Observations and sampling

• Naturalistic observation - observing spontaneously occurring behaviour in the participant's own natural environment.

  • ✓ - High ecological validity as behaviour is natural (if covert)
  • X - lack of control over extraneous variables
• Controlled observation - observing behaviour but under conditions that are controlled by the researcher.

  • ✓ - high control over environment means observation is easy to replicate
  • X - can cause demand characteristics if ppt's know they are being observed
• Non-participant observation - the experimenter does not become part of the group being observed.

  • ✓ - high objectivity
  • ✓ - easier to record data
  • X - less ecological validity
  • X - misinterpretation / observer bias
• Participant observation - the observer acts as part of the group being watched.

  • ✓ - high in ecological validity
  • ✓ - special insight / in-depth data
  • X - subjectivity
  • X - hard to replicate
• Covert observation - participants don't know there is a researcher watching.

  • ✓ - natural behaviour, therefore findings are valid
  • X - unethical due to lack of consent from ppt's
• Overt observation - participants know there is a researcher watching.

  • ✓ - ethical due to ppt's giving consent
  • X - low validity, as ppt's may act differently if they know they are being observed (unnatural behaviour)
• Event sampling - keeping a count of each time a specified behaviour occurs.

  • ✓ - useful to record occasional behaviours
  • X - events may be missed if there is a lot happening at once
• Time sampling - recording observations at specific time intervals, eg. 30 seconds.

  • ✓ - reduces the number of observations in a set time period
  • X - observed behaviour may not be representative if it occurs in between the recording times
• Inter-observer reliability - using 2 or more observers and assess inter-rater reliability [above 0.80 is considered good].