Observations

Question 1

What is a covert observation?

Answer 1

The participants are unaware that they are being observed

Question 2

What are the strengths of covert observations?

Answer 2

Minimising observer affects or social desirability bias/ demand characteristics - high validity

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of covert observations?

Answer 3

Ethical issues - cannot consent

Question 4

What is an overt observation?

Answer 4

The participants know that they’re being observed

Question 5

What are the strengths of an overt correlation?

Answer 5

Ethical and may forget they’re being studies if done over a long period of time

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of an overt correlation?

Answer 6

Demand characteristics and social desirability effects

Question 7

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 7

Involves controlling the situation that is being observed in some way, without there actually being an independent variable

Question 8

What are the strengths of a controlled observation?

Answer 8

Accurate and consistent, extraneous variables can be controlled, wide range of behaviours and actions

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of a controlled observation?

Answer 9

Environment is artificial and lacks mundane realism

Question 10

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 10

Observing participants in their natural environment

Question 11

What are the strengths of a naturalistic observation?

Answer 11

Very useful for obtaining accurate data

Question 12

What are the weaknesses of a naturalistic observation?

Answer 12

Difficult to ensure the validity and consistency, and extraneous variables will be present

Question 13

What is a structured observation?

Answer 13

Where the data collection itself is done in a structured manner - the use of behavioural categories and coding schemes

Question 14

What are behavioural categories?

Answer 14

Observer must decide which specific behaviours should be examined

Question 15

What are coding frames?

Answer 15

Allow for more specific behaviours to be observed with in a behaviour categories

Question 16

What are the strengths of structured observation?

Answer 16

Easier to use coding frames, easy to establish inter-rater reliability

Question 17

What are the weaknesses of structured observation?

Answer 17

Behavioural categories are open to interpretation, some behaviours may be missed

Question 18

What is an unstructured observation?

Answer 18

No coding frames or behavioural categories are used, all behaviours observed are recorded

Question 19

What are the strengths of unstructured observation?

Answer 19

Improves replicability

Question 20

What are the weaknesses of unstructured observation?

Answer 20

Much more difficult to record

Question 21

What is participant observation?

Answer 21

The researcher is actually involved with the participants that they are observing

Question 22

What are the strengths of participant observation?

Answer 22

It is the only way of observing some behaviours, greater detail and understanding

Question 23

What are the weaknesses of participant observation?

Answer 23

Presence of the researcher could influence behaviours, it can be difficult for the observer to record information discreetly

Question 24

What is non participant observation?

Answer 24

The researcher observes the participants from a distance and is not involved with them

Question 25

What are the strengths of non participant observation?

Answer 25

Validity - the researcher cannot have any effect on the behaviours by not being involved personally

Question 26

What are the weaknesses of non participant observation?

Answer 26

Can raise ethical issues as observations may need to be done without gaining consent if a large population is being studied

Question 27

What is event sampling?

Answer 27

The act of recording is triggered by the occurrence of the specific behaviours itself

Question 28

What is time sampling?

Answer 28

The act of recording is triggered by the ending of a set time interval

Question 29

What is researcher / observer bias?

Answer 29

If the observer has a particular expectation of what they are likely to see during the observational period

Question 30

What is researcher / observer effect?

Answer 30

When the participants change their behaviour and then changing their data

Question 31

What is inter-rater reliability?

Answer 31

Ensuring that all observers are recording what they are seeing (consistent with each other)