Sampling in observations

Question 1

Event based sampling

Answer 1

A target behaviour (event) is chosen and the researcher counts every single time this event occurs.

E.g. an observer watches a class of children and counts how many watches their mobile phone. Observation is continued throughout the duration of the study.

Question 2

Weakness with event based sampling?

Answer 2

However, if there is a lot going in it may be difficult/impossible to observe every behaviour, causing some events to be missed.

Question 3

Time based Sampling

Answer 3

A target person is chosen then the researcher watches them for a fixed amount of time, and records their behaviour. After this time they wait a fixed interval and then either watches the same person or a different target.

E.g. Observe one child for 2 mins and count how often they touch their mobile phones and mins later for 2 mins and repeat. Time sampling involves observing 1 person/group for set length of time at set intervals.

Question 4

Weakness

Answer 4

It can underestimate a student’s behaviour since the student may engage in a behaviour throughout an interval but stop right before the end of the interval.