Observational techniques

• Naturalistic observations

  Takes place where the target behaviour would usually occur.
• Observations

  • A way of seeing or listening to what people do without having to ask them.
  • Often used within an experiment as a way of assessing the DV.
• Strength of observations

  It can capture what people can do as people often act differently from how they say they will in self-report methods, therefore they give insight into behaviour.
• Limitation of observations

  There is a risk of observer bias as the observer‘s interpretation of a situation may be affected by their expectations, which can be reduced by using more than one observer.
• Strength of naturalistic observations

  Have high external validity as findings can often be generalised to everyday life, this is because the behaviour is studied within the environment where it would normally occur.
• Limitation of naturalistic observations

  There is a lack of control which makes replications of the study difficult, due to the uncontrolled CVs and EVs.
• Controlled observations

  Some control and manipulation over variables and control over EVs and CVs.
• Strength of controlled observations

  Can be replicated due to the standardised procedures.
• Limitation of controlled observations

  May have low external validity as behaviour may be due to the setting therefore findings can’t be applied to everyday experiences.
• Covert observations

  Participants are unaware they are being studied.
• Strength of covert observations

  Demand characteristics are reduced as participants are unaware they are being watched so their behaviour will be more natural, which increases the internal validity of the findings.
• Limitation of covert observations

  It’s ethically questionable as people may not want their behaviour recorded and their right to privacy may be affected.
• Overt observations

  Participants are aware they are being studied.
• Strength of overt observations

  More ethically acceptable as participants have given their consent to participate and they have the right to withdraw if they wish.
• Limitation of overt observations

  Demand characteristics are more of a problem as participants are aware they are being watched studied which may affect their behaviour, which reduces the internal validity of the findings.
• Participant observations

  The researcher becomes part of the group they are studying.
• Strength of participant observations

  Can lead to greater insight as the researcher experiences the situation as the participants do which enhances the external validity of the findings.
• Limitation of participant observations

  Possible loss of objectivity if they researcher identifies with the participants too strongly, threatening the internal validity of the findings.
• Non-participant observations

  Researcher remain separate from the group they are studying.
• Strength of non-participant observations

  More objective as the researcher remains an objective distance so less chance of bias, which may increase the internal validity of the findings.
• Limitation of non-participant observations

  Loss of insight as the researcher may be too far removed from the participants, which may reduce the external validity of the findings.