Observations. Non experimental research methods

What is an observation?

A non experimental technique, we’re the researcher watches and records spontaneous/natural behaviour of participants without manipulating levels of IV.

Define a naturalistic observation ?

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur

Positives about naturalistic observation

• high external validity -more generalisable

• High realism, participants are more likely to show more naturalistic behaviour

what is the negative of naturalistic experiment ?

• Lack of control over IV, = lack of reliability

Define a controlled observation

• Watching and observing behaviour in a controlled environment, so participants have the same experience

• Usually conducted in a lab

What are the advantages of a controlled observation

• Controlling environment reduces the likelihood of extraneous variables

• Reliable results because of same standardised procedures = can be replicated

Disadvantages of a controlled observation

• Low external validity = cannot apply to real world

Define overt observation

• participants are aware of the observation

Advantages of an overt observation

• Ethical =informed consent ( as the principal of consent means participants should agree to take part in research and know what they have signed up to)

Disadvantages of overt observation

• Demand characteristics are likely

• social desirability bias (acting in a way to “look good”)

Define a covert observation

• Participants are NOT aware of observation

Advantages of covert observation

• No social desirability bias

• No demand characteristics

Disadvantages of covert observation

• More unethical as by definition participants cannot give informed consent

Define a participant observation

• The researcher becomes a member of the group (without the group knowing) and behaviour is studied from the inside.

Advantages of participant observation

• high external validity

Disadvantages of participant observation

Loss of objectivity (researcher may become native and bias to participants)

Define Non-participant observation

The researcher remains outside of the group and behaviour is studied from a distance

Advantages of non participation observation

Researcher more likely to remain objective

Disadvantages of non participation observation

• Low external validity

• due to lack of rapport with participants researcher misses out on important insight

Define a structured observation

Organised observation, where behavioural categories and sampling procedures used.

Advantages of a structured observation

Quicker to spot behaviour

Disadvantages of a structure observation

• Might miss interesting information

Define an unstructured observation

Researcher records all relevant behaviour, without a system in place

Advantages of an unstructured observation

Holistic

Disadvantages of an unstructured observation

Takes longer

What are behavioural categories

• When a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and measurable (operationalisation)

• Clear, observable, and measurable actions that researchers agree to record during an observation.

advantages of behaviour categories

• Reduce ambiguity, improve replicabity and strengthen the reliability of observational research

What is event sampling ?

• Counting the number of times a specific behaviour occurs within a set period of time.

• Researcher records/tallies

Advantages and disadvantages of event sampling

+ as long as behaviour is in behavioural categories it should be recorded

- can oversimplify behaviours.

Define time sampling

Recording any behaviour which occurs in given set time intervals

Advantages of time sampling

+ reduces number of observations

+ more flexibility to record unexpected types of behaviour

Disadvantages of time sampling ?

- Results can be unrepresentative

- can miss behaviour that happens outside of recording periods