Observation

• Participant observation:

  • the observer is part of the group being observed
  • gives a first-hand insight
  • observer /research bias
• non-participant observation:

  • observations are made by someone who is not participating in the activity being observed
  • chance of demand characteristics
• Overt observations:

  • participants are aware that they are being studied
  • chance of demand characteristics or social desirability bias affecting their behaviour
• Covert observation:

  • observation is done without participant's knowledge
  • able to observe natural behaviours
• Unstructured observation:

  • researcher records all behaviour but with no system
  • there may be too much to record
  • the recorded behaviours are the most visable but not necessarily the most relevant
• Structured observation:

  • research aims to be objective
  • it is the preferred technique
  • uses behavioural categories and sampling procedures
  • only relevant behaviours are recorded
• Behavioural categories:

  • breaking down an action into smaller behavioural categories in order to operationalise
• Time sampling:

  • recording behaviours in a given time frame
  • e.g. noting what an individual is doing every 30 seconds
• Event sampling:

  • counting the number of times a certain behaviour occurs over a time period
  • e.g. how many times they pick up their phone in 10 minutes