observations

Question 1

What is an observation?

Answer 1

observing and recording the behaviour of people

Question 2

How is an observation different to other research methods?

Answer 2

it is non-experimental

Question 3

What does non-experimental mean?

Answer 3

only watching the sample (no direct involvement)

Question 4

When in a study would an observation take place?

Answer 4

before an experiment

Question 5

What are strengths of using an observation?

Answer 5

• can see how people really behave and not how they say they would behave (self-report) = more valid
• good starting point for future research

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of an observation?

Answer 6

• difficult to replicate
• observer bias
• lack of objectivity
• little/ no control over extraneous variables - cannot infer causality

Question 7

What are the two types of observation that relate to the setting?

Answer 7

naturalistic & controlled

Question 8

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 8

when participants are observed in their natural environment and nothing has been manipulated

Question 9

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 9

when participants are observed in a laboratory (controlled setting) where certain variables can be manipulated

Question 10

What are the strengths of a naturalistic observation?

Answer 10

• high in ecological validity
• valid (natural behaviours)

Question 11

What are the weaknesses of a naturalistic observation?

Answer 11

• low control = harder to replicate = less reliable
• observer bias

Question 12

What are strengths of a controlled observation?

Answer 12

• high control over extraneous variables
• standardised = more reliable

Question 13

What are weaknesses of a controlled observation?

Answer 13

• lacks ecological validity (artificial environment)
• demand characteristics are more likely
• observer bias

Question 14

What are the two sub categories of observations?

Answer 14

structured and unstructured

Question 15

What is an unstructured observation?

Answer 15

writing down all behaviour seen during the observation period

Question 16

What type of data is collected during an unstructured observation?

Answer 16

qualitative

Question 17

What are strengths of an unstructured observation?

Answer 17

• qualitative data (reasoning behind behaviour)
• useful starting point (when unsure what to expect)

Question 18

What are the weaknesses of an unstructured observation?

Answer 18

• no quantitative data (harder to analyse)
• difficult to accurately conduct without video recording = ethical issues (confidentiality and consent)

Question 19

What is a structured interview?

Answer 19

having a coding scheme of behaviours they expect to see and tick off using check list or tally

Question 20

What type of data is collected from a structured observation?

Answer 20

quantitative

Question 21

What are strengths of a structured observation?

Answer 21

• objective
• quantitative data (easy to analyse)
• easier to test for inter-rater reliability

Question 22

What are the weaknesses of a structured observation?

Answer 22

• limited (can only record a pre-determined list of behaviours)
• no qualitative data (no reasoning)
• observer bias is more likely

Question 23

What are the two ways to record data?

Answer 23

time sampling and event sampling

Question 24

What is time sampling?

Answer 24

picking a time interval and only recording behaviours during those set times

Question 25

What is an example of a time interval for time sampling?

Answer 25

30 seconds

Question 26

What can be evaluated about time sampling?

Answer 26

it allows time to record behaviours BUT cannot account for behaviours outside of the time frame

Question 27

What is event sampling?

Answer 27

only recording a specific ‘event’ or behaviour throughout the whole observation period

Question 28

What is event sampling the same as?

Answer 28

structured observations

Question 29

Why are the two similar?

Answer 29

they both include ticking / tallying of pre-determined behaviour

Question 30

What sentence should go at the end of every event sampling exam question?

Answer 30

‘continuously throughout the whole observation period’

Question 31

What is a participant observation?

Answer 31

when observers become apart of the group they are observing

Question 32

What are the strengths of a participant observation?

Answer 32

• ecologically valid (natural behaviours are more likely)
• lots of qualitative data - better understanding of behaviour

Question 33

What are the weaknesses of a participant observation?

Answer 33

• observer bias - lack objectivity as relationships are built
• ethical issues - invasion of privacy - no consent
• time consuming
• difficult to achieve

Question 34

What is a non-participant observation?

Answer 34

observer is not apart of the group and is clearly an outsider who looks like they are observing

Question 35

What are the strengths of a non-participant observation?

Answer 35

• reduced observer bias
• less time-consuming
• less ethical issues

Question 36

What are the weaknesses of a non-participant observation?

Answer 36

• less ecologically valid - if clear an outsider (demand characteristics)

Question 37

What does overt mean?

Answer 37

participants knowing they are being observed

Question 38

What is a strength of overt observations?

Answer 38

less ethical complications - aware they are being observed

Question 39

What is a weakness of overt observations?

Answer 39

demand characteristics

Question 40

What is a covert observation?

Answer 40

participants are not aware they are being observed

Question 41

What is a strength of covert observations?

Answer 41

less chance of demand characteristics

Question 42

What is a weakness of covert observations?

Answer 42

ethical issues
- no consent
- invasion of privacy