Observations: Technique & Design Flashcards
What is Naturalistic observation?
Watching and recording behaviour in the setting
within which it would normally occur.
What is Controlled observation?
Controlled observation: watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment (one where variables and managed).
What is Covert observation?
It is when participants behaviour is watched and recorded
without their knowledge or consent.
What is Overt observation?
It is when participants behaviour is watched and recorded with
their knowledge and consent.
What is Participant observation?
It is when the researcher becomes a member of the
group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording.
What is Non-participant observation?
It is when the researcher remains outside of the
group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording.
What are the strengths of Covert observation?
Less risk of investigator effects
Less chance of demand characteristics
More natural and representative of everyday behaviour.
What are the weaknesses of covert observation?
Participants are not aware that they are being observed, they cannot give fully informed consent
What are the strengths of overt observation?
More ethical than covert
It is possible to inform participants in advance of the aims and therefore informed consent is able.
What are the weaknesses of overt observations
Higher risk of investigator effects
Higher chance of demand characteristics
NOT natural and representative of everyday behaviour.
What are the strengths of participant observation?
Gather in depth data
Unlikely to overlook any behaviour
What are the weaknesses of participant observation?
Investigator effects
Demand characteristic (If they know they are there)
Less validity (No natural behaviour)
What are the strengths of Non-participant Observations
Investigator effects are less likely
Behaviour is more likely to be representative of a natural and unaltered human conduct.
What are the weaknesses of Non-participant Observations
Lack of proximity
Human behaviour being observed will be overlooked because of not being involved personally.
What are the strengths of Natural observations?
Higher ecological validity
More representative of everyday activities
What are the weaknesses of Natural observations?
Issues with reliability (consistency)
Often lacks replicability
What are the strengths of Controlled observations?
Can be replicated to check for reliability (consistency),
Has replicability
What are the weaknesses of Controlled observations?
Lower level of external validity.
No longer represents real life occurrences.
What are the strengths of Structured observations?
The researcher can compare behaviour
Makes coding data easier.
What are the Weaknesses of Structured observations?
There problems with internal validity in a structured observation, this is because the researcher may miss some crucial behaviours
What are the strengths of Unstructured observations?
Rich in detail
Obtain comprehensive view of human behaviour.
What are the Weaknesses of unstructured observations?
Prone to observer bias
Problem with inter-observer reliability
What is Event sampling?
It is counting the number of times a behaviour occurs
What is Time sampling?
It is counting behaviour in a set time frame, for example, recording what behaviour is being shown every 30 seconds.
