2023-2025 Year 12 A-Level Psychology - Research Methods: Observations and Behaviour sampling
A Controlled Observation is when the researcher manipulates conditions or variables in order to observe how participants behave in a structured or controlled environment. This allows for greater control over extraneous variables and easier replication of the study.
“The conditions are manipulated by the researcher”
What type of observation is this?
Controlled observation
Key Terms
“The conditions are manipulated by the researcher”
What type of observation is this?
Controlled observation
What type of observation did Mary Ainsworth carry out?
Controlled observation
Define controlled observation
An observation whereby the conditions are manipulated by the researcher, this observation is carried out in a lab type situation
Mary Ainsworth carried out a naturalistic observation.
TRUE/FALSE?
FALSE - it was a controlled observation
Why are controlled observations praised for high reliability?
The environment is controlled and standardised - therefore the observations can be easily repeated to check for consist results
What does reliability mean?
When you can repeat a study and check for consistency in results
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
“The conditions are manipulated by the researcher” What type of observation is this? | Controlled observation |
What type of observation did Mary Ainsworth carry out? | Controlled observation |
Define controlled observation | An observation whereby the conditions are manipulated by the researcher, this observation is carried out in a lab type situation |
Mary Ainsworth carried out a naturalistic observation. TRUE/FALSE? | FALSE - it was a controlled observation |
Why are controlled observations praised for high reliability? | The environment is controlled and standardised - therefore the observations can be easily repeated to check for consist results |
What does reliability mean? | When you can repeat a study and check for consistency in results |
Which observation is the most reliable? | Controlled observation |
Explain why controlled observations lack ecological validity? | This observation method takes place in an artificial setting which doesn’t reflect real life and therefore the findings cannot be generalised beyond the setting of the observation - lowering the external validity |
When can you use demand characteristics as an evaluation point? | Only if the PPTs are over the age of 10 years old |
If the PPTs were over the age of 10 - why might a controlled observation be prone to demand characteristics? | As the PPTs are more likely to know they are being watched therefore they are likely to change their natural behaviour and may help or hinder the research based on clues given |
Over what age might the PPTs show demand characteristics in a controlled observation? | If they are over the age of 10 |
A researcher wanted to measure children’s helping behaviour. They set up a play area environment where an adult would enter with a pile of books. The adult would ‘accidentally’ drop the books. They observed this using a two way mirror and controlled when the adult would drop the books and how long the adult would wait before beginning to pick up the books themselves. What type of observation method is this? | Controlled observation |
In what observation method is there no manipulation of the variables? | Naturalistic observations |
Define a naturalistic observation (2m) | Watching the natural behaviour for PPTs where the target behaviour would normally occur - there is no manipulation of the variables |
Researcher wanted to investigate whether being in daycare made children more aggressive. He observed the children in the play area three times a week What type of observation method is this? | Naturalistic observation |
Why does a naturalistic observation NOT suffer from demand characteristics with PPTs that are over the age of 10? | PPTs are less likely to know they are being watched therefore unlikely to change their natural behaviour, and are less likely to help or hinder the researcher - increasing the internal validity |
Why does a naturalistic observation have high internal validity? | PPTs are less likely to know they are being watched therefore unlikely to change their natural behaviour, and are less likely to help or hinder the researcher |
Which observation method has higher internal validity: controlled/naturalistic? | Controlled observation |
Why has a naturalistic observations been praised for high external validity? | As the observation takes place in a natural setting therefore findings can be generalised to other similar settings increasing the external validity |
Which observation method has high ecological validity? | Naturalistic observation |
Explain why naturalistic observations have been criticised for low reliability? | PPTs are observed in their natural environment therefore very difficult to replicate the observation and obtain consistent results |
Why is it difficult to obtain consistent results in a naturalistic observation? | You are observing PPTs in their natural environment and therefore difficult to replicate the observation in the exact same conditions to obtain consistent results |
Why might naturalistic observations be unethical? | Lack if informed consent as people might not be aware they are being observed due to being observed in their natural setting and therefore not giving their consent to take part |
Which observation method is the most unethical? | Naturalistic observations |
Why has naturalistic observations been criticised for lack of informed consent? | People might not be aware they are being observed due to being observed in their natural setting and therefore not given their consent to take part |
Define overt observation (2m) Participants are aware of their behaviour is being observed, so will be aware of the purpose of the research (1m) What do you need for the second mark? | Observer is clearly visible to the PPT (2m) |
What observation is it when the observer is clearly visible to the PPT? | Overt observation |
Why is overt observation the most ethical? | PPTs know they are being observed so they can give consent for their data to be used |
Which observation method is the most ethical: Overt/Covert? | Overt observation |
