observational techniques

Question 1

what are naturalistic observations?

Answer 1

watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur

Question 2

strengths of naturalistic observations

Answer 2

they tend to have high external validity
- findings can often be generalised to everyday life
- this is because the behaviour is studied within the environment where it would normally occur

Question 3

limitations of naturalistic observations

Answer 3

• lack of control over the research situation makes replication of the investigation difficult
• there may be many uncontrolled confounding/extraneous variables that make it more difficult to judge any pattern of behaviour

Question 4

what are controlled observations?

Answer 4

watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment ie. one where some variables are managed

Question 5

evaluation of controlled observations

Answer 5

+ confound/extraneous variables may be less of a factor so replication of the observation becomes easier
- may produce findings that cannot be as readily applied to everyday life

Question 6

what are covert observations?

Answer 6

when participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent

Question 7

strengths of covert observations

Answer 7

removes the problem of demand characteristics and ensures any behaviour observed will be natural
> this increases the internal validity of the data gathered

Question 8

limitations of covert observations

Answer 8

• ethics of these studies may be questioned
• people, even in public, may not wish to have their behaviours noted down eg. how much money spent on shopping

Question 9

what are overt observations?

Answer 9

when participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent

Question 10

evaluation of overt observations

Answer 10

+ more ethically acceptable
- the knowledge participants have that they are being observed may act as a significant influence on their behaviour

Question 11

what are participant observations?

Answer 11

when the researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording

Question 12

strengths of participant observations

Answer 12

researcher can experience the situation as the participants do, giving them increased insight into the lives of the people being studied
- increases the external validity of the findings

Question 13

limitations of participant observations

Answer 13

• the researcher may come to identify too strongly with those they are studying and lose objectivity
  > the line between being a researcher and being a participant becomes blurred

Question 14

what are non-participant observations?

Answer 14

when the researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording

Question 15

evaluation of non-participant observations

Answer 15

+ allows researcher to maintain an objective psychological distance from their participants so there is less danger of them identifying too strongly with those they are studying
- they may lose the valuable insight to be gained in a participant observation as they are too far removed from the people and behaviour they are studying

Question 16

strengths of all observations

Answer 16

• capture what people actually do, which may be unexpected behaviour
  > give special insight into behaviour

Question 17

limitations of all observations

Answer 17

• observer bias
  > observer’s interpretation of a situation may be affected by their expectations. this may be reduced by using more than one observer
• observational studies cannot demonstrate causal relationships
  > observational techniques may still be used in experiments and aid in detecting cause-and-effect relationships