This kind of observation in a laboratory setting might lack some ecologicalvalidity because the people being observed would know that the study is taking place
Categories of behaviour: the separateactions that are recorded as examples of the target behaviour
In order to make sure that an accurate record of behaviour can be made, researchers use a categories of behaviour system. In an observation of playground behaviour, the target behaviour is playground behaviour'.
However, the observers would not know what they were to look for if that was the onlyinformation they had. Behaviour categories are used t make it clear exactly how to record the actions that have been seen.
Strengths of observational studies
High ecological validity - records real behaviours that are full actions and that people produce regularly
How closely the record sheets of two or more people match - if they match, the records are considered accurate; if they do notmatch, they are inaccurate