research methods: non-experimental methods (observational)

Question 1

what are the types of observations?

Answer 1

.controlled
.naturalistic
.participant
.non-participant
.covert
.overt

Question 2

what is an observation?

Answer 2

.seeing/watching the behaviour of participants (without asking them).
.recording when specific, operationalised events happen

Question 3

what are the strengths to an observation?

Answer 3

.all observations capture what people actually do (people don’t always behave as they say they would)

Question 4

what are the negatives to an observation?

Answer 4

.observer bias: observers interpretation may be affected by their expectations.
.cannot establish causational relationships (though can as part of an experiment)

Question 5

what is a controlled observation?

Answer 5

.control certain aspects of the research situation, e.g. setting and variables

Question 6

what are the strengths to a controlled observation?

Answer 6

.control of variables means replication is easier

Question 7

.what are the negatives to a controlled observation?

Answer 7

.lower external validity -findings less readily applied to everyday

Question 8

what is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 8

.take place in a setting where the target behaviour would normally occur

Question 9

what is a strength to an naturalistic observation?

Answer 9

.high external validity -can generalise findings to everyday

Question 10

what is a negative to an naturalistic observation?

Answer 10

.lack of control makes replication difficult

Question 11

what is a participant observation?

Answer 11

.researcher becomes part of the group

Question 12

what is a strength to a participant observation?

Answer 12

.experience the situation and gives them more insight (increases validity)

Question 13

what is a negative to a participant observation?

Answer 13

.may identify with members of the group and lose objectivity

Question 14

what is a non-participant observation?

Answer 14

.researcher remains separate from those they are studying

Question 15

what is a strength to a non-participant observation?

Answer 15

.maintain an objective psychological distance

Question 16

what is a negative to a non-participant observation?

Answer 16

.may lose insight as they are too far removed from the research

Question 17

what is a covert observation?

Answer 17

.behaviour is recorded without gaining consent first (secretly).
.observations of public behaviour to be ethical.

Question 18

what is a strength to a covert observation?

Answer 18

.lowers risk of demand characteristics, increasing internal validity

Question 19

what is a negative to a covert observation?

Answer 19

.ethics: no informed consent.
.people may not want even their public behaviour monitored (Right to privacy)

Question 20

what is an overt observation?

Answer 20

.participants know they are being observed and have given their informed consent

Question 21

what is a strength to an overt observation?

Answer 21

.more ethically acceptable than covert observations

Question 22

what is a negative to an overt observation?

Answer 22

.higher risk of demand characteristics, decreases internal validity