Observations

Question 1

What is an observation

Answer 1

A non experimental teqnique where the researcher watches and records the natural behaviour of the participants without manipulting the IV

Question 2

How can observations be used

Answer 2

Used in psychological research, method or tequnique and usually part of a field or lab experiment where they take observations

Question 3

What is participant reactivity

Answer 3

When the researcher joins the group being observed and takes part in their activities.

Question 4

What is participant reactivity not

Answer 4

Demand characteristics

Question 5

What is inter-rater reliability

Answer 5

2 or more observers conduct the same experiment and compare results

Question 6

What is good about inter-rater reliability

Answer 6

Single observers might miss important details or only notice events that confirm their hypothesis

Question 7

What are naturalistic observations

Answer 7

Observation of behaviour in its naturalistic setting. Researcher makes no attempt to influence the observed behaviour

Question 8

When is a naturalistic observation often done

Answer 8

When its unethical to conduct a lab expperiment

Question 9

Limitations to a naturalistic observation

Answer 9

• little control over the EV
  -replication is often not possible

Question 10

Controlled observations

Answer 10

Taking place in a controlled setting usually behind a one way mirror so the researcher cannot be seen

Question 11

Strengths to controlled observations

Answer 11

Less risk of extraneous variables affecting the behaviour as its a controlled enviroment

Question 12

Limitations to controlled observations

Answer 12

Qualitative data

Question 13

Structured observations

Answer 13

When the researcher creates a behavioural checklist before the observation in order to code the behaviour in order of time sampling and event sampling

Question 14

What is a behavioural checklist

Answer 14

Used to record the frequency of those behaviours (qualitative data)

Question 15

Criteria for a behavioural checklist

Answer 15

-be observable
-have no need for inferances to be made
-cover all possible components of behaviours
- be mutually exclusive

Question 16

Pilot study

Answer 16

A small scale study carried out before the actual research. It allows the researcher to practice using behavioural structures

Question 17

event sampling

Answer 17

Counting each time a particular behaviour is observed

Question 18

Strengths of event sampling

Answer 18

Useful when the target behaviour or event is infrequent and could be missed

Question 19

Limitations of event sampling

Answer 19

If the situation is too busy and there is a-lot of target behaviour being observed

Question 20

Time sampling

Answer 20

Recording behaviour at timed samples

Question 21

Strengths of time sampling

Answer 21

The observer has time to record what they’ve seen

Question 22

Limitations of time sampling

Answer 22

Some behaviours will be missed outside the intervals - not represenative

Question 23

Strengths of structured observations

Answer 23

The behavioural checklist allows objective quantifiable data to be collected which can be statistically analysed

Question 24

Limitations of structured observations

Answer 24

Pre- existing behavioural characteristics can be restrictive and doesn’t always explain why its happening

Question 25

Unstructured obsrvations

Answer 25

The observer notes down all the behaviours they see in qualitative form over a period of time

Question 26

Strengths to an unstructured observation

Answer 26

-Researcher records all relevant behaviour Researcher not limited by prior theoretical expectations - generate deep rich qualitative data

Question 27

Limitations of unstructured observations

Answer 27

- researcher bias - cannot compare

Question 28

Overt observations

Answer 28

Participants are aware that their behaviour is being studied, the researcher is obvious

Question 29

Strengths to overt observations

Answer 29

Ethical

Question 30

Limitations to overt observations

Answer 30

-Change in p’s behaviour -potential researcher bias

Question 31

Covert observations

Answer 31

Participants are unaware their behaviour is being studied - the observer is covered

Question 32

Strengths to a covert observation

Answer 32

Behaviour is more natural

Question 33

Negatives to covert observations

Answer 33

Breaks many ethical guidelines - deception could harm p’s

Question 34

Participant observations

Answer 34

The observer becomes involved with the group and may not be known by other p’s

Question 35

Strengths to participant observations

Answer 35

Can allow researcher to get insider knowledge and deep understanding of the behaviours of the group

Question 36

Limitations of participant observations

Answer 36

-Presence of the researcher might influence the behaviour of the group -researcher may loose objectivity as they’re part of the group

Question 37

Non-participant observations

Answer 37

The observer is separate from the participant group being observed

Question 38

Strengths to non-participant observations

Answer 38

-objective

Question 39

limitations to non-participant observations

Answer 39

-qualitative data is harder to produce as researcher doesn’t understand reasons for their behaviour