Observations

• Systematic observation


  Conduct observation with a system, a structure in place. Observe in their natural state, not the observer.
• Coding system:

  Clearly define behaviors before observation begins.

  Establish inter-observer reliability.
• Naturalistic observation


  Observe genuine, unsolicited behavior. Unaffected by experimental intervention or controls.
• Naturalistic observation

  • Major limitation: difficult or impossible to observe some behavior of interest.
• Naturalistic observation


  • Distributed Leadership in the Operating Room: a naturalistic observation study
• Structured observation


  • Use setting or task to elicit behavior of interest, then observe unobtrusively.
  • bring tools to see a kind of behavior
• Structured observation


  • Major limitation: may sacrifice "naturalness" of behavior.
• Structured observation


  • A Structured Observation of Behavioral Self-Regulation and Kindergarten Outcomes
• Higher levels of behavioral regulation predicted stronger levels of achievement the following semester but not interpersonal skills.
• Longitudinal design


  Study same group of people over period of time.
• Longitudinal design


  • Expensive and resource consuming, but best indicator of change over time.
• Longitudinal method: potential concerns

  • Dropout Effects: Participants may dropout over time. If there is something special or systematic about those that dropout, you may draw conclusions based on an unrepresentative sample.
• Longitudinal method: potential concerns

  • Maturation Effect: life experiences over time may confound results. No control over what factors affect people and the impact of these factors on your study. The larger the sample, the less likely individual factors will be systematic enough to affect your results.
• IRB: Exempt Categories


  • Education research
  • Surveys, interviews, educational tests, public observations (that do not involve children)
  • Benign behavioral interventions
  • Analysis of previously-collected, identifiable info/specimens
  • Federal research/demonstration projects
  • Taste and food evaluation studies
• participant observer


  be in the enviroment of the participant/ get along w them
• privilege knowledge


  u're participant observer: the participant would share information that not usually shares