Observational designs

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    Created by
    Debbie Joseph

    Cards (11)

    • Define ‘structured observations’
      Only recording specific observations that are the main focus of the investigation
    • Evaluate ’structured observations‘
      Strengths: quantitative data (easy to analyse)
      Weaknesses: less rich in detail
    • Define ‘unstructured observations’
      Recording absolutely everything observed
    • Evaluate ’unstructured observations‘
      Strengths: rich in detail
      Weaknesses: time consuming & hard to analyse data
    • Define ‘behavioural categories‘
      When a target behaviour is broken down down into compnents that are observable and measurable
    • Evaluate ‘behavioural categories‘
      Strengths: objective
      Weaknesses: categories could overlap e.g. smiling & grinning
    • Define ‘event sampling’
      When a target behaviour is first established then the researcher records this event every time occurs
    • Evaluate ‘event sampling’
      Strengths: useful with rare occurring events
      Weaknesses: important details may be overlooked
    • Define ‘time sampling’
      When a target individual/group is first established then the researcher records their behaviour in a fixed time frame e.g. every 60 secs
    • Evaluate ‘time sampling’
      Strengths: reduces amount of observations made
      Weaknesses: unrepresentative
    • Define ‘inter-observer reliability’
      The extent to which their is an agreement between 2+ observers involved in observations of a behaviour. Measured by correlating their observations (>0.8 = high)
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