Recording of Data

Cards (7)

  • main ways of recording data during observations
    • Event sampling
    • Time sampling
  • Event sampling
    A target behaviour is identified and the observer records it every time it occurs
  • Time sampling
    A way of sampling the behaviour that is being observed by recording what happens in a series of fixed time intervals
  • Strengths: Event sampling
    • Researchers can clearly see the total number of behaviours for each event, making analysis extremely quick and easy, especially when looking for most or least common behaviours
    • More reliable observations as the events are already planned, therefore it could be easily replicated to measure consistency of observational behaviours
  • Limitations: Event sampling
    • Can miss important behaviours due to having set events already planned, other behaviours not considered are missed – reducing validity
    • It gives no indication of the amount of time spent on each behavioural category, therefore it can sometimes lead to less valid conclusions about behaviour
  • Strengths: Time sampling
    • Less likely to miss behaviours as the researcher usually has a short time to focus on recording behaviour, therefore is more likely to be accurate
    • It can give an indication of how much time is spent on each behaviour
  • Limitations: Time sampling
    • Behaviours that occur outside the time intervals are not accounted for, therefore may reduce validity as important behaviours may be missed
    • Can be hard if lots of behaviour occurs at once