Lesson 2- Observational Techniques

Question 1

What is an observation?

Answer 1

Observation- researcher 👀 or 👂 to pps engaging in behaviour 🏃‍♂‍ being studied 📖

Question 2

What is observer bias?

Answer 2

Observer Bias- observer knows purpose of study … observe 🏃‍♂‍ meets aims & hypothesis- … data inaccurate & subjective

Question 3

How do you overcome observer bias?

Answer 3

Overcoming observer bias- 2 observers record data separately- correlate observations & data together & if Kappa score of +0.8 gained then data reliable (known as inter-rater reliability)

Question 4

What is a non-participant observation?

Answer 4

Non-Participant Observation- researcher ✖️ directly involved with interactions of pps & ✖️ take part in their activities- e.g. observing pps in gym & psychologist stands & ✖️ engage in exercise

Question 5

What are the evaluation valuation points for non-participant observations?

Answer 5

👎- demand characteristics- pps know being 👀- … invalid ✖️ results
👍- ⬇️ bias as researcher ✖️ directly involved … ⬇️ sympathetic for pps
👎- difficult to gain accurate results when 👀 from distance
👍- ⬆️ researcher focus- ✖️ taking part … make good quality 📝

Question 6

What is participant observation?

Answer 6

Participant Observation- researcher directly involved with interactions of pps & engages in pps activities e.g. observing pps in gym & psychologist engages in exercise & uses gym equipment

Question 7

What are the evaluation points for participant observation?

Answer 7

👎- bias- researcher may be too involved- ⬆️ empathy for pps- ✖️ valid results
👍- insight- ⬆️ empathy allows researcher to understand feelings of pps- also taking part
👎- ⏰ consuming- requires trained researcher to identify details about pps
👍- ⬆️ accurate qualitative data- interactions observed closely … ⬆️ validity

Question 8

What is a covert observation?

Answer 8

Covert Observation- psychologist undercover- ✖️ reveal true identity- group ✖️ know being observed 👀

Question 9

What are the evaluation points for a covert observation?

Answer 9

👎- ethical problems- ✖️ informed consent- deception (fake identity)- privacy violated- researchers may take part in criminal 🔫 activities to remain cover
👍- ⬇️ demand characteristics- pps unaware of research … ⬆️ true & valid results
👎- ✖️ take field 📝- info may be forgotten if 📝✖️ taken during observation
👍- access to closed groups easier- ✖️ permission needed- fake identity

Question 10

What is an overt observation?

Answer 10

Overt Observation- psychologist reveals true identity & might state observing 👀 group

Question 11

What are the evaluation points of an overt observation?

Answer 11

👎- observer effects- pps change 🏃‍♂‍ (social desirability bias)- know being 👀-> invalid ✖️ results
👍- make 📝- pps aware of research- info ✖️ forgotten … ⬆️ accurate & valid results
👍- ethical & ⬇️ ⏰ wasted- consent given- ✖️ withdraw from study being published

Question 12

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 12

Naturalistic Observation- researcher 👀 pps in their natural environment & ✖️ deliberate manipulation of (IV)- e.g. psychologist 👀 ppl 🛍 at Westfield to see 🛍 alone or in group

Question 13

What are the evaluation points for a naturalistic observation?

Answer 13

👎- ✖️ control over extraneous variables (EV)- other variables may affect DV other than IV-> invalid ✖️ results
👍- pps unaware being 👀 (covert) … ⬇️ chance of observer effect & pps ⬆️ likely act naturally …-> valid results
👎- cause & effect ✖️ determined- ⬆️ lack of control- ✖️ just IV affecting DV
👍- ⬆️ mundane realism as 🏃‍♂‍ shown reflects everyday 🏃‍♂‍- ALSO- ⬆️ ecological validity- results generalised to other settings & contexts

Question 14

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 14

Controlled Observation- researcher 👀 pps in controlled environment- allows for manipulation of IV- e.g. lab 🧪 setting

Question 15

What are the evaluation points for a controlled observation?

Answer 15

👎- ⬇️ mundane realism- results ✖️ accurate reflection of everyday life- ALSO- ⬇️ ecological validity- results ✖️ generalised to other settings/contexts- ⬆️ control
👍- Cause & effect determined- observation ⬆️ accurate- only IV affecting DV- ✖️ EV
👎- Observer effects- pps know being 👀 (overt)- … pps show social desirability bias- unnatural 🏃‍♂‍-> invalid ✖️ data
👍- EV controlled- results ⬆️ valid- only IV affecting DV

Question 16

What are the 2 types of sampling?

Answer 16

1) Event Sampling

2) Time-interval sampling

Question 17

What is event sampling?

Answer 17

Event sampling- observer decides 🏃‍♂‍ & records all occurrences- other 🏃‍♂‍ ignored

Question 18

What is time-interval sampling?

Answer 18

Time ⏰-interval sampling- observer decides observation take place during specified ⏰ periods (e.g. 10 min every hour, 1 hour per day) & records occurrence of specified behaviour during ⏰ period only

Question 19

What are the 6 types of observations?

Answer 19

1) Non-participant
2) Participant
3) Covert
4) Overt
5) Naturalistic
6) Controlled

Question 20

What is a pilot study?

Answer 20

Pilot Study- initial small scale investigation of procedures to be used in main study- trialing study

Question 21

What are the evaluation points of a pilot study?

Answer 21

👍- save ⏰ & 💵- identify flaws in procedures- problems rectified before main study
👍- establish behavioural 🏃‍♂‍ categories & check suitability
👍- irons out practical problems e.g. where observers stand or where video 🎥 placed
👍- spot ambiguities (unusual things)/confusion with info given to pps or problems with task