Observational Technique

What is an observation?

- Where behaviour is watched and recorded.

Naturalistic and Controlled Observation:

- In a naturalistic observation, the researcher observes participants in their own environments. They do not manipulate the situation in any way.

- In a controlled or structured observation, the researcher will actively manipulate variables and this means that the observation will normally take place in a specially set-up environment. E.G. within a research lab.

Dependent Variable - what you measure

Independent Variable - what you manipulate/change

NATURALISTIC: 

- High ecological validity - participants are in their natural setting and so it represents everyday life.

- Researcher observes participants in their own environment.

CONTROLLED:

- Researcher actively manipulates variables - observation usually takes place in a set-up environment.

-Replicability - the observation is more controlled and therefore it can be repeated and therefore is more reliable.

- Ethics - the researcher is in full control and so can ensure safety is taken into account and informed consent can be given.

- Internal Validity - avoids extraneous variables and so…