Observational Designs

• What are the types of obervational designs?


  Unstructured and structured
• Describe the unstructured design?


  It consists of a continuous recording where the researcher writes everything they see during the observation
• Describe a structured observation?


  The researcher quantifies what they are observing using a predetermined list pf behaviours and sampling methods
• What are the strengths of unstructured observations?


  They are rich in detail, due to the qualitative nature of the data collected which allows for a greater insight into the behaviours observed
• What are the strengths of structured designs?

  • They are easier and more time efficient as the data is more systematic & normally numerical data is collected
  • Making the data much easier to analyse allowing for direct comparisons and objective conclusions
• What is there less risk of in structured observations?


  Observer bias as the data collected is objective
• What are the limitations of an unstructured design?


  • They are time consuming as data collected is qualitative so it is difficult to record and analyse
• Why does qualitative data in unstructured designs make?


  It makes it difficult to record and analyse, so the data is more subjective - increasing the risk of researcher bias, questioning internal validity
• Why is researcher/observer bias important in unstructured interviews?


  As researchers only record 'catch the eye behaviours' so thsi can impact the internal validity
• What is a limitation of structured designs?


  • They lack detail and insight due to the fixed nature of data collection
  • They also may fail to consider the experience of all participants
• What obervational design are behavioural categories used in?

  Structured
• Define behavioural categories?


  When a target behaviour which is being observed is broken up into more precise components which are observable and measurable.
• Give an example of behavioural categories being used in a structured observation?


  Aggressive behaviour can be broken down into shouting, punching and swearing
• what is important when deciding behavioural categories?


  that the behaviours do not overlap with other behaviours, the must be operationalised so similar ones should not be listed e.g grin and smile
• What are the sampling methods used in observational designs?


  Event and Time sampling
• Describe time sampling?


  The recording of behaviour within a time frame that is pre established before the study
• Describe event sampling?

  Involves the counting of the number of times a particular behaviour is carried out by the group/individual a researcher observes
• What are the strengths of time sampling?


  • It reduces overall workload as it reduces the number of observations that need to be made - so less time consuming
• What is a strength of event sampling?


  • It is useful when the target beahviour being observed is infrequent so could be missed with time sampling
  • Therefore the findings are more representative of the observation s a whole
• What are the limitations of time sampling?


  • The small amount of data that is collected within that time frame ends up being unrepresentative of the observation as a whole
  • Time sampling may also miss target behavioirs when they are infrequent also making the finings unrepresentative
• What are the limitations of event sampling?


  • It can produce an oversimplified view of behaviours observed so important details may be overlooked
  • If the beahviour is very frequent, there could be counting errors
  • Difficult to judge the beginning and ending of a behaviour