Research methods - observations. 5

OBSERVATIONAL METHODS focus precisely on categories of behaviour or events.

• part of a research plan that would have operational definitions of the behaviour or event to be observed.
• a hypothesis may be formed to guide the observation
  This makes observations very different from just watching someone.

Guidelines must be used when people are asked to carry out observations in order to provide a consistency in the basis of the observations, instead of the observers biasing the investigation with their own points of view, or mindset.

An objective system must be created before observation of behaviour or events can be made, as the validity of data produced depends on the objective mind of the observer, so observer bias needs to be reduced and inter rater reliability must be increased.

Types of observations:

NATURALISTIC
Natural occurring behaviour is observed. This never happens n a true experiment but may occur in a Quasi experiment. This produces results with higher ecological…