Observational Techniques

Question 1

what are the observational techniques?

Answer 1

• naturalistic and controlled observations
• participant and non-participant observation
• overt and covert observations

Question 2

what is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 2

takes place in a setting or context where the target behaviour would usually occur

Question 3

what is a strength of naturalistic observations?

Answer 3

• high external validity so the findings can be generalised to everyday life
  = this is because the behaviour is studied within the environment it would normally occur

Question 4

what is a weakness of naturalistic observations?

Answer 4

since there is less control over variables such as the confounding and extraneous variables, naturalistic observations lack replicability

Question 5

what is a controlled observation?

Answer 5

• some control over variables
• manipulation over variables to observe effects
• control of confounding and extraneous variables

Question 6

what is a strength of controlled observations?

Answer 6

• there is replicability
• confounding and extraneous variables are controlled

Question 7

what is a weakness of controlled observations?

Answer 7

• findings can not be readily applied to everyday life

Question 8

what is a participant observation?

Answer 8

• the observer becomes a part of the group they are studying
• produces a first-hand account

Question 9

what is a strength of participant observations?

Answer 9

• increased in sight into the lives of the people being studies

Question 10

what is a weakness of participant observations?

Answer 10

• researcher may come to identify too strongly with those they are studying and lose objectivity
• ‘adopting a local lifestyle’ = line between being a researcher and being a participant becomes blurred

Question 11

what is a non-participant observation?

Answer 11

• researcher remains separate from those they are studying and records behaviour in a more objective manner
• may be impractical to join groups

Question 12

what is a strength of non-participant observations?

Answer 12

• allows researcher to maintain an objective psychological distance from their participants, so less likely to adopt a local lifestyle

Question 13

what is a weakness of non-participants observations?

Answer 13

• may lose valuable insight to be gained in a ppt observation
• too far removed from the people and behaviour they are studying

Question 14

what is a covert observation?

Answer 14

participants are unaware they are the focus of the study and that their behaviour is being observed
- behaviour must be happening already

Question 15

what is a strength of covert observations?

Answer 15

• don’ know they are being watched, removing the problem of demand characteristics(behaviour observed is natural)
• ## increases internal validity

Question 16

what is a weakness of covert observations?

Answer 16

• ethics may be questioned as people may not wish to have their behaviours noted down

Question 17

what is an overt observations?

Answer 17

participants know their behaviour is being observed and have given informed consent before hand

Question 18

what is a strength of overt observations?

Answer 18

• more ethically acceptable

Question 19

what is a weakness of overt observations?

Answer 19

participants know that they are observed , which has a significant influence on their behaviour