OBSERVATIONS

Question 1

What are observations?

Answer 1

• the systematic process of observing, recording and analysing behaviours.

To gain insights and undertand patterns

Question 2

How can observations be used?

Answer 2

• As a research method
• A measure/technique used to collect data in other research methods.

Question 3

What type of settings can observations take place?

Answer 3

• Naturalistic
• Controlled

Question 4

How is data from observations recorded?

Answer 4

• Structured
• Unstructured

Question 5

How can observers be INVOLVED in the observation?

Answer 5

• Participant
• Non- Particpant

Question 6

What role can an observer have in an observation?

Answer 6

• Overt
• Covert

Question 7

Define what a naturalistic observation is

Answer 7

• Conducted in the ppts natural (social or physical) enviroments. There is no interference from the researcher.

Question 8

Controlled observation

Answer 8

• Conducted in a situation that has been manipulated by the researchers (social/ physical enviroment)

Question 9

Define a structured observation

Answer 9

• The observer only records a limited range of behaviours.

Question 10

Unstructured observation

Answer 10

• The observer records the whole range of possible behaviours

Question 11

Behaviour categories

Answer 11

• The activities recorded in an experiment.
• Must be operationalised/ must be obervable actions rather than inferred states/ Must break the continous stream of activity into recordable events)

Question 12

Participant observer

Answer 12

The researcher is part of the social setting

Question 13

Non- partcipant observer

Answer 13

• The researcher does not become involved in the situation that is being studied

Question 14

Overt

Answer 14

• The role of the observer is obvious to ppts

Question 15

Covert

Answer 15

The role of the observer is NOT obvious (disguised/ CCTV)

Question 16

Event sampling

Answer 16

• The observer decides in advance what type of behavior is of interest and will be recorded. All other types of behaviors are ignored.

Question 17

Time sampling

Answer 17

• The observer decides in advance that the observation will occur during specific time periods
• and records when the behavior happens during that period only (10 minutes every hour, 1 hour per day)