Observational techniques and design

• Naturalistic


  observation that measures naturally occurring behaviour - no manipulation of the IV

  Advantages:

  - high ecological validity - behaviours observed reflect those actually occurring in a natural situation

  Disadvantages:

  - lacks control - extraneous variables
• Controlled


  ppts observations can occur as part of a lab study

  Advantages:

  - good control - possible to infer cause and effect

  Disadvantages:

  - lacks ecological validity

  - environment may have led to certain behaviours
• Participant


  researchers plays a part and is directly involved in the observation

  Advantages:

  - more insight - possible high external validity

  Disadvantages:

  - may lose objectivity
• Non-Participant


  researcher is purely an observer

  Advantages:

  - remain objective - don't get too involved

  Disadvantages:

  - possible lose valuable insight - too far removed
• Overt (disclosed)


  ppts know they're being watched

  Advantages:

  - more ethical - ppts can give consent

  Disadvantages:

  - demand characteristics/evaluation apprehension - lacks validity
• Covert (undisclosed)


  ppts don't know they're being watched

  Advantages:

  - no demand characteristics - increases internal validity

  Disadvantages:

  - ethics - lack of consent/privacy
• Event sampling


  counting number of time a particular event occurs. e.g. how often does a teacher make hand gestures in a lesson

  Advantage - representative

  Disadvantage - can be difficult if behaviour is complex
• Time sampling


  recording behaviour in a pre-established time frame e.g. choosing a specific footballer and make a not of what they're doing every 30 seconds

  Advantage - good for complex behaviour as less categories needed

  Disadvantage - miss outside interval