Observational techniques

Question 1

Strength of covert observation

Answer 1

Investigator effects are less likely so less chance of demand characteristics so behaviour will seem more natural and representative

Question 2

Covert observations

Answer 2

Consists of observing people without their knowledge e.g one way mirror

Question 3

Weakness of covert observation

Answer 3

Ethical issues - participants not aware they are taking part in observation so can’t give consent

Question 4

Overt observation

Answer 4

Participants know they are being observed e.g filming publicly

Question 5

Strength of overt method

Answer 5

More ethical than covert, so representation of psychological research as ethical is protected

Question 6

Weakness of overt observations

Answer 6

Investigator effects so they change their behaviour through demand characteristics , not authentic natural behaviour being observed

Question 7

Investigator effect

Answer 7

bias occurs when the investigator influences the behaviour of the participants in a way that’s not intended e.g facial expressions

Question 8

Participant observation

Answer 8

Person who is conducting the observation also takes part in the activity

Question 9

Strength of participant observation

Answer 9

Researcher can obtain in depth data since they’re in close proximity
Unlikely to overlook behaviour so allows comprehensive understanding

Question 10

Weakness of participant observation

Answer 10

Investigator effect, changing behaviour through demand characteristics
Natural behaviour not observed so reduced internal validity

Question 11

Internal validity

Answer 11

Extent to which a piece of evidence supports a claim, within the context of a particular study

Question 12

Non participant observation

Answer 12

Person conducting experiment doesn’t take part

Question 13

Strength of non participant observation

Answer 13

Investigator effects less likely to occur as investigator observes from a distance, representative of natural and unaltered human conduct

Question 14

Naturalistic observation

Answer 14

Carried out in an unaltered setting, observer does not interfere in any way e.g shopping centre

Question 15

Strength of naturalistic observation

Answer 15

Higher level of ecological validity, reflecting spontaneous behaviour that may occur

Question 16

Ecological validity

Answer 16

Measure of how test performance predicts real world behaviour

Question 17

Weakness of naturalistic observations

Answer 17

Issues with reliability, the test- retest method cannot be used of checking reliability

Question 18

Reliability

Answer 18

Consistency of results

Question 19

Validity

Answer 19

Accuracy of results

Question 20

Controlled observation

Answer 20

Conducted under strict conditions e.g in an observation room or lab where extraneous variables can be controlled e.g time, noise, temp

Question 21

Strength of controlled observation

Answer 21

Can be replicated to check reliability so standardised procedures can be repeated by diff researches

Question 22

Standardised procedures

Answer 22

Making a test uniform, setting it to specific standard in which everyone is treated exactly the same and have the same experience

Question 23

Weakness of controlled observation

Answer 23

Lower level of external validity, due to artificial environment
Observation feels unnatural so may alter participants response so no longer representative of real life

Question 24

External validity

Answer 24

Findings that can be generalised, they represent the outcomes that occur in a wider population than just the sample

Question 25

Structured observation

Answer 25

researcher uses coded schedules according to previously agreed formula and organise data into behavioural categories . Predetermined questions, tools, items

Question 26

Behavioural categories

Answer 26

Breaking down the target behaviour (aggression) into components that can be observed and measured (hitting or kicking)

Question 27

Strength of structured observation

Answer 27

Researcher can compare behaviour between participants across groups Use of behaviour categories makes coding of data more systematic (according to a fixed plan)

Question 28

Weakness of structured observation

Answer 28

Not very high internal validity because researcher may miss some crucial behaviours Findings may lack the finer details

Question 29

Unstructured observation

Answer 29

Involves every instance of the observed behaviour being recorded and described in as much detail as possible

Question 30

Strength of unstructured observation

Answer 30

Richness of data obtained Researchers obtain comprehensive view of human behaviour High internal validity

Question 31

Weakness of unstructured observation

Answer 31

Prone to observer bias due to lack of objective behaviour categories Problem with inter observer reliability as lack of constancy in observations

Question 32

Inter- observer reliability

Answer 32

Degree of agreement between people observing the same thing

Question 33

What makes something an experiment

Answer 33

Manipulating the IV and look at effect on DV

Question 34

Demand characteristics

Answer 34

participants changing their behaviours or responses based on what they think the research is about

Question 35

Social desirability

Answer 35

to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favourably by others

Question 36

Control

Answer 36

The extent to which the variable is held constant by the researcher

Question 37

Confounding variable

Answer 37

an unmeasured third variable that influences both the supposed cause and the supposed effect.

Question 38

Mundane realism

Answer 38

The extent to which a study mirrors real life

Question 39

time sampling

Answer 39

where an observer records behaviour at prescribed intervals

Question 40

strength of time sampling

Answer 40

allows for a better use of time since fewer observations are made

Question 41

limitation of time sampling

Answer 41

not every behaviour of relevance to the inestigation will be counted if it occurs inbetween allocated time frames

Question 42

event sampling

Answer 42

observer records the number of times the target behaviour occurs

Question 43

strength of event sampling

Answer 43

every behaviour of interest in theory will be counted from beginning through to end of observation

Question 44

limitation of event sampling

Answer 44

theres a possibility that some behaviours could be missed if there is too much happening at same time, some not coded