OBSERVATIONAL DESIGN

How many types of observational design are there

3

What are the 3 types of observational design

Structured observation, unstructured observation, and sampling methods

What is structured observation

Where the researcher quantifies what they are observing using predetermined list of behaviours and sampling methods

What is a strength of a structured observation

Its objective and produces data that’s easy to analyse

Pre-determined behavioural categories are used, as well as checklists to record specific actions

This means the data is quantitative, reducing subjectivity and making comparisons between participants and conditions more reliable and straightforward

What is a limitaion of a structured observation

It may lack depth and detail

By focusing only on specific listed behaviours, researchers may overlook context or behaviours that don’t fit pre-defined categories

As a result, the data may miss important nuances, reducing the richness and insight into the full range of participant behaviour

What is an unstructured observation

It consists of continuous recording where the researcher writes everything they see during the observation

What is a strength of an unstructured observation

They produce rich and detailed data

All behaviours are recorded freely, without using fixed behavioural categories

Allows for greater flexibility and deeper insight into participant behaviour, which can be very useful in explanatory research

What is a limitation of unstructured observations

They are more prone to observer bias

Without objective behavioural categories, researchers rely on their own judgement to decide what to record

Can lead to inconsistent or subjective interpretatiin, reducing the reliability and validity of the findings

What are the 2 sampling methods

Event sampling and time sampling

What is event sampling

This involves the counting of the number of times a particular behaviour is carried out by the target group or individual you are watching

What is a strength of event sampling

Its effective for capturing rare behaviours

It involves recording every instance of a specific behaviour whenever it occurs

Ensures infrequent but important actions arent missed, making it useful in studies where behaviours occur unpredictably

What is a weakness of event sampling

It may miss important details in busy situations

If several behaviours occur at once, the observer may not be able to record them all accurately

Can lead to incomplete data, especially when thr observation environment is fast paced or complex

What is time sampling

This is the recording of behaviour within a timeframe that is pre-established before the observational study.

What is a strength of time sampling

It reduces the burden on observers and increases the focus

It involves recording behaviour at fixed intervals, e.g. every 30 seconds

Can make the process more manageable and consistent, helping reduce fatigue and increase reliability in longer observations

What is a limitation of time sampling

Important behaviours may be missed

Behaviours occuring outside the set observation intervals arent recorded

May result in unrepresentative data, especially if the behaviour of interest occurs irregularly