Observational Techniques (types)

• Define covert observation and give a strength and weakness of it

  Undisclosed, ppt is not aware

  (+) Investigator effects and demand characteristics = less likely

  (-) Lack of informed consent = less ethical
• Define overt observation and give a strength and weakness of it

  Ppt is aware

  (+) Informed consent obtained = more ethical

  (-) Investigator effects and demand characteristics = more likely
• Define participant observation and give a strength and weakness of it

  Researcher takes part (close proximity)

  (+) Close proximity = in depth data gathered

  (-) Investigator effects and demand characteristics = more likely
• Define non-participant observation and give a strength and weakness of it

  Researcher does not take part (not close proximity)

  (+) Investigator effects and demand characteristics = less likely

  (-) Lack of proximity = researcher might miss behaviours of interest
• Define naturalistic observation and give a strength and weakness of it

  Takes place in naturalistic (unaltered) setting

  (+) Higher level of ecological validity

  (-) Issues with replication and ascertaining reliability
• Define controlled observation and give a strength and weakness of it

  Takes place in artificial (controlled) environment

  (+) Can be replicated to check reliability

  (-) Lower levels of ecological validity
• Define structured observation and give a strength and weakness of it

  Behaviour is coded using behavioural categories

  (+) Higher levels of inter-observer reliability

  (-) Less rich data can lack internal validity as researchers miss important behaviours
• Define unstructured observation and give a strength and weakness of it

  Every instance of behaviour is recorded and described

  (+) Rich data = greater internal validity

  (-) Lower levels of inter-observer reliability
• Give the names of the multiple observational techniques

  Covert, Overt, Participant, Non-participant, Naturalistic, Controlled, Structured, Unstructured
• Define time sampling

  This is where an observer records behaviour at prescribed intervals e.g. every 10 seconds

  
  

  (+) Allow for a better use of time since fewer observations are made.

  (-) Not every behaviour of relevance to the investigation will be counted if it occurs in between the time frames allocated.
• Define event sampling

  Where an observer records the number of times that the target behaviour occurs e.g. using a tally

  
  

  (+) Every behaviour of interest to the researcher will be counted from the beginning to the end of the observation

  (-) Possibility that some behaviours could be missed if there is too much happening at the same time, resulting in some not being coded.