Observational techniques

Question 1

What are observations?

Answer 1

Observations provide psychologists with a way of seeing how people behave without asking them. Behaviour is studied in a natural or controlled setting.
This method allows the researcher to be flexible when studying more complex interactions between variables

Question 2

What are some strengths of observations?

Answer 2

1. This method captures what people actually do which may be unexpected behaviour
2. People don’t always act the same as they say they would
3. Gives a special insight into behaviour

Question 3

Give a weakness of observations

Answer 3

1. Observer bias - the observer interpretation of a situation may be affected by their expectations (this can be reduced by using several observers)