Research methods - Observations

Question 1

what kind of data does observation produce

Answer 1

primary data as the researcher obtains the data themselves

Question 2

what may you see hypotheses referred to as

Answer 2

alternative hypotheses- the must be fully operationalised

Question 3

define behavioural categories

Answer 3

the behaviours that are to be observed and recorded

Question 4

what must behavioural categories be

Answer 4

mutually exclusive, clearly operationalised, objective and observable

Question 5

where are behavioural categories noted

Answer 5

behavioural checklist

Question 6

define the coding frame

Answer 6

a record of the criteria used to classify behaviours. it may include definitions of the codes used

Question 7

give a weakness of behavioural categories

Answer 7

behaviours may be missed as behaviours are complex so not all are written down in the checklist - reduced accuracy

Question 8

give a strength of behavioural categories

Answer 8

produces quantitative data because observers use tallies. This is easier to interpret - easily spot trends and patterns in behaviours

Question 9

define event sampling

Answer 9

a researcher recording an event every time it happens during a specified time frame

Question 10

define time sampling

Answer 10

a researcher observes behaviour at regular interval for a specified amount of time, over a specified period of time.

Question 11

what are strengths of event sampling

Answer 11

it is less likely that behaviour of interest will be missed
useful when behaviours are infrequent

Question 12

what are weaknesses of event sampling

Answer 12

may miss behaviours if too much is happening at once or researcher is fatigued

Question 13

what are strengths of time sampling

Answer 13

reduces time spent of observation - may increase accuracy
provides insight into how much time a participant spends in a particular activity

Question 14

what are weaknesses of time sampling

Answer 14

behaviours may be missed - reducing validity
accuracy is reduced if several participants are observed at the same time

Question 15

what is a structured observation

Answer 15

pre-determined checklists and categories

Question 16

what is a strength of structured observation

Answer 16

quantitative data - comparable and easy to analyse

Question 17

what is a weakness of structured observation

Answer 17

frequencies lack meaning

Question 18

what is unstructured observation

Answer 18

no checklist so every behaviour seen is written down in as much detail as possible

Question 19

what is a strength of unstructured observation

Answer 19

qualitative data - in depth and understanding,

Question 20

what is a weakness of unstructured observation

Answer 20

difficult to do - likely to miss behaviour

Question 21

what is controlled observation

Answer 21

lab setting, contained

Question 22

what is a strength of controlled observation

Answer 22

control over extraneous variables so high internal validity

Question 23

what is a weakness of controlled observation

Answer 23

lack of ecological validity

Question 24

what is naturalistic observation

Answer 24

real world setting

Question 25

what is a strength of naturalistic observation

Answer 25

realistic behaviour - valid

Question 26

what is a weakness of naturalistic observation

Answer 26

hard to replicate

Question 27

what is participant observation

Answer 27

observer is part of the group they're observing

Question 28

what is a strength of participant observation

Answer 28

in-depth understanding of what is happening - first hand experience and context

Question 29

what is a weakness of participant observation

Answer 29

can't take notes so may have to rely on memory - lower validity and reliability observer bias

Question 30

what is non-participant observation

Answer 30

observer is not part of the group they are observing

Question 31

what is a strength of non-participant observation

Answer 31

objective, reliable data

Question 32

what is a weakness of non-participant observation

Answer 32

may become aware - Hawthorne effect

Question 33

what is overt observation

Answer 33

participant fully aware of observer

Question 34

what is a strength of overt observation

Answer 34

consent- ethical

Question 35

what is a weakness of overt observation

Answer 35

demand characteristics - ps guesses aims and tries to act/not act accordingly

Question 36

what is covert observation

Answer 36

participant not aware of observer

Question 37

what is a strength of covert observation

Answer 37

no demand characteristics

Question 38

what is a weakness of covert observation

Answer 38

raises ethical concerns - no informed consent

Question 39

when are observations reliable

Answer 39

if we gather the same results when the same observation of the same event is made a second time

Question 40

Describe inter observer reliability

Answer 40

use more than one observer and compare the ratings of two or more observers, checking for agreement in their measurements (if there is agreement there is reliability)

Question 41

how is agreement between observers calculated

Answer 41

using a correlation

Question 42

what could affect inter-observer reliability

Answer 42

observer fatigue, poorly operationalised checklists, observer bias, controlled vs naturalistic, training of observer

Question 43

what is validity

Answer 43

whether a study measures or examines what it claims to measure or examine

Question 44

why could observations lack validity

Answer 44

observer bias, setting

Question 45

Define inter-observer reliability

Answer 45

The extent to which two or more observers are observing and recording behaviour in the same way

Question 46

How could validity be improved when conducting observations (5 ways)

Answer 46

Use more than one observer Observer and participants kept unaware of the aims (double blind procedure) Carry out a pilot study Have fully operationalised behaviour categories and codes Ensure all observers are fully trained in the use of behaviour categories/ codes

Question 47

Why does using more than one observer improve validity

Answer 47

The data can be averaged across, thereby reducing the impact of any biases