Psychological Investigations : The observational method
- Created by: Thomas J Betambeau
- Created on: 21-05-13 19:38
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- The observational method
- Key features
- In an observation, data is collected by someone observing participants and recording what they do or say
- Sometimes the observer is present and sometimes the observer is hidden behind a one-way mirror
- Other recording techniques can be used, including video recordings
- Observations may be conducted on their own or they may be conducted as a part of an experiment
- Other recording techniques can be used, including video recordings
- Sometimes the observer is present and sometimes the observer is hidden behind a one-way mirror
- In an observation, data is collected by someone observing participants and recording what they do or say
- Different types of observation
- Controlled observations
- Conducted in a controlled environment (for example a classroom or a laboratory) and are generally part of an experimental procedure.
- There is control over participants and they have particular tasks to do
- Easily replicated
- Low in ecological validity
- Natural observations
- These are conducted in a natural environment in which the experimenter has no control over who participates or what they do
- High in ecological validity
- Do not allow for the control of variables
- Participant observations
- This is really a type of natural observation, with the difference being that the observer takes an active roe by becoming a fully participating member of the group being observed
- It's covert therefore less demand characteristics
- Ethical issues raised in regards to deception
- Overt/Covert observations
- Any observation conducted by the experimenter when the participant knows they are being observed is described as overt
- Ethically sound as it does not involve decepion
- Likely to be effected by demand characteristics
- Any observation in which the participants are not aware that they are being observed is described as covert
- Not affected by demand characteristics
- Raises ethical concerns in regard to deception
- Any observation conducted by the experimenter when the participant knows they are being observed is described as overt
- Controlled observations
- Strengths and weaknesses
- High in ecological validity as they are generally conducted in a naturalistic environment
- Observations do not enable you to assess cause and effect unless they are part of a controlled experiment
- They produce rich data
- Low in demand characteristics
- Observations are often covert which raises ethical issues
- It's generally not possible to control variables which means there is little standardisation and it can be hard to replicate
- Inter-observer reliability
- One way of strengthening an observation is to ensure there are always at least two observers.
- This is to make sure data is reliable
- Both observers employ the same schedule and use the same categories to independently record their observations
- Statistical tests can be carried out on the combined data to assess the level of concordance
- It's considered reliable if they are both in at least 80% agreement
- Statistical tests can be carried out on the combined data to assess the level of concordance
- Both observers employ the same schedule and use the same categories to independently record their observations
- This is to make sure data is reliable
- One way of strengthening an observation is to ensure there are always at least two observers.
- Key features
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