NATURALISTIC

• WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF OBSERVATION?

  • naturalistic
  • controlled
  • covert
  • overt
  • participant
  • non-participant
• WHAT IS A NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION?

  observing behaviour in a natural setting
• WHAT IS MEANT BY A NATURAL SETTING?

  everything has been left as it is
• WHEN SHOULD A NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION ONLY OCCUR?

  where people expect to be observed
• STRENGTHS OF NATURALISTIC OBSERVATIONS?

  • greater ecological validity
  • used to generate new ideas
• WHY CAN A NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION BE USED TO SUGGEST NEW IDEAS?

  the fact it is an opportunity, suggests it has not been thought about before
• WEAKNESSES OF NATURALISTIC OBSERVATIONS?

  • lacks reliability
  • researcher must be well trained
• WHY DO NATURALISTIC OBSERVATIONS LACK RELIABILITY?

  extraneous variables cannot be controlled, therefore it is difficult to replicate
• WHY MUST A RESEARCHER BE WELL TRAINED IN NATURALISTIC OBSERVATIONS?

  only pick up on relevant behaviours and ignore others