Psychology- Observations

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  • Created by: Daisymac
  • Created on: 19-01-19 16:56
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  • Observational techniques
    • Naturalistic
      • Take place in the setting in which behaviour would naturally occur.
      • strength- high external validity as behaviour is observed in .natural behaviour
      • Weakness- hard to replicate
    • Controlled observations
      • Watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment
      • eg. two way mirror
      • Strength- ease of replication as there is less extraneous variables
      • Weakness- can't apply to real life settings and harder to generalsie
    • Covert observations
      • Participants behaviour is being watched and recorded without their consent
      • strength- removes participant reactivity as they are not aware they are being watched and so increases validity
      • Weaknesses- Ethics
    • Overt observations
      • Participants behaviour is being watched and recorded with their consent and knowledge
      • Strength- ethics
      • Weaknesses-   participant reactivity as they are  aware they are being watched and so decreases validity
    • Participant observation
      • The researcher becomes a member of the group of the people he/she is watching
      • strength- increased insight into issue or group and so increasing validity
      • Weaknesses-Going native and losing objectivity
        • swap weaknesses and strength from participant to non participant
    • Non participant observation
      • The researcher does not become a member of the group of the people he/she is watching
        • Weaknesses-Going native and losing objectivity
          • swap weaknesses and strength from participant to non participant
        • strength- increased insight into issue or group and so increasing validity

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