Observations

• What is participant observation?

  The observer also takes part in the activity being observed.
• What is non-participant observation?

  The observer does not take part in the activity being observed, watching from a distance instead.
• What is a covert observation?

  Participants are not aware they are being observed.
• What is an overt observation?

  Participants are aware they are being observed.
• What is a controlled observation?

  Observation takes place in a lab-style setting.
• What is a natural observation?

  Observation takes place in an unaltered setting in which the observer does not interfere in any way.
• What is the process of designing observations?

  • Observers design categories of behaviour to operationalise what is being observed.
  • Example: kicking to measure aggression.
  • Behaviours are tallied and can be video recorded.

  
• What are the two ways observers can gather data from observations?

  1. Time Sampling: recording behaviour at prescribed intervals (e.g., every 10 seconds).
  2. Event Sampling: recording the number of times the target behaviour occurs (e.g., using a tally).
• What is a strength of covert observations?

  There are fewer demand characteristics.
• What is a weakness of covert observations?

  There are ethical issues involved.
• What is a strength of overt observations?

  They are more ethical.
• What is a weakness of overt observations?

  People can change their behaviour.
• What is a strength of participant observations?

  Closer proximity to participants and richer data is gathered.
• What is a weakness of participant observations?

  People are likely to change their behaviour.
• What is a strength of non-participant observations?

  Behaviours are likely to be natural.
• What is a weakness of non-participant observations?

  Could result in behaviours being missed.
• What is a strength of controlled observations?

  High control means replicability is possible.
• What is a weakness of controlled observations?

  Lower ecological validity.
• What is a strength of natural observations?

  Higher ecological validity.
• What is a weakness of natural observations?

  No ability to replicate studies.
• What are the evaluation points for time sampling methods?

  • Allows for better use of time since fewer observations are made.
  • Not every behaviour of relevance will be counted if it occurs outside the time frames allocated.

  
• What are the evaluation points for event sampling?

  • Every behaviour of interest will be counted.
  • Some behaviours could be missed if there is too much happening at the same time.