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methodologies
observations
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hannah
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Cards (13)
OBSERVATIONS
= A non-experimental method of investigation, the researcher simply observes behaviour and looks for patterns
naturallistic
= behaviour is studied in a normal situation, no manipulations
controlled
= some variables are controlled by the researcher, reducing the naturalness of the behaviour being studied
structured
= the researcher has a coding system that is used to record behaviour
unstructured
= researcher will record all relevant behaviour but has no systematic structure
participant
= the observer is involved with the study whilst also observing the participants
non participant
= researcher simply observes the activities of the participants without taking part in them
overt
= participants know they are being observed
covert
= participants are unaware that they are being observed
time sampling
= recording behaviour at predetermined intervals
event sampling
= recording every time a particular behaviour is observed
strengths
high
inter rater
reliability
higher
ecological validity
(except controlled observations)
higher
validity
than questionnaires as what people say is different to what they actually do
weaknesses
difficult to
replicate
controlled + overt - lacks mundane realism
sampling bias - less generalisable
limited control over extraneous variables