PSYC2030 WEEK 2

OBSERVATION RESEARCH TECHNIQUE

1. Naturalistic

2. Lab

NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION

• What is said is random 

• Who says it is random 

• Where it is said is controlled 

• Real world behaviour 

• The sample is less biased 

LAB OBSERVATION

• Control over what is said 

• Control over who says it  

• Control over where it is said 

• Lab can affect behaviour 

• The sample may be biased 

SELF-REPORT MEASURES

• Where individuals directly report information about themselves 

• Provide access to thoughts/feeling that can't be directly observed 

• Usually quick and inexpensive 

• Collect data from large numbers of participants 

• Responses may be inaccurate due to memory, misunderstanding and social desirability bias 

• Young children may lack abilities needed for reliable responses 

• Participants may not always be aware of factors influencing their behaviour 

STANDARDISED TESTS

An assessment whereby all procedures/materials, etc are the same for all participants, allowing comparisons across individuals/groups 

PSYCHOLOGICAL MEAUSRES

Biological or physical measure related to psychological processes 

BEHAVIOURAL MEASURES

• Habituation design 

  • Change from habituation to dishabituation shows they recognise a difference 

• Looking preferences  

CORRELATIONS

• Examines whether two variables are related without manipulating either variable 

• Correlation is not causation 

EXPERIMENTAL

A regulated procedure in which factors believed to influence the behaviour under study are manipulated, while all other factors are held constant.  

CROSS SECTIONAL

• Compare different age groups on the same measure at the same point in time 

• Fast and inexpensive 

LONGITUDINAL

Test same individuals over time 

SEQUENTIAL / TIME LAG

• Combine cross-sectional and longitudinal design 

• Enables biases and confounds to be identified