9.1.2 Observational Methods

    Cards (29)

    • What is the primary goal of observational methods in psychology?
      To record real-world behavior
    • Systematic observation involves planned and structured data collection
    • Observational methods involve manipulating variables to study behavior
      False
    • What is a key advantage of naturalistic observation?
      High ecological validity
    • Controlled observations are conducted in structured environments
    • Match the type of observational method with its description:
      Participant observation ↔️ Researcher becomes part of the group
      Non-participant observation ↔️ Researcher observes from a distance
      Naturalistic observation ↔️ Observing behavior in natural settings
      Controlled observation ↔️ Observing behavior in structured environments
    • Order the types of observational methods from most naturalistic to most structured:
      1️⃣ Naturalistic
      2️⃣ Non-Participant
      3️⃣ Participant
      4️⃣ Controlled
    • What is a major disadvantage of observational methods in psychology?
      Prone to observer bias
    • Observational methods are ethical because they always obtain informed consent
      False
    • Observational methods often collect detailed and rich qualitative
    • Give an example of a naturalistic observation scenario
      Observing children's play in a park
    • The Hawthorne effect occurs when participants change their behavior because they know they are being observed
    • Naturalistic observation studies behavior in natural settings
    • What is a potential downside of participant observation?
      Loss of objectivity
    • Observational methods are free from ethical concerns because they do not involve manipulation
      False
    • What are the primary advantages of observational methods?
      Ecological validity and cost-effectiveness
    • Observational methods provide detailed and rich qualitative data.
    • Observer bias is a common disadvantage of observational methods.
    • Why are observational methods considered cost-effective?
      Minimal resources required
    • Observational methods can be time-consuming and raise ethical concerns.
    • Match the advantage with its related disadvantage in observational methods:
      High ecological validity ↔️ Difficult to control extraneous variables
      Detailed and rich qualitative data ↔️ Prone to observer bias
    • What ethical concern may arise in observational studies regarding privacy?
      Lack of informed consent
    • Observational methods allow in-depth analysis of complex behaviours.
    • Weather conditions can affect data collection when observing children's play in a park.
    • What is one example of an external factor that can affect observational data in a natural setting?
      Weather conditions
    • Order the ethical principles in observational research based on their importance:
      1️⃣ Informed consent
      2️⃣ Privacy
      3️⃣ Confidentiality
      4️⃣ Minimising risk of harm
    • Match the ethical principle with its description in observational research:
      Informed consent ↔️ Fully informed about study's purpose
      Privacy ↔️ Respect participants' privacy
      Confidentiality ↔️ Keep identities and data anonymous
    • Observational methods struggle with controlling extraneous variables.
    • Which research method allows for establishing cause-and-effect relationships but may lack ecological validity?
      Experiments