RM - Observational techniques Flashcards
What happens in an observational study?
A researcher watches of listens to participants engaging in whatever behaviour is being studied.
When/why are observational techniques used?
Often used in an experiment as a means of measuring the dependent variable.
What figure would show that data has a high inter-observer reliability?
If there is more than 80% agreement on the observations.
What happens in a naturalistic observation?
Behaviour is studied in a natural situation where everything has been left as it is normally.
The researcher doesn’t interfere in any way with what is happening.
What type of observation includes the fact that the researcher doesn’t interfere in any way with what is happening and behaviour is studied in a natural situation where everything has been left as it is normally?
Naturalistic.
What happens in a controlled observation?
Some variables in the environment are regulated by the researcher, reducing the ‘naturalness’ of the environment and, most importantly, the naturalness of the behaviour being studied.
Participants are likely to know they are being studied and the study may be conducted in a laboratory.
What does a controlled observation allow?
Allows the researcher to investigate the effects of certain things on behaviour, for example in Bandura’s study of social learning various toys were present to see how the children would interact with these.
Such ‘things’ aren’t the same as independent variables unless another group of participants had a different set of toys as a comparison.
What type of observation includes the fact that some variables in the environment are regulated by the researcher and the participants are likely to know they are being studied?
Controlled.
What type of observation is it if the person being observed may be aware of the observations?
Overt.
How might an observer try to be unobtrusive and hide themselves?
One way mirrors.
What type of observation is it if the participant doesn’t have any knowledge of being observed at least not before or during the study?
Covert.
What type of observation is it if the observer is just watching or listening to the behaviours of others?
Non-participant
What type of observation is it if the observer is part of the group being observed?
Participant
What is a controlled observation?
A form of investigation in which behaviour is observed but under conditions where certain variables have been organised by the researcher.
What are covert observations?
Observing people without their knowledge. Knowing that behaviour is being observed is likely to alter a participant’s behaviour.
What is inter-observer reliability?
The extent to which there is agreement between two or more observers involved in observations of behaviour.
What is a naturalistic observation?
An observation carried out in an everyday setting, in which the investigator doesn’t interfere in any way but merely observes the behaviour(s) in question.
What is a non-participant observation?
The observer is separate from the people being observed.
What is observer bias?
Observers’ expectations affect what they see or hear. This reduces the validity of the observations.
What is an overt observation?
Observational studies where participants are aware that their behaviour is being studied.
What is a participant observation?
Observations made by someone who is also participating in the activity being observed, which may affect their objectivity.
What are the strengths of observational studies in general?
- High validity: they record what people actually do rather than what they say they do.
- They may capture spontaneous and unexpected behaviour.
- Are often used as a way to measure the DV in an experiment and therefore are a fundamental method of gathering data.
What are the limitations of observational studies in general?
- Serious issue of observer bias as it is difficult to be objective when making the observations because what people observe is distorted by their expectations of what is likely or what they would hope to see.
- Only observable behaviour is recorded and not information about what people think or feel.
Therefore data from observations must be interpreted carefully.
How could you reduce the risk of observer bias in observational studies?
Use more than one observer to reduce the risk of observer bias affecting the validity of the observations.
