Observational Studies (Non-Experimental)

Question 1

What is involved in observational studies?

Answer 1

Watching and recording peoples behaviour

Question 2

What are some methods used in observational studies?

Answer 2

-Scoring System
-Check List of Criteria
-Keeping a Tally
-Making Notes
-Video Recording

Question 3

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 3

An observation taking place in a naturalistic environment as opposed to a laboratory

Question 4

What is an advantage of laboratory experiments?

Answer 4

Offers high level of control meaning we can reliably establish a cause and effect

Question 5

What is a disadvantage of laboratory observations?

Answer 5

Lacks ecological validity

Question 6

What is an advantage of natural observations?

Answer 6

High level of ecological validity, offering generalisable findings

Question 7

What is a disadvantage of natural observations?

Answer 7

Many uncontrolled variables, making it difficult to establish a cause and effect

Question 8

What is a covert observation?

Answer 8

Undercover study, people aren’t aware they are being watched

Question 9

What is an overt observation?

Answer 9

Open, people are aware they are being watched

Question 10

What is an advantage of covert observations?

Answer 10

pps should behave as they normally do which increases validity of findings

Question 11

What is a disadvantage of covert observations?

Answer 11

ethical concerns-watching someone without consent

Question 12

What is an advantage of overt observations?

Answer 12

more ethically sound

Question 13

What is a disadvantage of overt observations?

Answer 13

if pps know that they are being watched, they may withdraw

Question 14

What is another disadvantage of overt observations?

Answer 14

Observer Effect-pps behave differently when being observed, giving unreliable results

Question 15

What is a participant observation?

Answer 15

When the researcher observes people whilst joining in the activities or situation

Question 16

What is a non-participant observation?

Answer 16

When the researcher is non directly involved in the activities or situation and observes ‘from a distance’

Question 17

What is an advantage of a participant observations?

Answer 17

Allows the researcher to experience the situation as the pps do, increasing the validity of the findings

Question 18

What is a disadvantage of a participant observations?

Answer 18

May become too involved in what they are investigating and lose the ability to be objective

Question 19

What is another disadvantage of participants observations?

Answer 19

Practical problems of recording data and taking part in the study

Question 20

What is an advantage of non-participant observations?

Answer 20

Allows researcher to be objective and not directly involved

Question 21

What is a disadvantage of non-participant observations?

Answer 21

May not have a true understanding of the behaviour if not directly involved

Question 22

Overall, what are the advantages of observational studies?

Answer 22

-more reliable findings as they can see it for themselves and aren’t reliant on self-reports
-take place in natural setting so have high ecological validity

Question 23

Overall, what are the disadvantages of observational studies?

Answer 23

-difficult to make judgement about feelings/thoughts as not clearly visible
-OBSERVER BIAS
-OBSERVER EFFECT

Question 24

What is a case study?

Answer 24

An in-depth investigation of one person, group or organisation

Question 25

What do case studies usually use?

Answer 25

Unstructured interviews, observation and past records

Question 26

What are case studies often used to investigate?

Answer 26

Atypical behaviour or unusual situations

Question 27

What do case studies usually focus on?

Answer 27

Rare events so samples are usually small

Question 28

What is the first advantage of case studies?

Answer 28

High validity as go in-depth

Question 29

What is the second advantage of case studies?

Answer 29

Efficient as it only takes one case study to disprove a theory

Question 30

What is the third advantage of case studies?

Answer 30

Allows researchers to study events they wouldn’t normally be ethically allowed to

Question 31

What is the first disadvantage of case studies?

Answer 31

Small sample so difficult to generalise

Question 32

What is the second disadvantage of case studies?

Answer 32

Researcher may become too involved and they lose their objectivity, influencing the outcomes

Question 33

What is the third disadvantage of case studies?

Answer 33

Are often picked up after the event so can be difficult to establish cause and effect

Question 34

What is content analysis?

Answer 34

The process of interpreting secondary material as a means to understanding people

Question 35

How is content analysis studied?

Answer 35

Indirectly using material that people produce about people

Question 36

What types of data for content analysis?

Answer 36

Quantitative or Qualitative

Question 37

What is the first advantage of content analysis?

Answer 37

Allows researchers to study people that they have little or no access too

Question 38

What is the second advantage of content analysis?

Answer 38

Few ethical issues as there is no direct contact with the pps

Question 39

What is the first disadvantage of content analysis?

Answer 39

Easier to misinterpret thoughts and behaviour as they have no direct contact with the pps

Question 40

What is the second disadvantage of content analysis?

Answer 40

qualitative data is particularly open to interpretation as mainly based on opinion

Question 41

What is the third disadvantage of content analysis?

Answer 41

quantitative data lacks constructive validity