Research Methods: Observational Techniques

Question 1

What is an observation?

Answer 1

-Is a research method when psychologists watch and record behaviour in a systematic way, without manipulating variables.

Question 2

Why are observations a great way to study behaviour?

Answer 2

-As it naturally occurs and is useful for when self-report methods may be unreliable.

Question 3

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 3

-When conducting a naturalistic observation, the researcher watches and records behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur, this means all aspects of the environment are free to vary.

Question 4

What is a controlled observation?

Answer 4

-With a controlled observation the researcher watches and records behaviour within a structured environment.

Question 5

Why is a controlled observation useful?

Answer 5

-It can be useful to control certain aspects of the research situation, so a controlled observation may be preferred as the researcher has control over extraneous variable that might otherwise interfere with the results.

Question 6

What is a covert observation?

Answer 6

-The participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent.

-Researchers will usually watch from somewhere else hidden like from across a room or from a balcony.

-However, the behaviour should be public and happening anyway if the observation is to be ethical.

Question 8

What is an overt observation?

Answer 8

-Participants behaviours is watched and recorded without their knowledge their knowledge and consent.

-This is observed through a consent from prior to the observation beginning.

Question 9

What is a participant observation?

Answer 9

-In a participant observation the researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording.

-Sometimes it may be necessary for the observer to become part of the group they are studying, as is the case with participants observations.

Question 10

What is Non-participant behaviour?

Answer 10

-Are when the researcher stays separate from the people they are studying and records their behaviour objectively.

-This is often necessary when joining the group isn’t possible, for example, a researcher observing interactions between patients in a hospital ward or prisoners in a correctional facility, would be unethical or unsafe to participate directly.

Question 11

What is inter-observer reliability?

Answer 11

-A way of measuring whether an observation is reliable.

-An observation requires the observer to tally the behavioural categories which may be hard to do because the observer may miss something and/or be biased. To measure whether the observation is reliable, inter-observer reliability is used.

Question 12

Steps of inter-observer reliability;

Answer 12

Step 1: Two or more observers agree on the behaviour categories and sampling method to be used.

Step 2: They observe the same situation and independently tally the behavioural categories.

Step 3: They compare their results using a Spearman’s Rho test. If their results correlate by about 0.8 or more, the observation is deemed reliable.

Question 13

Strengths of Observational studies in general:

Answer 13

-Have high validity, record what people actually do rather than what they say they do.

-May capture spontaneous and unexpected behaviour.

-Often used as a way to measure the DV in an experiment and so are a fundamental way of gathering data.

Question 14

Limitations of Observational studies in general:

Answer 14

-Serious issue of observer bias

-Only observable behaviour is recorded and not information about what people think or feel, date from observations nuts be interepted carefully.

Question 15

Strengths of Covert Behaviour

Answer 15

-Behaviour is natural.

-Can see real reactions.

Question 16

Weaknesses of Covert observation

Answer 16

-Unethical because no consent.

-Observer may act differently because they know they are being watched.

Question 17

Strengths of Overt Observation

Answer 17

-Ethical, participants give consent.

-Easier for observer to record.

Question 18

Weaknesses of Overt Observation

Answer 18

-Behaviour may change, less natural.

-Participants may act differently because they know they are being watched.

Question 19

Strengths of Naturalistic Observation:

Answer 19

-Behaviour is realistic.

-High ecological validity.

Question 20

Weaknesses of Naturalistic Observation:

Answer 20

-Hard to control outside factors.

-Observations may be affected by other events.

Question 21

Strengths of Controlled Observation:

Answer 21

-Easier to control variables.

-Easier to record specific behaviours.

Question 22

Weaknesses of Controlled Observation

Answer 22

-Behaviour may be artificial

-Low ecological validity

Question 23

Strengths of Participant Observation :

Answer 23

-Can gain insider perspective.

-Can understand feelings and motivations

Question 24

Weaknesses of Participant Observation:

Answer 24

-Observer may influence behaviour.

-Difficult to stay objective.

Question 25

Strengths of Non-Participant Observation:

Answer 25

-Observer can be more objective. -Less chance of influencing behaviour.

Question 26

Weaknesses of Non-Participant Observation:

Answer 26

-May miss important details or context. -Can be harder to interpret feelings or motivations.