observations

Question 1

what are observations

Answer 1

a non experimental technique, the researcher watches, records spontaneous/natural behaviour of participants without manipulating levels of IV

Question 2

what are the types of observation

Answer 2

controlled
naturalistic
overt
covert
participant observation
non participant observation

Question 3

what is a controlled observation

Answer 3

aspects of the environemnt are controlled, in an attempt to give participants the same experience. this is often conducted in a lab

Question 4

what are the advantages of controlled observations

Answer 4

• controlling the envt and giving the same experience reduces the likelihood that extraneous variables are responsible for observed behaviour
• results are likely to be reliable as it uses the same standardised procedures

Question 5

what are the disadvantages of controlled observations

Answer 5

artificial so may result in unnatural behaviour not like behaviour shown in real world situations

Question 6

what is a naturalistic observation

Answer 6

takes place in the “real world”. places participants are likely to spend time in such as school, work or at home

Question 7

what are the advantages of naturalistic observations

Answer 7

• high realism, participants show more naturalistic behaviour
• external validity, behaviour is more likely to be generalisable to other situations

Question 8

what are the disadvantages of naturalistic observations

Answer 8

uncontrolled extraneous variables may be responsible for the behaviour observed resulting in lower internal validity

Question 9

what is an overt observation

Answer 9

the participants are aware they are being observed as part of an observational study. the participant can see the researcher

Question 10

what are the advantages of an overt observation

Answer 10

ethical as participants have given their informed consent and know what they have signed up for

Question 11

what are the disadvantages of an overt observation

Answer 11

• demand characteristics are likely if the participants know they are being observed, they may show behaviour they think the researchers wants to see
• social desirability bias

Question 12

what is a covert observation

Answer 12

the participants arent aware they are being observed and they can’t see someone taking notes/recordings (observer may physically be present)

Question 13

what are the advantages of a covert observation

Answer 13

participants arent aware they are being observed so are more likely to show naturalistic behaviour free from demand characteristics or social desirability bias

Question 14

what are the disadvantages of a covert observation

Answer 14

more unethical as participants havent given informed consent

Question 15

what is a participant observation

Answer 15

the researcher joins the group being observed and takes part in the groups activities and conversations

Question 16

what are the advantages of a participant observation

Answer 16

researcher may build rapport, more trust and comfort leading participants to behaving naturally and disclosing more information

Question 17

what are the disadvantages of a participant observation

Answer 17

can lose objectivity, interpretation of behaviour may be biased seeing only from the perspective of the participant

Question 18

what is a non participant observation

Answer 18

the researcher is separate from the participant recording observations without taking part in the groups activities.

Question 19

what are the advantages of a non participant observation

Answer 19

researcher remains objective when interpreting behaviour

Question 20

what are the disadvantages of a non participant observation

Answer 20

lack of trust/rapport with participants, researcher misses out on important insights. participants behaviour isnt natural

Question 21

what is observational design

Answer 21

the choice of behaviours to record and how they are measured

Question 22

what is operationalised behavioural categories

Answer 22

behaviours need to be clearly identifiable and measurable

Question 23

what are behavioural categories

Answer 23

how to record behaviour you are interested in

Question 24

how should behaviour be recorded

Answer 24

the categories used should be objective, cover all possible component behaviours and be mutually exclusive

Question 25

how can behaviour be recorded

Answer 25

using time or event sampling

Question 26

what is time sampling

Answer 26

researcher records all relevant behaviour at set points or a given time frame

Question 27

what are advantages of time sampling

Answer 27

more flexibility to be able to record unexpected types of behaviour

Question 28

what are disadvantages of time sampling

Answer 28

can miss behaviour that happens outside of the recording periods

Question 29

what is event sampling

Answer 29

researcher records every time a behaviour occurs in the target individual from a list of operationalised behavioural categories

Question 30

what are the advantages of event sampling

Answer 30

as long as the behaviour has been included in the list of behavioral categories it should be recorded it it happens in any stage of the observation

Question 31

what are the disadvantages of event sampling

Answer 31

may miss relevant behaviour on the list of behavioural categories

Question 32

why should researchers assess the reliability of their own observations

Answer 32

even with clear behavioural categories, interpreting observed behaviour can be affected by bias

Question 33

how should researchers assess the reliability of their own observation

Answer 33

by seeing if it is consistent with another researcher's observation

Question 34

what is inter observer/rater reliability

Answer 34

two or more trained observers conduct the same observation

Question 35

what do the trained observers do

Answer 35

1) they agree and use the same checklist/tally of operationalised categories 2) observation is conducted separately by each observer 3) compare the two independantly produced data sets.

Question 36

how can the strength of the relationship between two data sets be assessed

Answer 36

using a test of correlation

Question 37

which correlation is accepted by the inter observer

Answer 37

0.8 or stronger is generally accepted

Question 38

how can bias be reduced in inter observer/rater reliability

Answer 38

using two observers who are unaware of the true aims of the research to reduce observer bias (double blind trial)