Observational Techniques

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Observations provide psychologists with a way of seeing what people do without having to ask them. They allow researchers to study observable behaviour within a natural or controlled setting. This method allows researchers the flexibility to study more complex interactions between variables in a more natural way.

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Naturalistic Observation:

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting in which it would normally occur. All aspects of the environment are free to vary e.g. studying how factory workers and managers interact in a factory rather than a lab.

High internal validity because findings can be generalised to everyday life

Lack of control over variables makes it harder to replicate

Uncontrolled extraneous variables make it difficult to judge a pattern of behaviour

Controlled Observation:

Watching and recording behaviour in a structured environment where some variables are managed e.g. Ainsworth's strange situation

May produce findings that cannot be readily applied to real life

Easy to replicate

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Covert Observations:

Participants behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge and consent. e.g. observing behaviour from a balcony. The behaviour must be public and happening anyway for the observation to be ethical.

Removes problem of participant reactivity - participants trying to make sense of the situation and therefore not being completely natural

High validity because the behaviour is natural

Ethical issues as the participant haven't given consent and may not wish to have their behaviours noted down

Overt Observations:

Participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent.

More ethically acceptable

Participants know that they are being observed which may influence their behaviour

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Participant Observations:

In participant observations the researcher becomes a part of the experiment and acts as a member of the group whose behaviour they are observing.

Increased validity as the researchers get an increased insight into the lives of people being studied

There is a danger that the researcher may come to identify too strongly with those they are studying and lose objectivity

Non-Participant Observations:

In non-participant observations the researcher remains separate from those they are studying and records behaviour in a more objective manner

Allows the researcher to maintain an objective distance from their participants

Too far removed from the people and behaviour they are studying so get less of an insight

Objectivity means being influenced by personal opinions/past experiences, being free of bias