame are recorded
Infrequent behaviours are likely to be recorded (unlike in time sampling)

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of event sampling?

Answer 6

Requires a lot of focus for an extended period of time
Might miss things due to cognitive overload or lack of focus over time

Question 7

What are the strengths of time sampling?

Answer 7

You can see a change in behaviour over the time period
Increases focus during observation
Allows time for recording data

Question 8

What are weakness of time sampling?

Answer 8

You may miss infrequent behaviours
The data may not be representative of the entire time period

Question 9

What are the types of Time sampling?

Answer 9

One-zero
Instantaneous time
Predominant activity

Question 10

What is one zero time sampling?

Answer 10

Records the behaviours that occur in the time frame as a 1 and the behaviours that do not as a 0. It doesn’t matter how many times the behaviour occurs.

Question 11

What is instantaneous time sampling?

Answer 11

Records if a behaviour occurs in a specific instant (e.g looking if someone is playing on the swings every 20th second).

Question 12

What is predominant activity time sampling?

Answer 12

The observer watches for the entire time interval and makes a note of the most common activity that happened.

Question 13

How is event sampling presented?

Answer 13

Findings will be presented in a pie chart

Question 14

How is time sampling presented?

Answer 14

Findings will be presented in a line graph

Question 15

What to remember when it comes to observations?

Answer 15

Who you are observing
What you are looking at
When your observation is
The location of you observation
How you will be observing

Question 16

What is a structured observation?

Answer 16

Has set behaviours that the observer is looking for.

Produces quantitative data.

Question 17

What is an unstructured observation?

Answer 17

Has no pre-planned ideas of what to look for.

Produces qualitative data.

Question 18

What is a coding frame?

Answer 18

Tables that are used to record data within structured observations.
The table has set behavioural categories the observer(s) are looking for.
You must ensure the behavioural categories are:
Behaviours that are observable not emotional states
Clearly defined so it is clear when to tally and not to tally

Question 19

What level of data is a coding frame?

Answer 19

Nominal as it is a frequency of number of behaviours in each category

Question 20

What are the strengths of structured observations?

Answer 20

Creates objective data which is objective and easy to analyse
Easy to conduct/less effort for the observers to record

Question 21

What are the weaknesses of structured observations?

Answer 21

The coding frame may not include all displayed behaviours
Lacks detail

Question 22

What are the strengths of unstructured observations?

Answer 22

Gets more detail
Behaviours that were not expected by the researcher are still expected

Question 23

What are the weaknesses of unstructured observations?

Answer 23

The data collected is more subjective
Takes more time and effort for the data to be recorded

Question 24

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 24

The observation is carried out in the participant’s usual environment

Question 25

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 25

The observation is carried out in a laboratory setting manipulated by the researcher

Question 26

What are the strengths of a naturalistic observation?

Answer 26

High ecological validity People may be more likely to act naturally in their normal environment

Question 27

What are the weaknesses of a naturalistic observation?

Answer 27

There could be extraneous variables from the environment It could be hard to see and record all data based on the surroundings

Question 28

What are the strengths of controlled observations?

Answer 28

Higher level of controls over extraneous variables Easy to set up the environment for ease of viewing behavioursW

Question 29

What are the weaknesses of controlled observations?

Answer 29

Low ecological validity People may alter their behaviour due to the unnatural setting

Question 30

What is different about ethics in observations?

Answer 30

Observations are permitted to take place without consent in public locations where people may expect strangers to be looking at them anyway.

Question 31

What is a participant observation?

Answer 31

The observer is working within the same location as the participants

Question 32

What is a non-participant observation?

Answer 32

The observer is working in a separate location to the participants E.g watching through CCTV in a different room or through a one-way mirror

Question 33

What are the strengths of participant observations?

Answer 33

View likely to be obstructed Can get more insider information by being up close to the participants

Question 34

What are the weaknesses of participant observations?

Answer 34

Time consuming to set up Could be dangerous Could lose objectivity if become friends with the participants

Question 35

What are the strengths of non-participant observation?

Answer 35

Less risk of observer bias Less safety concerns Less time to set up

Question 36

What are the weaknesses of non-participant observations?

Answer 36

Less control Likely to have view obstructed in some way

Question 37

What is a covert observation?

Answer 37

The participants are unaware they are being watched

Question 38

What is an overt observation?

Answer 38

The participants are aware they are being watched

Question 39

What are the strengths of covert observations?

Answer 39

May mean participants are more natural in their behaviour (increasing validity) Takes less effort from the researchers

Question 40

What are the weaknesses of covert observations?

Answer 40

Breaks ethical guidelines Might be hard to record data without breaking your cover!

Question 41

What are the strengths of overt observtions?

Answer 41

Abides by the ethical guidelines Easier to observe and take notes when participants are aware

Question 42

What are the weaknesses of overt observations?

Answer 42

Participants may change their behaviour (social desirability bias or demand characteristics) Takes effort and time to obtain consent

Question 43

What two things relate to the validity of observations?

Answer 43

Observer bias Observer effects

Question 44

What is observer bias?

Answer 44

The observer may focus on some things more than others based on the expectations they have E.g watching younger people on their phones more than older people at a train station as this was their hypothesis

Question 45

What are observer effects?

Answer 45

The participants change their behaviour as a result of feeling watched E.g participants eating salads when a researcher is watching them when they usually eat burgers and fries