Observational techniques

• Observational techniques-

  • Psychologists' way of seeing things without having to ask participants.
  • Observing during natural/controlled settings.
  • Allows more complex things to be monitored.
  • Watching/recording individual's behaviours, studying behaviours that can’t always be replicated directly by the researcher.
• Naturalistic observation-

  • takes place in natural situations.
  • Psychologists observe the situation from within the natural environment.
  • S- High validity
  • W- Cant be replicated
• Controlled observations-

  • Takes place where the variables are controlled and manipulated by the psychologist.
  • They determine the behaviour they observe as well as the control of extraneous/confounding variables.
  • S- Can be replicated.
  • W- Unnatural.
• Covert observations-

  • Observation is kept secret from the participants.
  • Observer is undercover.
  • S- Allows genuine behaviour to be observed.
  • W- Has low ethics.
• Overt observations-

  • ‘open’ observations.
  • Participants know they’re being observed and why.
  • S- Informed/genuine consent.
  • W- Can be distorted/unnatural behaviour.
• Participant observations-

  • Observer acts as part of the group being watched.
  • S- Good/close proximity allows accurate details to be seen.
  • W- Could influence the behaviour of the others.
• Non-participant observations-

  • Observer remains separate from the group.
  • S- Less likely to interfere with the behaviours.
  • W- Details may be missed due to the lack of proximity.