Psychological investigations - observations
- Created by: Mol98
- Created on: 20-03-15 13:28
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- Psychological investigations - Observation
- Evaluating validity
- Behavioural categories
- Observations won't be valid if the behaviour checklist is flawed. The result is that the data collected does not truly represent what was observed
- The extent to which a research study has measured what it intended to measure
- Observer bias
- When an observer records what they see or hear, their observations are inevitably influenced by their expectations. It reduces the objectivity and validity of observations
- Ecological validity
- The ability to generalise a research effect beyond the particular setting in which it is demonstrated to other settings
- Behavioural categories can be tested by using a pilot study
- Use more than one observer to reduce observer bias by averaging data across observers
- Conducting observations in varied settings with varied participants improves ecological validity
- Behavioural categories
- Making observations
- Have no overlapping categories - end result is that two different observers wouldn't produce the same record of behaviour
- Cover all possible component behaviours and avoid a 'waste basket'
- Objective - researcher shouldn't have to make inferences about the behaviour
- To conduct systematic observations, behavioural categories are needed (behavioural checklist)
- Evaluating validity
- Making observations
- Have no overlapping categories - end result is that two different observers wouldn't produce the same record of behaviour
- Cover all possible component behaviours and avoid a 'waste basket'
- Objective - researcher shouldn't have to make inferences about the behaviour
- To conduct systematic observations, behavioural categories are needed (behavioural checklist)
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