Observational design

• Researchers need to consider number of things before conducting an observation:

  -What type of observation technique will be used?

  -How to record behaviour

  -What sampling method will be used?
• How will behaviour be recorded -

  -Structured observation

  -Unstructured observation
• Structured Observation-

  -An observer uses various 'systems' to organise observations

  -Includes behavioural categories, checklists
• Unstructured Observation-

  -Observer records all relevant behaviour but has no system

  -Observation in which psychologists write down everything they see

  -Typically, used when behaviour is largely unpredictable
• What sampling method will be used -

  -Continuous sampling

  -Time sampling

  -Event sampling
• Continuous Sampling-

  -Anytime a target is observed it is recorded
• Time sampling-

  -Recording behaviours using a fixed time frame
• Event sampling-

  -Recording number of times a pre determined behaviour occurs
• Psychologists who use unstructured observations would use continuous
• Psychologists who use structured observation use time and event sampling
• Ways to record behaviour-

  -Behaviour checklists

  -Coding system

  -Rating system
• Behaviour checklists-

  -A list of behaviours to be recorded during observational study
• Coding system -

  -A systematic method for recording observations in which individuals behaviours are given a code for ease of recording
• Rating system-

  -A list of behaviours to be recorded and observers write a number from 1-5 or 1-10 beside each behaviour they observe to indicate how extreme behaviour was
• Strength of structured observations- Checklists

  -Behavioural checklist allows objective, quantifible data to be collected and analysed
• Strength of structured observations- Reliability

  -Allows for more than one observer which can increase reliability (inter observer reliability)
• Weakness of Structured observations-

  -Behavioural categories can be restrictive and dont always allow psychologists to explain why behaviour is happening
• Strength of Unstructured observations- Qualitative

  -Generate in depth, rich, qualitative data, can explain why behaviours occur
• Strength of Unstructured observations- Not limited

  -Researchers are not limited by prior theoretical expectations
• Weakness of unstructured observations-

  -More subjective and less comparable across researchers
• Strength of event sampling-

  -Reliable observations as the events are already planned easy to replicate
• Weakness of event sampling- Miss behaviours

  -Can miss important behaviours due to set events already being planned
• Weakness of event sampling- Not recorded

  -If many events occur at once, might not be able to record all
• Strength of time sampling -

  -Can give indication of how much time is spent on each behaviour
• Weakness of time sampling - Lots of behaviours at once 


  -Difficult when there are loads of behaviours occuring at once
• Weakness of time sampling - Miss events

  -Can miss events that are not coded for