research methods: observations

Question 1

what are observational studies?

Answer 1

studies where the researcher observes a situation and records what happens

Question 2

how may an experimental element be used in an observation?

Answer 2

watching and recording behaviour of males and females and then comparing these

Question 3

what’s a non participant observation?

Answer 3

type of observational study whereby the researcher doesn’t join in with the activity being observed and instead observes from outside of the group

Question 4

what’s a participant observation?

Answer 4

type of observational study whereby the researcher does join in with the activity being observed

Question 5

what’s a covert observation?

Answer 5

type of observational study whereby the participants aren’t aware that they are being observed as a one way mirror is used or the researcher is hidden

Question 6

what’s an overt observation?

Answer 6

type of observational study whereby participants are aware that they are being observed

Question 7

what’s a structured observation?

Answer 7

where the researchers design a pre planned coding scheme or behaviour checklist to record participants behaviour

Question 8

what’s an unstructured observation?

Answer 8

involves the researchers recording any behaviour they can see at the time without the use of a pre planned criteria

Question 9

what’s a controlled observation?

Answer 9

occurs when the researchers control some variables and is in an artificial or set up environment

Question 10

what’s a naturalistic observation?

Answer 10

occurs when the researcher doesn’t control variables and it’s in a real life situations

Question 11

general strengths of observations

Answer 11

overall observations are good as we can see what participants actually do and how they actually behave in a given situation increasing validity in contrast to methods like self report in which participants may lie about their behaviours or are poor at guessing what they’d do

Question 12

general weaknesses of observations

Answer 12

overall observational studies can be subject to observer bias. researcher may see what they want to see or interpret behaviours incorrectly which limits the validity
observations don’t necessarily tell us why someone did something so this can be limiting

Question 13

what are behavioural categories?

Answer 13

clearly defined behaviours are identified and operationalised which can be observed and recorded
these are placed on a checklist and tallied every time the behaviour occurs

Question 14

evaluation of behavioural categories

Answer 14

easy to tally behaviour and quantitative data is easy to analyse and see which behaviours are most and least common

behaviours lose meaning by being put into simple and generalised categories and being converted into a tally

Question 15

what are coding frames?

Answer 15

allow for more specific behaviours to be observed within a behaviour category
codes and abbreviations can be used to record the severity of behaviours or a different sub type within a category and this allows us to turn qualitative data into quantitative data

Question 16

evaluation of coding frames

Answer 16

allows greater depth and understanding of what behaviours were like

time consuming

miss behaviours

Question 17

evaluation of controlled observations

Answer 17

reduces extraneous variables and increases internal validity

low ecological validity

Question 18

evaluation of naturalistic observations

Answer 18

high EV

lots of potential for extraneous variables

Question 19

evaluation of overt observations

Answer 19

ethical, consent to observe

observer effect participants may act unnaturally as they know they are being watched

Question 20

evaluation of covert observations

Answer 20

no observer effect as don’t know being watched

unethical lack of consent

Question 21

evaluation of participant observations

Answer 21

greater insight as you are experiencing the situation alongside the participants you are observing

can lose objectivity and go native as build relationships with pps

Question 22

evaluation of non participant observations

Answer 22

objective outsider
not distracted by taking part

lack of insight observing as outsider

Question 23

evaluation of structured observations

Answer 23

less likely to miss behaviours as categories are planned
reliable and consistent categories

invalid, can’t add categories

Question 24

evaluation of non structured observations

Answer 24

more likely to miss behaviours categories unplanned
less reliable no categories

valid as can add categories

Question 25

what’s time sampling?

Answer 25

when the observer only records behaviours that occur at a pre set time interval. for example they might observe every 5 mins for 5 seconds across the full 30 min observation

Question 26

what’s event sampling?

Answer 26

when the observer can record all of the behaviours they are wanting to look at that happen across the full (n) minute observation

Question 27

evaluation of event sampling

Answer 27

more valid as have the ability to record everything throughout the obs, aren’t restricted by time intervals if behaviours are very frequent with event sampling it can be hard to keep up recording so miss behaviours which reduces internal validity less reliable no set time to record

Question 28

evaluation of time sampling

Answer 28

more reliable as consistent interval is chosen less valid as behaviours between intervals can’t be recorded allows breaks so can observe reliably for longer

Question 29

what’s inter rater reliability?

Answer 29

two or more observers watching and recording behaviour in a consistent way 80% IRR or over is high

Question 30

four ways that inter rater reliability could be improved

Answer 30

observers should discuss categories beforehand and all have a shared agreement as to what’s included in each category fully operationalised do a pilot study, practice before to highlight any inconsistencies consider using time sampling so that the observers see in sync observing at consistent times same view of the scene

Question 31

how can validity of observations be improved?

Answer 31

categories coded in a different or clearer way more observers employed observers kept unaware of aims of observation

Question 32

what are the BPS ethical guidelines and which requirements fall under each?

Answer 32

respect: consent and informed consent, right to withdraw, confidentiality responsibility: protection of participants and debrief competence: is the researcher adequately qualified and skilled to administer the research integrity: deception