Observation, sampling

Question 1

Observation

Answer 1

data is collected by watching participants with the aim of recording the behaviour that is witnessed

Question 2

what is a behavioural checklist

Answer 2

a checklist which names behaviour that the researcher is expecting to see.

Question 3

What ways can data be recorded

Answer 3

event and time sampling

Question 4

Event sampling

Answer 4

every time a behaviour is seen in the participant, it is tallied.
e.g piliavin- recorded whether observers were black/white

Question 5

Time sampling

Answer 5

Where observer notes down behaviour at certain times
e.g Bandura recorded behaviour in 5 second intervals

Question 6

Strengths of observations in general

2

Answer 6

• if ppts are unaware, behaviour will be natural increasing ecological validity
• data is quantitative as behaviour is counted meaning there will be minimal bias in analysis

Question 7

Weaknesses of observations in general

2

Answer 7

• if ppts are aware, behaviour wil not be natural, decreasing e.v
• difficult to replicate if its naturalistic, decreasing reliability

Question 8

Overt and covert

Answer 8

overt is when ppt knows they are being observed
covert is when ppt doesn’t know they are being observed

Question 9

Participant and non-participant

Answer 9

participant- researcher become part of group they wish to observe
non participant- researcher isn’t part of group and observes from a distance

Question 10

Structured and non-structured

Answer 10

Structured- observer creates a behavioural checklist to code behaviour
Unstructured- observers note down all bheaviour seen in qualitative form over a period of time

Question 11

Naturalistic and controlled

Answer 11

Naturalistic- observations that take place in a ppt’s natural environment
Controlled- take place in controlled setting

Question 12

Opportunity sample

Answer 12

Researchers recruit participants who happen to be around at the time the researchers need participants

Question 13

Strength of opportunity

Answer 13

Large numbers of participants can be obtained easily and relatively quickly

Question 14

Weakness of opportunity

Answer 14

Unlikely to be representative of the target population as they may be a specific type of person

Question 15

Volunteer sample

Answer 15

this is a self selected sample that is recruited through advertisements that researchers post for participants

Question 16

Strength of volunteer

Answer 16

People are more likely to participate if they have volunteered and therefore the dropout rate would be low

Question 17

Strength of volunteer

Answer 17

People are more likely to participate if they have volunteered and therefore the dropout rate would be low

Question 18

Weakness of volunteer

Answer 18

The participants may not be generalisable as they may only contain a certain type of people

Question 19

Random sample

Answer 19

Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being chosen. The sample can be chosen by using a random number generator

Question 20

Strength of random

Answer 20

Representative of the target population therefore generalisable

Question 21

Weakness of random

Answer 21

Some of the picked participants may not want to take part in the study meaning that they would need to be replaced. Therefore, the sample would be biased