Observations

• Controlled observation

  • Watching and recoding behaviour within a structured environment
  • One where the variables are measured
  • E.g the strange situation
  • Some control over CV and EV - also manipulation of some variable to observe effects
• Covert observation

  • Participants behaviour is watched and recoded without their knowledge or consent
• Overt observation

  • Participants behaviour is watched and recoded with their knowledge and consent
• Participant observation

  • The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching a recording
• Naturalistic observation

  • Watching and recoding behaviour in the setting which it would normally occur
  • All aspects of the environments are free to vary
• Non-participant observation

  • When the researcher remains outside the pf the group whose behaviour they're looking to study
• Evaluate naturalistic observations

  • High external validity - can be generalised to everyday settings as behaviour is recoded in the setting which it occurred
  • Lack of control over research situation - replication is difficult
  • Little control over CV and EV - difficult to judge any patterns of behaviour
• Evaluate controlled observations

  • May produce findings that cannot be readily applied to everyday life
  • Replication is easier as there's greater control over CVs and EVs
• Evaluate covert observations

  • Removes issues of demand characteristics - any observed behaviour is natural - increases internal validity
  • Ethical issues - people may not wish to have their behaviour recorded even in public
• Evaluate overt observation

  • More ethically acceptable
  • Knowing they're being observed may mean that they change their behaviour - demand charteristics
• Evaluate non-participant observations

  • Allows researcher to maintain an objective distance from participants - less danger of 'going native'
  • May loose valuable insight gained from participant observations - too far removed from people and the behaviour they're studying
• Limitations of the use of observations

  • Observer bias - observers interpretation of a situation may be affected by their own expectations - may be reduced by using more than one observer
  • Observational studies can not demonstrate casual relationship