Observational Methods

Question 1

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 1

Takes place in the environment the behaviour would normally occur
Researcher does not interfere

Question 2

Naturalistic Observation (strengths)

Answer 2

High external validity
Can be more generalised to real life situations

Question 3

Naturalistic Observation (weaknesses)

Answer 3

Difficult to replicate
May have a high level of extraneous variables

Question 4

Controlled Observation

Answer 4

Researcher has some control over the variables may reduce the naturalness of the environment
Participants are likely to be aware they are being studied

Question 5

Controlled Observation (strengths)

Answer 5

Specific aspects of behaviour can be focused on
Likely to be less extraneous variables

Question 6

Controlled Observation (weaknesses)

Answer 6

Low external validity
Behaviour may be less natural

Question 7

Covert Observation

Answer 7

Participants will have no knowledge they are being observed
Are likely to be informed afterwards to ensure ethics

Question 8

Covert Observation (strengths)

Answer 8

Behaviour is more natural and removes the issue of demand characteristics
High internal validity

Question 9

Covert Observation (weaknesses)

Answer 9

Ethical issues of consent and privacy

Question 10

Overt Observation

Answer 10

Participants are aware they are being observed and have given informed consent

Question 11

Overt Observation (strengths)

Answer 11

More ethically acceptable

Question 12

Overt Observation (weaknesses)

Answer 12

Demand characteristics

Question 13

Participant Observation

Answer 13

An observer becomes part of the group they are observing
Could be either covert or overt

Question 14

Participant Observation (strengths)

Answer 14

Helps provide more insight into behaviour

Question 15

Participant Observation (weaknesses)

Answer 15

Research and may start to identify with a group of participants and could lose objectivity ‘going native’

Question 16

Non-Participant Observation

Answer 16

Observer keeps a distance and does not interact with the participants

Question 17

Non-Participant Observation (strengths)

Answer 17

More likely to be objective

Question 18

Non-Participant Observation (weaknesses)

Answer 18

Observers may not gain as much insight

Question 19

Structured Observation

Answer 19

Has pre-determined behaviours and sampling methods
Appropriate for larger observations

Question 20

Structured Observation (strengths)

Answer 20

Recording data is more systematic
Produces quantitive data which is easy to analyse

Question 21

Structured Observation (weaknesses)

Answer 21

Lacks detail

Question 22

Unstructured Observation

Answer 22

The researcher writes down everything that they see
Produces rich data
Appropriate in small observations

Question 23

Unstructured Observation (strengths)

Answer 23

More detailed and rich data

Question 24

Unstructured Observation (weaknesses)

Answer 24

Produces qualitative data, which is more difficult to record and analyse
Greater risk of researcher bias as there are no behavioural categories

Question 25

Behavioural Categories

Answer 25

Breaking down target behaviours into components which are observable and measurable

Question 26

Behavioural Categories (strengths)

Answer 26

Data collection is more structured and objective

Question 27

Behavioural Categories (weaknesses)

Answer 27

Can be problematic if the behaviour categories are not clear and overlap If all the categories of the target behaviour not included, it can result in a ‘dustbin’ category which many different behaviours are deposited in

Question 28

Event Sampling

Answer 28

Structured A target behaviour is established and it is recorded every time it occurs

Question 29

Event Sampling (strengths)

Answer 29

Useful when target behaviours happen, infrequently and could be missed if time sampling is used

Question 30

Event Sampling (weaknesses)

Answer 30

If the target behaviour is too complex, the observer may overlook important details

Question 31

Time Sampling

Answer 31

Structured A target individual is identified, and then the research records their behaviour in a fixed time

Question 32

Time Sampling (strengths)

Answer 32

Effective in reducing the number of observations that have to be made

Question 33

Time Sampling (weaknesses)

Answer 33

Times when the behaviour is sampled may be unrepresentative of the observation as a whole

Question 34

Continuous Recording

Answer 34

Unstructured All target behaviours are recorded

Question 35

Inter-Observer Reliability

Answer 35

Single observers may miss important details on my only notice events that confirmed that hypothesis (researcher bias) Test-retest can be done solo by recording with a camera or going over it again and doing another observation Observations should be carried out by at least two researchers