Observational Techniques

Question 1

Tell me about observational techniques?

Describe it

Answer 1

NON-EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Behaviour is observed and recorded (many ways of doing this)

Good for situations that would otherwise be unethical or inappropriate to study (e.g., children)

Question 2

What are all the different observational techniques?

Answer 2

Participant
Non-participant
Covert
Overt
Natural
Laboratory/controlled

Question 3

What is participant observation?

Answer 3

when the researcher is a participant in the study. (For example, Festinger et al, 1956, posing as members of a religious cult).

Question 4

Strength of participant observation

Answer 4

Can lead to greater insight

Researcher experiences the situation as the participants do. This enhances the external validity of findings.

Question 5

Limitation of participant observation

Answer 5

Possible loss of objectivity

The researcher may identify too strongly with those they are studying (‘going native’). Therefore, threatening the objectivity and internal validity of findings.

Question 6

What is non participant observation?

Answer 6

The researcher is not a participant (most common)

Question 7

Strength of non participant observation

Answer 7

More objective

Research maintains an objective distance so less chance of bias. May increase the internal validity of findings.

Question 8

Limitation of non participant observation

Answer 8

Loss of insight

Researcher may be too far removed from those they are studying. May reduce the external validity of findings.

Question 9

What is covert observation?

Answer 9

observations without a participant’s knowledge (e.g., one-way mirrors)

Question 10

Strengths of covert observation?

Answer 10

Demand characteristics reduced

Participants do not know they are being watched so their behaviour will be more natural. This increases the internal validity of the findings.

Question 11

Limitations of covert observation?

Answer 11

Ethically questionable

People may not want behaviour recorded, even in public. Participants’ right to privacy may be affected.

Question 12

What is overt observation?

Answer 12

the participant is aware of being observed (e.g., Ofsted observation).

Question 13

Strengths of overt observation?

Answer 13

More ethically acceptable

Participants have given their consent to be studied. They have the right to withdraw if they wish.

Question 14

Limitations of overt observation

Answer 14

Demand characteristics

Knowledge of being studied influences behaviour. Reducing the internal validity of the findings.

Question 15

What is natural observation?

Answer 15

everything has been left as it usually is (e.g., watching animals in their natural environment)

Question 16

Strengths of natural observation?

Answer 16

High external validity

In a natural context, behaviour is likely to be more spontaneous. More generalisable to everyday life.

Question 17

Limitations of natural observation?

Answer 17

Low control

There may be uncontrolled CVs/EVs. Makes it more difficult to detect patterns.

Question 18

What is a laboratory observation?

Answer 18

Laboratory/controlled observation: some variables are controlled by the researcher (e.g., watching gorillas in a zoo playing with given equipment)

Question 19

Strengths of laboratory observation?

Answer 19

Can be replicated

More easily repeated due to standardised procedures. Findings can be checked to see if they occur again.

Question 20

Limitations of laboratory observation?

Answer 20

May have low external validity

Behaviour may be contrived as a result of the setting. Findings cannot be applied to everyday experience.

Question 21

Types of sampling for designing an observational study?

Answer 21

Event sampling

Time sampling

Question 22

What is event sampling?

Answer 22

the observer records every time a type of behaviour is displayed by keeping a tally. For example, every time participants shout.

Question 23

Strengths of event sampling?

Answer 23

Useful for infrequent behaviour

The researcher will still ‘pick up’ behaviours that do not occur at regular intervals. Such behaviours could easily be missed using time sampling.

Question 24

Limitations of event sampling?

Answer 24

Complex behaviour oversimplified

If the event is too complex, important details may go unrecorded. This may affect the validity of the findings.

Question 25

What is time sampling?

Answer 25

the observer records behaviours at pre-determined intervals. For example, every 5 minutes or 15 seconds will record what is happening

Question 26

Strengths of time sampling?

Answer 26

Reduces the number of observations Rather than recording everything that is seen (i.e., continuous) data is recorded at certain intervals. The observation is more structured and systematic.

Question 27

Limitations of time sampling?

Answer 27

May be unrepresentative The researcher may miss important details outside of the timescale. May not reflect the whole behaviour.

Question 28

What is behavioural categories?

Answer 28

To operationalise the behaviour. This involves breaking the target behaviour (e.g. aggression) into components that can be observed and measured (e.g. hitting, kicking).

Question 29

Advantages of observational research?

Answer 29

Natural observations = high ecological validity Can be used when manipulation of IV would be impractical or unethical Few demand characteristics in natural observations

Question 30

Disadvantages of observational research?

Answer 30

Cannot infer cause and effect - EVs are not controlled Observer bias Difficult to replicate Potential ethical issues? Hard to categorise behaviours before an observational study (pilot study needed)