Observation

• What is the definition of observation in research?

  Researchers watching and recording behaviour as it happens
• What are the two main types of observation researchers can choose from?

  Controlled and naturalistic observation
• What is a controlled observation?

  When researchers control the situation participants experience and record their behaviours
• What is one advantage of controlled observations?

  They reduce the effects of extraneous variables on participants' behaviour
• What is a significant weakness of controlled observations?

  The environment is artificial, which may not reflect natural behaviour
• What is a naturalistic observation?

  Participants are observed in their normal environment
• What is the advantage of naturalistic observations?

  They provide high realism and external validity
• What is a disadvantage of naturalistic observations?

  The lack of control may introduce unknown extraneous variables
• What is the difference between overt and covert observation?

  In overt observation, participants know they are being observed; in covert observation, they do not
• What is a key ethical consideration in overt observation?

  Participants need to give their informed consent
• What is a potential weakness of overt observation?

  Participants may change their behaviour due to being observed, known as demand characteristics
• What is a covert observation?

  Participants do not know they are being observed
• What is a key advantage of covert observation?

  It allows researchers to observe natural behaviour
• What is a significant ethical concern with covert observation?

  Participants have not given informed consent
• What are the two types of observational techniques researchers can choose from?

  Participant observation and non-participant observation
• What is a participant observation?

  The researcher becomes involved in the group they are studying
• What is an advantage of participant observation?

  The researcher gains first-hand knowledge of the participants' situation
• What is a disadvantage of participant observation?

  The researcher risks losing objectivity and becoming biased
• What is a non-participant observation?

  The researcher records the group without becoming a part of it
• What is an advantage of non-participant observation?

  It increases objectivity in data collection
• What is a disadvantage of non-participant observation?

  It may lead to missing important findings due to distance from participants
• What are operationalised behavioural categories?

  • Clearly defining a variable for objective measurement
  • Example: Observing aggressive behaviour by recording specific actions like punches, pushes, and kicks
• What is time sampling in observational research?

  Recording relevant behaviour at set intervals during the observation
• What is event sampling in observational research?

  Recording all behaviour from a predefined list of operationalised behavioural categories
• What is a limitation of time sampling?

  You may miss important behaviour that occurs outside of the recording periods
• What is a limitation of event sampling?

  You may need many observers to accurately record all participants' behaviour
• What is inter-rater reliability?

  Using two researchers to observe the same behaviour and compare their results
• How do researchers assess the reliability of their observational data?

  By conducting a test of inter-rater reliability
• What is the purpose of conducting a correlation test like Spearman’s rho in observational research?

  To test the strength of the relationship between two sets of observational data
• What correlation value do most researchers expect to indicate reliable results?

  A correlation of 0.8