Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Observational Methods and
Techniques
- Observational Methods
- Naturalistic Observation definition - A research method
carried out in a naturalistic settings, in
which the investigators doesn't
interfere in any way but merely
observes the behaviours in question,
though this is likely to involve the use
of structured observations.
- An example is when Mary Ainsworth studied the
'Ugandan women and children' interactions.
- Her data/observations were structured.
- Even though the observer does not
interfere with the experiment, their
observations might be structured.
- Controlled Observation definition - A form of
investigating in which behaviour is observed
but under controlled conditions, in contrast with
a naturalistic observation.
- Observational Techniques
- Unstructured Observation definition: An
observer records all relevant behaviour
but has no system. This technique may be
chosen because the behaviour to be
studied is largely unpredictable.
- Problem? Behaviours recorded will be those which are
most visible of eye-catching to the observer but no
always be the most important or relevant behaviours.
- Structured Observation definition: An
observed uses various systems to
organise observations, such as
behavioural categories and sampling
procedures.
- Behaviour Categories - Dividing a
target behaviour into a subset of
behaviours. Can be done using
checklists or a coding system.
- Problem? Deciding how different behaviours
should be categorised as people's perception of
behaviour differs.
- Sampling Procedures - Who you are
observing and when.
- Event Sampling - An observational technique in which a
count is kept of the number of times a certain behaviour
occurs.
- Time Sampling - Recording behaviours in a given time frame.
- Improvements of sampling procedures: 1) More than one
observer - Inter-rater reliability observer 2) Film it 3) Compare
the observers results ( should be 80% the same)