Surveys and Observations: Describing What People Do Part 2 - Chapter 6

Observational research

Researchers watch people or animals and systematically record how they behave or what they are doing 

Observational research can be the basis for WHAT claims

Observational research can be the basis for FREQUENCY claims

Quantitative observations

Researchers convert what they see into numbers 

Qualitative observational research - the goal is a rich and accurate description of WHAT in context

Qualitative observational research - the goal is a rich and accurate description of BEHAVIOUR in context

Observational research tells you what a person is WHAT

Observational research tells you what a person is REALLY DOING

Fluid coordination as an ensemble

Siblings listen to each other and build on each other's ideas, working together as one 

Dividing decision-making

siblings argued and interrupted each other 

The construct validity of observations can be threatened by three problems 

1. WHAT

2. WHAT

3. WHAT

The construct validity of observations can be threatened by three problems 

1. Observer bias

2. Observer effects or expectancy effects

3. Reactivity

Observer bias

Observer bias occurs when observers’ expectations influence their interpretation of the participants’ behaviours or the outcome of the study

Observer bias

• They interpret behaviours according to their own WHAT

Observer bias

• They interpret behaviours according to their own EXPECTATIONS

Qualitative researchers practice WHAT, reflecting on how their own identities, biases and values interact with those of their WHAT

Qualitative researchers practice REFLEXIVITY, reflecting on how their own identities, biases and values interact with those of their RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS  

Observer effects or expectancy effects 

A change in the behaviour of study participants in the direction of observer expectations.

Reactivity

a change in behaviour when study participants realize someone is watching

What are the five ways to reduce observer bias and observer effects

• WHAT

• WHAT

• WHAT

• WHAT

• WHAT

What are the five ways to reduce observer bias and observer effects

• Codebooks

• Masked design or blind design

• Unobtrusive observations

• Wait it out

• Measure the behaviours results

Codebooks

precise statements of how the variables are operationalized; the more precise and clear the codebook statements are, the more valid the operationalization will be

Masked design or blind design

observers are unaware of the purpose of the study and the conditions to which participants have been assigned 

Unobtrusive observations

make yourself less noticeable 

Wait it out

Let the people get used to you 

Measure the behavioural results

Measuring the traces a particular behaviour leaves behind

Participants observations

A qualitative research technique in which one or more researchers live among the population they are studying.

Interviews 

• An in-depth interview is a WHAT method in which researchers prepare a set of topics they wish to learn about, identify a sample of WHAT (people who are experts in that topic) and arrange to meet with the informants for one or more WHAT  

Interviews 

• An in-depth interview is a QUALITATIVE method in which researchers prepare a set of topics they wish to learn about, identify a sample of INFORMANTS (people who are experts in that topic) and arrange to meet with the informants for one or more INTERVIEWS  

Focus Groups 

Interviews conducted in groups of 6 to 10 people, all of whom have experience relevant to the research questions

Focus groups pose unique WHAT considerations 

Focus groups pose unique ETHICAL considerations