observational techniques

• what is difference between Naturalistic and controlled in controlled environment regulated by researcher but in naturalistic it is left in its natural state
• difference between overt and covert

  Covert is observing people without their knowledge whereas overt is observing people with knowledge that their behaviour is being observed
• difference between Participant and non participant

  • Non participant is where the researcher is separate from those being observed whereas participant is where observations are made by someone also taking part in the activity (could reduce objectivity)
• overt has less ethical issues but covert has more demand characteristics
• observer bias

  observers expectations affect what they see and their results, affecting validity
• unstructured observation - researcher records all relevant behaviour but has no system

  can be used as a pilot study but has disadvantages as what catches their eye may not be most relevant behaviour
• Structured observations 

  A researcher uses various systems to organise observations main two are behavioural categories and sampling procedures
• difference between event and time sampling

  • Event sampling -observing and recording all the time(how many times you saw it)
  • Time sampling-observing and recording at time interval (when you saw it)

  Eg. event = In half an hour how many aggression acts you saw event 

  Look up Every 5 minutes note aggression - see pattern of behaviour

  Time-how a behaviour changes over a period of time
• natural v control

  ecological validity v internal validity
• observation

  • high validity observe what they do directly
  • observer bias
  • cant hear what people think or feel
• covert

  behaviour natural v demand characteristics

  ethical issues-covert
• participant - special insights

  non - more objective