Observations

• Behavioural categories


  A way of operationalising behaviour by defining specific, objective, mutually exclusive observable components
• Confederate


  An individual in a study who is not a real participant and has been instructed how to behave by the investigator.
• Controlled observation

  A form of investigation in which behaviour is observed but under conditions where certain variables have been organised by the researcher.
• Covert observations


  Observing people without their knowledge. Knowing that behaviour is being observed is likely to alter a participant’s behaviour.
• Event sampling

  An observational technique in which a count is kept of the number of times a certain behaviour occurs.
• Naturalistic observation


  An observation carried out in an everyday setting, in which the investigator does not interfere in any way but merely observes the behaviour(s) in question.
• Non-participant observation


  The observer is separate from the people being observed.
• Observer bias

  Observers’ expectations affect what they see or hear. This reduces the validity of the observations.
• Overt observation


  Observational studies where participants are aware that their behaviour is being studied.
• Participant observation


  Observations made by someone who is also participating in the activity being observed, which may affect their objectivity.
• Structured observation


  The use of systems such as behavioural categories and sampling procedures to organise an observation.
• Time sampling


  An observational technique in which the observer records behaviours at regular intervals, e.g. every 20 seconds.