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Method 2 of Educational Psychology

The observational method is one of the most popular methods used in psychology to collect data. It involves observing a subject's behavior without their self-observation. Psychologists would take notes on a subject's behavior under certain conditions. However, they found it difficult to keep up with the speed of subjects' behaviors. This was later solved by using technologies like video recording. There was also the problem that a subject's behavior could be affected by the presence of an observer, so one-way screens and observation booths were introduced. To have reliable observations, the observer must be objective and not let their own biases influence them, make multiple observations of the same behavior in similar conditions, and potentially pool observations with others.

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75 views

Method 2 of Educational Psychology

The observational method is one of the most popular methods used in psychology to collect data. It involves observing a subject's behavior without their self-observation. Psychologists would take notes on a subject's behavior under certain conditions. However, they found it difficult to keep up with the speed of subjects' behaviors. This was later solved by using technologies like video recording. There was also the problem that a subject's behavior could be affected by the presence of an observer, so one-way screens and observation booths were introduced. To have reliable observations, the observer must be objective and not let their own biases influence them, make multiple observations of the same behavior in similar conditions, and potentially pool observations with others.

Uploaded by

Robert Vallente
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Method # 2.

The Observational Method:

1. The Method:

It is one of the most popular of methods used in psychology for collection of data. This method
is also called the method of ‘objective observation’ as against introspection which is a method of
self-observation. The individual’s behaviour is observed by somebody other than that person
himself. The behaviour observed may be expressed in the form of bodily changes, bodily action,
gestures, facial expression and speech.

The psychologist may sit down and take notes of the behaviour of a subject under particular
conditions. The method was used widely by child psychologists who would prepare running
records of all that the child did during a certain period and in a certain situation. These
observations enabled them to make certain generalisations about human behaviour in general.

2. Difficulties:

Psychologists found that they could not keep pace with the speed of subjects’ behaviour and
thought as expressed by them. This problem was solved to a large extent by the introduction of
type-recording, photographic films or by employing a number of stenographers to record the
behaviour.

There was another problem besides the speed of behaviour. It was felt that the subject’s
behaviour can be affected by the presence of the psychologist in the room. The subject may
become self-conscious and may not behave naturally, which he would have done had been alone
in the room. This introduced the use of one-way screens and the system of observation-booths.

The subject would behave in the most natural manner without knowing that he was being
observed or studied. Child development centers and child guidance clinics are generally fitted
with one-way glass screens or observations booths. Direct observation however, can be quite
effective one the subject or subjects get used and adjusted to the presence of the psychologist.

3. Precautions:

In order to have reliable and correct observations, there are certain precautions that
should be borne in mind:

Firstly, the observer must adopt an objective attitude. Our observations should be free from our
own biases, prejudices and result from sustained attention.

Secondly, it is necessary that before we form an estimate of an individual’s behaviour, we should


have made a number of observations of the same behaviour in similar conditions,

Thirdly, if needed. We should pool our observations with those made by others.
Fourthly, the problem that has to be observed, is well-defined and observers are trained to
distinguish between what is observed and what is interpreted.

Fifthly, to ensure accuracy of observation and to reduce the effect of bias, the behaviour may be
observed for a specific period of time, after it has been analysed into its various aspects.

This device is called “time sampling” i.e., the behaviour is sampled for a short and definite
period of time and it is regarded as representative of the behaviour in general covered by the
various analysable elements together. This device has been used by Iver James Robertson in his
study. “A Two-year Old Goes to Hospital”. He has observed the reactions of a hospitalised child
to various situations and persons of suitable intervals, for a short period every time, with the help
of a carefully drawn-up proforma to be filled in by the observer.

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