Observational Design

• Event sampling records all the data observed during a certain period.
• Time sampling uses intervals of time to record data observed. For example, every minute.
• Time sampling is limited, as any data outside the time intervals is not recorded.
• Time sampling can be more efficient as researchers are only recording what they see at the set interval times.
• Event sampling can be more demanding for the researcher as all data observed is recorded.
• Observations use behavioural categories to record data.
• Tally charts are used to record the number of behaviours observed with each behavioural category.
• The two main coding schemes for observations are time sampling and event sampling.
• The purpose of using tally charts in observational design is to efficiently record and count the frequency of specific behaviours or events.
• When conducting naturalistic observations it may not be possible to create tally charts for rating behaviour in advance. This is because the researcher may not be sure what behaviour will be observed.
• In event sampling records are easy to obtain and analyse as researchers can clearly see the total number of behaviours for each event.
• Event sampling can still miss important behaviours, especially if there are only one or two observers.
• Time sampling is likely to miss some important behaviour which occurs in the gap between the time intervals, so is not recorded.
• Event sampling involves recording specific behaviours or events that occur within a specified time period, while time sampling involves recording behaviours at specific time intervals within a specified time period.
• One issue with observational design is if many events occur at once it may lead to behaviours not being recorded, therefore reducing validity.
• Time sampling recording behaviour that is observed, using a series of fixed time intervals.
• To record behaviours we use behavioural categories, in a tally chart (numerical data).
• Behavioural categories contain a list of key behaviours, or collections of behaviour, that the researcher will pay attention to and record.