Observational studies

observational study: collection of data by carefully watching and recording behaviour as it occurs without any intervention or manipulation of the behaviour being observed

Data collection of an observational study:

• Structured: a prepared system is used to guide and record observation; example a checklist of items to guide what to look for, record or exclude

• unstructured: observations made without a pre-determined format

• semi-structured: a part of the observational study involving use of a predetermined format

are conducted in controlled settings and use systematic data ie/ laughing= enjoyment level.
→ important to specify characteristics of behaviour ie facial features

eg/to distinguish between smiling/chuckling to determine “laughter” for enjoyment level

eg/ investigate roles & hierarchy, the researcher can ask for a group to discuss a controversial topic and record who starts the discussion, who changes topic, how often and how long

Not a true experiment as it reveals relationship rather than cause and effect

Research settings

Naturalistic observation (lower degree of control): when the researcher views behaviour of interest in the natural, ‘real life’ environment where it would ordinarily occur

Contrived environment (higher degree of control) : when the researcher sets up an artificial and ‘controlled’ environment for the behaviour of interest

Participant vs non-participant observation (observation technique):

participant observation: when a trained investigator studies a pre-existing group by joining it as a member, while avoiding a conspicuous role that would change what occurs in the group and bias the data

non-participant observation: when the researcher tries to conceal their presence so that their observations are made in entirely inconspicuous manner, avoiding a conspicuous role that would change what occurs in the group and bias the data

Event sampling vs Time sampling:

Event sampling a record is made every time a target behaviour occurs;

Time sampling is time sampling a record is made at fixed point in time and/or for designated periods of time.

Advantages and Limitations:

Advantages:

• researchers can watch and record spontaneously without need for manipulation or intervention → participant response may not be affected as such in a unfamiliar environment/ knowing that they are being observed

• naturalistic: allows researchers to gain more accurate infomation about typical behaviours over a long period (Allows researchers to view actions rather than what the participant say that they do”

• does not require co-operation of participant observed

Limitation:

• participant can not truly give consent

• can not be used to determine causes of behaviour, and does not show cause/effect rather relationship between variables

• lack of control of variables

• lack a representative sample and may be biased in relation to participant variables (hard to generalise)

• observer biased is possible, where observer may distort what they see regardless of format or neglect to record certain behaviours