observation designs

• unstructured observation 


  consists of continuous recording where the researcher writes everything they see during the observation
• unstructured observation strengths 


  more richness and depth of detail
• unstructured observation limitations


  produces qualitative data which is more difficult to record and analyse, there is a greater observer bias as they pick what to record
• structured observation


  the researcher quantifies what they are observing using a predetermined list of behaviours and sampling methods
• structured observation strengths 


  easier to analyse and less risk of observer bias
• structured observations limitations 


  not much depth in detail and difficult to achieve high inter observer reliability as filling the predetermined lists in is subjective
• behavioural categories 


  when a target behaviour which is being observed is broken up into more precise components which are observable and measurable
• time sampling


  the recording of behaviour within a timeframe that is pre-established before the observational study
• time sampling strengths 


  it reduced the number of observations so is less time consuming
• time sampling limitations 


  the small amount of data in that time frame could end up being unrepresentative of observation as a whole
• event sampling 


  involves counting the number of times a particular behaviour is carried out
• event sampling strengths


  good for infrequent behaviours that are likely to be missed using time sampling
• event sampling limitations


  can be difficult to judge when a behaviour starts and ends and if behaviour is frequent there could be counting issues