Observations Flashcards
Features
- Observation is a systematic measurment of spontaneously occouring behaviour.
- Can be conducted in a controlled environment (e.g. lab) or in a naturalistic environment (e.g. playground)
- Can be structured (use pre-determined collection grid) or unstructured (no pre-determined plan - record behaviours as they occour)
- The researcher decides which behaviours they want to record and will produce a coding system with behavioural categories of the behaviours to be recorded beforehand. This reduces observer bias.
Naturalistic
Takes place in the pt’s natural environment e.g. children in a creche. In most cases pt’s in a naturalistic observation are not aware that they ‘re being observed. This means that they behave more naturally and makes the research more ecologically valid.
Controlled
Usually takes place in some form of controlled envioronment which allows control over varibles. (This doesn’t necessarily have to be a lab; it can be any environment which the experimenter has control over).
Structured
The data would be gathered using a pre-written collection grid or coding sheet to record the frequancy (how often) the behaviours have occoured. This produces quantitative data and is referred to as a behavioural categories.
Unstructured
The observation the researcher uses direct observation to record behaviours as they occour and have no predetermined plan of what will be observed. They would usually be in the form of a transcript.
Controlled - Evaluation
+ High levels of control means reduce of extraneous varibles.
- Low ecological validity
Naturalistic - Evaluation
+ High in ecological validity, often covert so demand characterisitcs are often minimalised
- No control over extraneous varibles, ethical issues with covert watching
Participant/non Observation
particpant - Researcher participates in experiment.
Covert/overt
Relatively easy to understand, just think about evaluation.
