observations

What is a controlled observation

Environment/situaton is manipulated by the researcher

What is a naturalistic observation

Conducted in a persons natural environment, no interference from observer

What is a participant observation

When te researcher is included n their own observation by being undercover

What is a non-participant observation

When the researcher is not involved

What is a covert observation

The participant s unaware that they are being studied

What is an over observation

The participant is aware

What is a structured obsercvation

The use of a set list of categories of things to look for

What is an unstructured observation

Write down everything you see

What is the Hawthorne effect

Present when the participant knows they are being observed so the change their behaviour

Pros/cons of naturalistic observation

High ecological validity, cannot be replicated to check reliability as researcher is not in control of variables

Pros/cons of controlled observation

Can be replicated to check validity as researcher controls variables, low ecological validity as not in natural environment

Pros/cons of overt observation

More ethical as done with consent, behaviour can be distorted/ Hawthorne effect

Pros/cons of covert observation

Investigator effect unlikely so behaviour is genuine, unethical as no consent

Pros/cons of participant observation

Researcher can obtain detailed data as they are in close proximity to participants, researchers presence may influence participant behaviour

Pros/cons of non-participant observation

Investigator effects less likely, lack of proximity may make researcher overlook behaviour of interest

What is operationalising behaviour

Making the participant behaviour testable

In structured observations, what do the categories need to be like

Objective - no inferences and everyone agrees on behaviour

Mutually exclusive - no overlapping categories

Cover all possible behaviours

What is event sampling

Record any time you wtness an event/category

What is time sampling

Recording at certain time points eg every 5 mins

Pros/cons of event sampling

God for recording infrequent behaviour, hard to do if there are multiple behaviours and people as you may miss something

Pros/cons of time sampling

Reduces number of observations needed, easier as less focus, easier if more people, may miss key behaviours shown outside time recording