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28 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Structured Observation Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strengths: * Allows systematic observations to be made so important information is not overlooked. * Can make amount of information less overwhelming for observer. Weaknesses: * Categories may not cover all possibilities so some behaviours will go unrecorded -> Reduces Validity. * Poorly designed checklist- categories may "overlap" causing some behaviours to be placed in more than one category OR if "ambiguous" interpreted differently reduces inter-rater reliability. |
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Unstructured Observation |
Researcher has no coding system or plan but records all relevant behaviour. |
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Unstructured Observation Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: Can be used to study largely unpredictable behaviour.
Weaknesses:Usually mainly most eye-catching behaviours are recorded which may not be most important/relevant and Some important behaviours go unrecorded. |
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Naturalistic/Field Observation |
Behaviour studied in natural, uncontrolled environment -> left as it usually is i.e. researcher doesn't change anything in environment. |
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Naturalistic/Field Observation Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: High Ecological Validity - gives realistic picture of natural, spontaneous behaviour. + naturally occurring situations which would be unethical to engineer can be studied.
Weaknesses: Little control over environment and events - something unknown to observer may be causing participants behaviour. Cant manipulate variables -> can't test theory. |
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Controlled/Lab Observation |
Controlled environment. Some variables controlled by researcher to an extent. Situation created by researcher. May be conducted in lab to control variables in the environment. |
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Controlled/Lab Observation Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: Control over environment, so researcher can focus on particular aspects of behaviour. Can test (parts of) theory.
Weaknesses: Low Ecological Validity. Unnatural environment may lead to unnatural behaviour in participants (reduces validity) + participants likely to know they are being observed -> demand characteristics; social desirability bias. |
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Undisclosed/Covert Observation |
When Participants do not know they are being observed. |
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Undisclosed/Covert Observation Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: Participants behave more naturally as they are unaware that they are being observed. Results more valid.
Weaknesses: Ethical Issues - of observing people without their knowledge: lack of convent + deception + (sometimes - invasion of privacy) |
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Disclosed/Overt Observation |
When Participants know that they are being observed. |
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Disclosed/Over Observation Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: More Ethical - consent given by participants.
Weaknesses: Participants are more likely to act unnaturally (demand characteristics, social desirability bias) - reduces validity. |
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Participant Observation |
Researcher/Observer is also a participant in the study i.e. infiltrates into group being studied. |
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Participant Observation Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: Likely to provide valuable insight from the 'inside' into behaviour which couldn't otherwise be obtained. Weaknesses: * Observer Bias causing the objectivity of the observation to be reduced as a result of possible emotional involvement. * Observer may alter/influence group in some way - lowering validity. * Harder to monitor behaviour inconspicuously when when inside group. * Potential danger for researcher if discovered - ethics. |
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Non-Participant Observation |
Researcher observes the behaviour of others, from the outside. |
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Non-Participant Observation Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: * More Objective - less observer bias. * Easier to monitor behaviour without being noticed.
Weaknesses: Less insight into and detail of behaviours. |
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Direct Observation |
1.Observation of behaviour as it is happening. 2.Researcher is observing & recording what they are viewing first-hand (using their own sense - e.g. sight, hearing) |
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Direct Observation Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: 1.high ecological validity, potentially captures spontaneous, unexpected behaviour. 2. Researcher doesn't have to interpret observations/recordings of others -which may have also been flawed/dishonest.
Weaknesses: 1. Limited by speed of human processing power - potentially inaccurate. 2. Researcher Bias, Researcher has to do everything - time consuming. |
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Indirect Observation |
1.Use of content analysis - working with text : TV / Newspaper Ads, Speeches etc. 2. When researcher relies on the reported observations of others (including self-observation). |
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Indirect Observation Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: 1. A lot of detail analysis can be made - allows interpretation. 2. No researcher intervention.
Weaknesses: 1. Can be subjective when too much is based on interpretation. 2. Data obtained from others may not be accurate (due to inattentiveness or dishonesty) and therefore not valid. |
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Time Sampling |
Researcher decides on a time period (e.g. 12 hours) a time interval (e.g. every 15 minutes) and a duration of the observation (e.g. 1 minute) and throughout the duration of each observation notes what behaviours are shown at each time interval. |
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Event Sampling |
Counting the number of times (tallying) a specific behaviour/event (e.g. smiling) occurs in target individuals & throughout the observation. |
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Point Sampling |
Observing and focusing on one individual at a time for a set period of time. |
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Time Sampling Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: Reduces the number of observation and making observation more manageable rather than being overwhelmed by every behaviour that occurs. Weakness: Observation may not be representative as behaviours may be missed if they occur outside of the observation interval. Reducing validity. |
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Event Sampling Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: Useful when behaviour to be recorded only happens occasionally and may be missed if time sampling is used. Weakness: Observers may miss some behaviours if too many behaviours occur at once. |
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Point Sampling Strengths & Weaknesses |
Strength: Useful when observation of all aspects of one individuals behaviour are important. Weakness: Time consuming and results cannot be generalised. |
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Inter-Rater Reliability in observations |
When two or more observers observe the same behaviour/event and their findings correlate strongly with each other 'this' is said to be high. |
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Reliability in Observations |
concerns the consistency of observations made e.g. 2 observers should be consistent in the record they make (inter-rater reliability). Low reliability can be improved by training observers and/or improving behavioural categories.
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Validity in Observations |
concerns the 'trueness' of observations. this may be affectedn by: 1.observer bias 2.poorly designed behavioural categories (e.g. not all behaviours included), 3. sampling procedure (e.g time - behaviours may be missed) and 4. participants awareness of being studied (demand characteristics/social desirability bias) |
