Research Methods P4

Question 1

What are observations?

Answer 1

Researchers watch + record behaviours

Question 2

Why does the researcher need to operationalised their observations?

Answer 2

Researcher can be more certain that they are focusing on what they are aiming to study

Question 3

Why can observations be used within an experiment?

Answer 3

To measure the DV

Question 4

What is a structured observation?

Answer 4

Predetermined behaviour coding sheet with operationalised behaviour categories

Question 5

What is an unstructured observation?

Answer 5

No predetermined coding sheet, but record all instances of behaviour that feels relevant

Question 6

Questions that could be asked to choose what type of observation to do?

Answer 6

1. Where will it take place
2. Will ppts be aware they’re being studied
3. Researcher take part in study?

Question 7

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 7

• Natural setting
• Env. free to vary
• Unstructured (less control)

Question 8

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 8

• Lab/ artificial setting
• Aspects of env. controlled by researcher
• Structured (more control)

Question 9

What are the strengths of a naturalistic observation (ecological validity)?

Answer 9

P= High ecological validity
E= Takes place in natural setting
E= Natural behaviour (no DC)

Question 10

Why do naturalistic observations have ethical issues?

Answer 10

P= Ethical issues
E= Ppts studied in public
E= Ppts should be studied in env. they know they’re likely to be observed

Question 11

What problems do naturalistic observations have in relation to reliability?

Answer 11

P= Low reliability
E= Hard to control extraneous variables
E= Harder to replicate

Question 12

What are the strengths of a controlled observation (ethical issues)?

Answer 12

P= Less ethical issues
E= Give consent before observation
E= Adhere to ethical guidelines

Question 13

Why is there high reliability in naturalistic observations?

Answer 13

P= High reliability
E= Standardised procedure + control EV
E= Easier to replicate

Question 14

What are the weaknesses of controlled observation (ecological validity)?

Answer 14

P= Low ecological validity
E= Artificial setting
E= Prone to DC

Question 15

What is an overt observation?

Answer 15

• Ppts aware they are being studied
• Ppts agree before research conducted

Question 16

What is a covert observation/ undisclosed observation?

Answer 16

• Ppts not aware they are being studied
• Behaviours observed must be public

Question 17

Why do covert observations have high validity?

Answer 17

P= High validity
E= Not aware of observation
E= Reduce DC

Question 18

What are the ethical issues of a covert observation?

Answer 18

P= Ethical issues
E= Ppts can’t give informed consent
E= Privacy violation seems unethical

Question 19

Why is there practical difficulties in relation to covert observations?

Answer 19

P= Practical difficulties
E= Difficult for researchers to remain unobserved
E= Reduced validity (may not record everything)

Question 20

Why do overt observations have less ethical issues?

Answer 20

P= Less ethical issues
E= Already gave consent
E= Agreed to take part in research

Question 21

What are the weaknesses of an overt observation (validity)?

Answer 21

P= Low validity
E= Ppts aware of observation
E= Display DC

Question 22

What is a participant observation?

Answer 22

• Researcher becomes part of study
• Research provide 1st hand account
• Overt or covert

Question 23

What is a non-participant observation?

Answer 23

• Researcher remains separate from study
• Overt or covert

Question 24

What are the strengths of a participant observation (behaviour studied)?

Answer 24

P= More insight into behaviour studied
E= 1st hand account of what’s happening
E= Improves validity

Question 25

What are the practical difficulties of a participant observation?

Answer 25

P= Practical difficulties E= Problematic to get accurate notes whilst participating (relying on memory) E= Reduces validity

Question 26

Why would there be investigator bias in participant observations?

Answer 26

P= Investigator bias E= Researcher interacts with ppts E= Researcher identify with ppts (affects validity)

Question 27

Why are there less practical difficulties in a non-participant observation?

Answer 27

P= Less practical difficulties E= Remains separate E= Increase validity (make notes during)

Question 28

Why are non-participant observations less prone to investigator bias?

Answer 28

P= Less prone to investigator bias E= Remains separate E= Researcher remains objective (increase validity)

Question 29

What is an observational design?

Answer 29

How we conduct the different types of observations

Question 30

What do researchers need to decide in advance for a structured observation?

Answer 30

Which behaviours they will record - Need to be operationalised + behaviour checklist containing behaviour characteristics

Question 31

What form does behaviour checklist/ coding sheet take form in?

Answer 31

Tally chart - Count frequencies of behaviours seen during observation + record in relevant place

Question 32

What is inter-rater reliability?

Answer 32

The extent to which different observers agree

Question 33

What is intra-rater reliability?

Answer 33

The extent to which a single observer is consistent when observing the same behaviour

Question 34

What is behaviour sampling?

Answer 34

Deciding how frequently we are going to record instances for behaviour

Question 35

What is event sampling?

Answer 35

Decide what behaviours to focus on + record when it happens

Question 36

What is time sampling?

Answer 36

Behaviour recorded at set time intervals

Question 37

How can data collected from observations be presented?

Answer 37

Bar chart

Question 38

Why is time sampling good?

Answer 38

Easier to manage and record behaviours

Question 39

Why is time sampling bad?

Answer 39

Some behaviour may be missed if they don't occur at the sampling intervals

Question 40

Why is event sampling good?

Answer 40

All behaviours are recorded so none are missed

Question 41

Why is event sampling bad?

Answer 41

The amount of behaviour observed may be too much to record

Question 42

What is inter-rater reliability?

Answer 42

2+ observers conduct an observation simultaneously but separately + compare recordings (assess consistency)

Question 43

How can inter-rater reliability be assessed?

Answer 43

Do a correlational analysis