Observational research

• A research method is just an observation with a research question - no manipulation of an iv
• Data collection technique has a clear manipulated iv and hypothesis
• Naturalistic observations are studied in a natural seeing and is normally non participant and overt
• Structured observations are normally in a lab like a controlled enviroment with situations set up
• Participant observations - is when the observer becomes part of a group
• Non participant observations are where the observer is not involved in the action
• Covert is when the participants do not know they are being observed
• Overt is when participants do know they are being observed
• Collecting quantitive data using categorised recording systems
• Collecting qualitative data using descriptive note taking
• Naturalistic strengths

  • High ecological validity (generalised well)
  • High validity as people are in their natural environment
• Naturalistic weaknesses

  • People may become aware they are being studied and change their behaviour accordingly. Threatens validity
  • Hard to replicate so low reliability
  • Lack of control over extraneous variables
  • Lots of serious ethical breaches yet its generally acceptable to observe people in a natural environment
• Strengths of structured observations

  • Allows more control over the environment (standardised) so better replication - high reliability
• Weaknesses of structured observations

  • Low ecological validity as it is artificial - less natural behaviour so low validity
• Participant observation strengths

  • More meaningful and rich data
  • High ecological value
• Participant observation weaknesses

  • Difficult to record when involved
  • Prone to bias as its all about recall
  • Getting involved leads to subjectivity so low validity
  • Ethical issues raised - deception
• Non participant observation strengths

  • High objectivity as they are not involved
  • Better validity due to better recording
• Non participant observations weaknesses

  • Little understanding lower validity
  • Ethical issues questioned like invasion of privacy
• Continuous observation is where the observer records everything including targeting behaviour
• Time sampling is recording for set times and breaks
• Event sampling is recording certain behaviour every time it occurs within the observation period