Why is overt observation more ethical than covert? | PPTs know they are being observed so PPTs can give their consent for their data to be used |
Why is overt observation prone to demand characteristics only if the PPT is over the age of 10? | PPTs are more likely to know they are being watched therefore change their natural behaviour and help or hinder the research based on clues given off by the observer |
Why may overt observations have low internal validity? | If the PPTs are over the age of 10 they might know they are being watched and therefore change their natural behaviour, help or hinder the research based on clues - lowering the internal validity |
Researcher wanted to investigate whether being in daycare made children more aggressive. He recorded the children in the play area three times a week using hidden CCTV cameras What observation is this an example of? | Covert observation |
Define covert observation | Observations that are conducted without the awareness of the PPTs and can be done through an observer being hidden |
Give an example of how you might carry out a covert observation | Secret cameras or from behind a 2 way mirror |
Why is the Strange Situation an example of a covert observation? | It was carried out using a 2 way mirror |
Why may a covert observation be less likely to suffer from demand characteristics? | PPTs know they are being watched therefore they are unlikely to change their natural behaviour, and are less likely to help or hinder the research increasing the internal validity |
What is a disadvantage of covert observation? | Raises ethical issues as PPTs are unaware they are being watched therefore they have not given their informed consent and invasion of privacy would be a problem |
Why are covert observations unethical? | PPTs are unaware they are being observed, raising ethical issues such as lack of informed consent and invasion of privacy that would need to be resolved |
What is meant by a participant observation? | The researcher is involved with the group, data collected whilst being part of a group |
What type of observation method is where the researcher is involved with the group? | Participant observation |
Name 1 strength of participant observation | Observer can gain an in-depth understanding of the groups behaviour |
Why are you able to gain an in-depth understanding of the groups behaviour with participant observation? | As the observer is part of the group, they will not miss out important aspects of the research |
Why does a participant observation have high internal validity? | As the observer is part of the group, they will not miss out important aspects of the research e.g. feelings and motivations, therefore increasing the internal validity of the observation |
Identify a disadvantage of participant observation | Risk of researcher bias |
Why might participant observation have researcher bias? | As the observer is part of the group - it decreases the objectivity of the observation as the researcher's own thoughts and behaviours might impact the observation and lower the internal validity |
Why may participant observation have low internal validity? | As the observer is part of the group - it decreases the objectivity of the observation as the researcher's own thoughts and behaviours might impact the observation and lower the internal validity |
What is meant by a non-participant observation? | An observation where the researcher is not involved with the group, data is collected from a distance |
In what type of observation method is the researcher not involved with the group? | Non-participant observation |
Why does a non-participant observation have high internal validity? | There is reduced researcher bias as the observer is not part of the group - increasing the objectivity of the observation as the researchers own thoughts are less likely to impact the observation |
Why might it be difficult to gain in-depth understanding of a groups behaviour in a non-participant observation? | The researcher is not involved with the group and the data is collected from a distance so they may miss important aspects e.g. feelings and motivations |
Why does non-participant observation have low internal validity? | The researcher is not involved with the group and the data is collected from a distance so they may miss important aspects e.g. feelings and motivations - lowering the internal validity of the observation |
Define what is meant by a behaviour category in observations | Operationalised behaviours that are specific and measurable in an observation. |
Operationalised behaviour category increase what type of validity? | Internal |
Why is it important to make sure behaviour categories are operationalised? | Gain consistent results (establish reliability) Gain objective data (factual) Easier to analyse through a tally. |
How are behaviour categories recorded? | In a tally chart |
Name the two types of behaviour sampling in observations | Time and Event |
Define event sampling | Specific events (behaviour categories) are recorded/tallied every time they happen within a set period of time. |
What type of behaviour sampling is this? When observing aggression at a football match, recording a tally every single time they see an aggressive act occur within the 90 minutes of the match. | Event |
Define time sampling | Recording/tallying behaviours on/at a set time interval and ignoring all other behaviour that occurs expect for on/at that time interval. |
What type of behaviour sampling is this? A teacher wants to measure how often a student is on task during a 30 minute lesson, they tally the behaviours on/at every 3 minutes within the 30 minute lesson. | Time |
State one limitation of event sampling | Time consuming |
Explain one strength of event sampling | Useful when behaviour occurs infrequently as the researchers are less likely to miss behaviours |
Explain one limitation of time sampling | It isn't useful when behaviour happens infrequently as the ppts behaviour is recorded on/at set time intervals and the researcher ignores any behaviour that occurs outside of the time interval |
Explain one strength of time sampling | Less time consuming for the researcher as they only have to observe behaviour on/at set time intervals and ignore all other behaviour that doesn't occur in this time |