Observational Design + Types

• What are the observational designs?

  unstructured and structured observations
• What is meant by unstructured observation?

  record everything for the whole time
• What are the pros of unstructured observations?

  • rich detail (often qualitative accounted for)
  • can observe unpredictable behaviour
  • works well for small sample + short time
• What are the cons of unstructured observation?

  • can't spot everything -> only eye catching behaviours
  • researcher bias
  • qualitative data is harder to analyse
• What is meant by behavioural categories in structured observation?

  actions that are grouped together based on common characteristics which should be measurable and specific (operationalised)
• What are the cons of behavioural categories?

  may miss behaviour that isn't on list of behavioural categories -> prevent this with pilot studies
• What are the pros of behavioural categories?

  • clear focus
  • quantitative data
  • there is the potential for greater reliability -> inter-observer reliability
• What is meant by inter-observer reliability?

  two observers individually observe the same footage and generally agree
• How is inter-observer reliability achieved?

  two people:

  1. agree and use same list of behaviour categories
  2. observation conducted individually
  3. compare two data sets
  4. correlation above 0.8 generally accepted
• What is meant by event sampling observation?

  Observing and recording specific events or behaviours as they occur
• What is meant by time sampling observation?

  Observing and recording behaviour at specific time intervals
• What are the pros of time sampling observation?

  more flexibility to be able to record unexpected types of behaviour
• What are the cons of time sampling observation?

  can miss behaviour that happens outside of recording periods
• What are the pros of event sampling?

  as long as behaviour is on list of categories, it will always be recorded as it happens
• What are the cons of event sampling?

  may miss relevant behaviour that isn't on list of behavioural categories
• What are the types of structured observation?

  behavioural categories, time sampling, event sampling
• What are the observational techniques?

  1. naturalistic observation
  2. controlled observation
  3. overt observation
  4. covert observation
  5. participant observation
  6. non participant observation
• What is meant by naturalistic observation?

  takes place in a real world setting instead of a lab
• What is meant by controlled observation?

  highly controlled environment such as a lab setting
• What is meant by overt observation?

  participant is aware they're being observed
• What is meant by covert observation?

  participant is unaware they're being observed (e.g. two way mirror)
• What is meant by participant observation?

  researcher joins the group being observed
• What is meant by non participant observation?

  researcher doesn't join group being observed
• What are the pros of naturalistic observation?

  • high realism
  • high external validity (generalisable behaviour)
• What are the pros of controlled observation?

  • causal relationship -> high control
  • reliable results due to standardised procedures
• What are the pros of overt observation?

  informed consent can be gained
• What are the pros of covert observation?

  • reduced demand characteristics/social desirability bias
  • increased internal validity
• What are the pros of participant observation?

  • researcher may build rapport -> reveal more than normally would
• What are the pros of non participant observation?

  maintains objectivity -> unbiased
• What are the cons of naturalistic observation?

  • EV's cannot be controlled -> lower internal validity
  • replication is difficult
• What are the cons of controlled observation?

  • artificial -> unnatural behaviour/demand characteristics
  • lower internal validity
• What are the cons of overt observation?

  • demand characteristics
  • social desirability bias
• What are the cons of covert observation?

  • ethics -> cannot gain informed consent (could use retrospective)
• What are the cons of participant observation?

  • lose objectivity -> interpretation is biased
• What are the cons of non participant observation?

  • lack of rapport -> can't observe as much behaviour