Observations

Question 1

Naturalistic

Answer 1

• Take place in the setting or context where the behaviour would usually occur.
• All aspects of the environment are free to vary.

Question 2

Controlled

Answer 2

• Some control over variables, including manipulating variables to observe effects and also control of extraneous variables.
• E.g. Mary Ainsworth

Question 3

Covert

Answer 3

• Participants are unaware they are being observed.
• Observed in secret e.g. 2 way mirror

Question 4

Overt

Answer 4

• Observer becomes part of the group they are studying.

Question 5

Non-participant

Answer 5

• Researcher remains separate from the group they’re studying and records their behaviour in a more objective manner

Question 6

Naturalistic evaluation

Answer 6

• Tend to have high external validity as behaviour is studied where it naturally occurs.
• Lack of control makes replication difficult.
• Extraneous variables.

Question 7

Controlled evaluation

Answer 7

• Extraneous variables are less of a factor.
• Replications is easier.
• May produce findings that can’t be readily applied to real-life settings.

Question 8

Covert evaluation

Answer 8

• Participants are unaware they are being observed which removes demand characteristics.
• Ensures participants behaviour will be natural. Increases validity of the data gathered.
• Ethics of the study may be questionable. May not want their behaviours recorded.

Question 9

Overt evaluation

Answer 9

• More ethically acceptable
• Knowledge the participants have that they’re being observed may influence behaviour.

Question 10

Participants evaluation

Answer 10

• Researcher can experience the situation as participants do - giving them increased insight into their lives which may increase validity of their findings.
• Researcher may come to identify too strongly with those they’re studying and lose objectivity.
• May be impractical to join certain groups.

Question 11

Non-participants evaluation

Answer 11

• Allow researcher to maintain objective psychological distance.
• May lose valuable insight as they are too far removed from the people and behaviour they are studying