Observation

Question 1

Observation

Answer 1

• Observing the behaviour of participants
• Different from field experiments
  > Observations don’t involve manipulating an IV, they simply involve watching, recording and interpreting behaviour

Question 2

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 2

• Observing naturally occurring behaviour in the participants’ natural environment
• High Ecological Validity

Question 3

Controlled Observation

Answer 3

• Observing behaviour in a controlled situation.

Question 4

Participant Observation

Answer 4

• Researcher joins in with the group of people they are observing

Question 5

Non- Participant Observation

Answer 5

• Researcher observes the behaviour of interest from the ‘outside’

Question 6

Covert Observation

Answer 6

• Researcher is unknown to the participants

Question 7

Overt Observation

Answer 7

• Participants know that they are being observed

Question 8

Structured Observation

Answer 8

• Data is collected using a pre determined coding system

> eg. Tally chart with determined behaviour

Question 9

Unstructured Observation

Answer 9

• Researcher will watch the behaviour and record anything of interest.

Question 10

2 advantages of Observations

Answer 10

• Observations may be more valid than questionnaires or interviews.
• Provide a means of conducting preliminary investigations to produce hypotheses

Question 11

3 disadvantages of Observations

Answer 11

• Observer bias
• Ethical problems such as deception and invasion of privacy
• If participants do know they are being observed they may alter their behaviour

Question 12

5 steps to design and carry out an observation

Answer 12

1. Decide on the behaviour to be observed.
2. Decide whether to use a controlled or a naturalistic observation.
3. Decide whether the observation will be structured or unstructured.
4. If the observation will be structured, a grid should be created to record behaviour.
5. Decide how to sample the behaviour taking place

Question 13

Time Sampling

Answer 13

• Observations of each individual are made for several short periods in a given time frame
  > (e.g. the first ten minutes of every hour)
• Allows the researcher to see how frequent a given behaviour is in a given time period

Question 14

Event Sampling

Answer 14

• Observations are made of a specific event each time it occurs
  > eg. each time there is a fight