Observations Flashcards
What is an observation?
•Simply observing behaviour without manipulating the Independent variable.
•No attempt to influence behaviour is made.
What three ways can an observation differ?
•The setting
•The role of the researcher
•The amount of structure that is imposed
What are the two types of setting for observation?
1)Naturalistic
2)Controlled
What is a naturalistic observation?
•Carried out in a natural setting
•Focus on peoples naturally occurring behaviour
What is a controlled observation?
•Conducted in a library which allows the researcher to have more control over the environment.
What are the four types of rope of the researcher observations?
1)Participant
2)Non-participant
3)Covert
4)Overt
What is participant observation?
Where the researcher becomes apart of the situation
What is non-participant observation?
Where the researchers remains external.
What is Overt observation?
Where participants are aware they’re being observed.
O=Open
What are Covert observations?
Where participants do not know they are being observed.
C=Closed
What are the two types of structure of observation?
1)Structured
2)Unstructured
What is a Unstructured observation?
Simply the researcher writing down everything he/she does in field notes
What is a structured observation?
•Involves observer using a coding frame of a checklist of behaviour with pre-determined categories.
What types of time observations are there?
1)Time sampling
2)Event sampling
What is Time sampling?
A time period with intervals is agreed.
Eg. 20min observe, 5 minute break
