Observations

Observations

1. Controlled Observation

   • Controlled observations (usually a structured observation) are likely to be carried out in a psychology laboratory. The researcher decides where the observation will take place, at what time, with which participants, in what circumstances and uses a standardised procedure. Participants are randomly allocated to each independent variable group. Rather than writing a detailed description of all behavior observed, it is often easier to code behavior according to a previously agreed scale using a behavior schedule (i.e. conducting a structured observation). The researcher systematically classifies the behavior they observe into distinct categories. Coding might involve numbers or letters to describe a characteristics, or use of a scale to measure behavior intensity. The categories on the schedule are coded so that the data collected can be easily counted and turned into statistics.
     • Strengths
       • Can be easily replicated by other researchers using the same observation schedule.
         • Easy to test for reliability
       • Data obtained is usually quantitative.
         • Easier to analyse.
       • Fairly quick to conduct
         • Large sample can be obtained
           • Able to generalise to larger population
     • Weaknesses
       • Can lack validity
         • Hawthorne affect

2. Naturalistic Observation

   • Naturalistic observation (i.e. unstructured observation) involves studying the spontaneous behavior of participants in natural surroundings. The researcher simply records what they see in whatever way they can. Compared with controlled/structured methods it is like the difference between studying wild animals in a zoo and studying them in their natural habitat.
     • Strengths
       • Greater Ecological Validity
       • Provides new ideas for observations
     • Weaknesses
       • Usually conducted on a micro scale
         • Unrepresentative sample
       • Less reliable
       • researcher needs to be trained to be able to recognise aspects of a situation that are psychologically significant and worth further attention.
       • With observations we do not have manipulations of variables (or control over extraneous variables) which means cause and effect relationships cannot be established.

3. Participant Observation

   • Participant observation is a variant of the above (natural observations) but here the researcher joins in and becomes part of the group they are studying to get a deeper insight into their lives. If it were research on animals we would now not only be studying them in their natural habitat but be living alongside them as well!
     • Strengths
       • No Deception
       • Holistic approach
     • Weaknesses
       • It can be difficult to get time / privacy for recording. For example, with covert observations researchers can’t take notes openly as this would blow their cover. This means they have to wait until they are alone and reply on their memory. This is a problem as they may forget details and are unlikely to remember direct quotations
       • If the researcher becomes too involved they may lose objectivity and become bias. There is always the danger that we will “see” what we expect (or want) to see. This is a problem as they could selectively report information instead of noting everything they observe. Thus reducing the validity of their data.

4. Recording of Data

   • Event Sampling
     • The observer decides in advance what types of behavior (events) she is interested in and records all occurrences. All other types of behavior are ignored.
   • Time Sampling
     • The observer decides in advance that observation will take place only during specified time periods (e.g. 10 minutes every hour, 1 hour per day) and records the occurrence of the specified behavior during that period only.
   • Situation Sampling
     • observe behaviour(s) in more than one situation, to allow generalisation of the findings to more than just one situation (e.g., record student participation in different teaching sessions and then determine the frequency of student participation across the different teaching sessions).
   • Covert
     • Observed group unaware of the presence of the observer and unaware that their behaviour is being observed
     • Strengths
       • Prevents reactivity
       • Allows study of new behaviours
     • Weaknesses
       • Ethical Issues
   • Overt
     • Observed group aware of the presence of the observer and that their behaviour is being observed
     • Strengths
       • Consent can be obtained
     • Weaknesses
       • Reactivity of measurement