Observational Design

• What are the ways of recording data in an observation?

  • Record everything you see (unstructured)
  • Using behavioural categories (structured)
• What are behavioural categories?

  Target behaviours are broken down into observable components
• What are the two types of sampling methods?

  • Event sampling
  • Time sampling
• What is event sampling?

  Counting the number of times a certain behaviour occurs in a target individual or group
• What is time sampling?

  Recording behaviour within a pre-established time frame using a behavioural checklist
• Strengths and Weaknesses of structured observations?

  +Numerical so easier to analyse
• Strengths and weaknesses of unstructured observations?


  +Rich in detail

  -Observer bias

  -Data is harder to analyse
• Evaluation of behavioural categories:

  • Must be observable
  • No overlap e.g. smiling and grinning are hard to separate
  • Should not require further interpretation
• Strengths and Weaknesses of event sampling:

  +Useful for infrequent behaviour

  -Misses complexity
• Strengths and Weaknesses of time sampling:

  +Less effort

  -May not represent whole behaviour