Observation

• In observation, what actions does the researcher take?

  Observes and records
• What distinguishes an experiment from an observation?

  Experiments manipulate the IV
• What are the four main dimensions along which observations can vary?

  Overt/covert, participant/non-participant, naturalistic/controlled, structured/unstructured
• What is an overt observation?

  Participants know they are being observed
• What is a covert observation?

  Participants are unaware of being observed
• What does participant observation require the researcher to do?

  Join the group being studied
• What is non-participant observation?

  Researcher stays detached from the group
• What does naturalistic observation involve?

  Observing behavior in a natural environment
• What characterises a controlled environment observation?

  Observing the subject in a controlled environment
• What does structured observation involve?

  Using predefined behavioral categories
• What type of data do structured observations produce?

  Quantitative data
• What characterises unstructured observation?

  Writing down observations without categories
• What kind of data is produced by unstructured observations?

  Qualitative data
• What four dimensions apply to every observation?

  Overt/covert, participant/non-participant, naturalistic/controlled, structured/unstructured
• What type of study was Ainsworth and Bell's "Strange Situation"?

  An observation
• How many episodes were there in the "Strange Situation" study?

  Eight
• In the Strange Situation, what did Ainsworth and Bell use to observe the child's behaviour?

  A one-way mirror
• How did Ainsworth and Bell classify the children's behaviour?

  Secure, insecure avoidant, insecure resistant
• What did Rosenhan's pseudopatients claim to be experiencing?

  Hearing voices
• How many psychiatric hospitals did Rosenhan's pseudopatients visit?

  12
• What diagnosis did most pseudopatients receive upon admission?

  Schizophrenia "in remission"
• What was the average time the pseudopatients spent in the hospital?

  19 days
• In Rosenhan's follow-up study, how many patients did the staff suspect of being pseudopatients?

  41/193
• What is a strength of using observations in research?

  • People's actions often differ from their statements
  • Researcher is present, not reliant on self-report
  • Less prone to social desirability bias
  • Data has more internal validity
• What are the limitations of observational research?

  • Investigator effects/observer bias may occur
  • Leads to low inter-observer reliability
  • Does not establish cause and effect
• What are the advantages of overt observations?

  • Subjects give consent
  • More ethical
  • No problems recording data
• What are the disadvantages of overt observations?

  • Subjects may change behavior
  • Can display demand characteristics/the screw you effect
  • Data less valid
  • Increased social desirability bias
• What are the advantages of covert observations?

  • Subjects less likely to change behavior
  • Less demand characteristics/screw you effect
  • Data more valid
  • Reduced social desirability bias
• What are the limitations of covert observations?

  • Raises ethical issues
  • Deception
  • Lack of informed consent
  • Invasion of privacy
  • Researcher relies on memory to record data
• What are the strengths of participant observation?

  • Researcher gets deeper understanding
  • Can empathize more fully with subjects
• What are the limitations of participant observation?

  • Easier to become over-involved ("going native")
  • Loss of objectivity and detachment
  • Results less reliable
  • Different researchers get different results
• What are the strengths of non-participant observation?

  • Easier to stay objective and detached
  • Less risk of over-involvement ("going native")
  • Results more reliable
• What are the disadvantages of non-participant observation?

  • Researcher does not get as deep understanding
  • Cannot empathize as fully
• What are the advantages of naturalistic observation?

  • Subjects behave as they normally would
  • Data has high ecological validity
  • Findings generalize to one place
• What are the limitations of naturalistic observation?

  • Practical difficulties recording data
  • Greater number of distractions
• What are the advantages of controlled environment observation?

  • No practical difficulties recording data
  • Fewer distractions
• What are the limitations of controlled environment observation?

  • Subjects may not behave as they normally would
  • Study and data may lack ecological validity
• What are the strengths of structured observations?

  • Data easier and quicker to analyze and compare
  • It is quantitative
  • Less time consuming
• What are the limitations of structured observations?

  • Data can lack richness and depth
  • Difficult to identify appropriate behavioral categories beforehand
• What are the advantages of unstructured observation?

  • Data is qualitative
  • Rich and detailed view of the subject
  • No problems identifying behavioral categories beforehand