OBSERVATION

SEHR SAIGOL SHAHID

In an observation, data is collected
by simply watching or observing
participants in their natural environment
with the aim of recording the behaviour
that is witnessed.
 TYPES OF
OBSERVATIONS
There are 3 main types of observation
techniques:
•Controlled Observation
•Naturalistic Observation
• Participant Observation
 CONTROLLED
OBSERVATION
These are observations that occur in very
controlled environments e.g. a laboratory.
They allow for precise recording of
behaviour, e.g. observations undertaken
in sleep labs or the watching of childrens’
aggressive behaviour through a one way
mirror as in the study by Bandura.
 ADVANTAGES
1 Reliable due to the specific nature of the environment
and how the observation is undertaken (usually a
detailed observation schedule is used with more than one
observer). This makes the method more scientific in its
approach to studying human behaviour.
2. Less likely to 'miss' behaviours since participants cannot
wander out of view.
3. The method avoids demand characteristics. The
subjects will feel no pressure to impress the observer, so
no experimenter effects
 DISADVANTAGES
Due to the artificial nature of the
environments which are used, the Ps are
more likely to display artificial behaviours.
This method may not be practical to use
when investigating some behaviours e.g.
family interactions.
Data is often quantitative
 NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION

•The term Naturalistic Observation involves

research methods designed to study
behavior without manipulation of any
variables or interference by the
experimenter / observer in any way. E.g. This
type of observation can be used to study
wildlife. It is conducted in the natural
environment of the participant.
 ADVANTAGES
•Naturalistic observation is good with animals that
do not thrive or behave normally in laboratory
conditions.
•Many psychologists feel it is the best method due
to its high ecological validity as it observes
participants in their natural conditions. It is natural.
•It is a useful method for studying unknown or little
known behavior.
 DISADVANTAGES
•It can be very expensive.
•Data is hard to structure
•There is lack of control over extraneous variables, so the
method lacks internal validity. We cannot conclude cause-effect
•It might be difficult to replicate natural observations.
•Lack of control means that it is very difficult to generalise the
findings: the subjects may behave in one way at a specific time
and place and behave totally differently on another occasion.
•It is almost impossible to study unusual phenomena since you
do not know when they will occur.
 PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

The researcher becomes part of the

community he wishes to observe. The
researcher takes part in the situation which he
is observing. The researcher joins in the group
being studied by hiding his true identity or can
be introduced to a group under disguise.
 ADVANTAGES
•Gains in depth detail into group dynamics and specific settings
that comes from being directly engaged with the situation /
interaction.
•The researcher gains detail on how others act in certain
situations - they also have the experience of what it is like in
those situations. The researcher does not just watch, they also
feel, because of being in a position whereby they are taking part.
•Sometimes this is the only observational method we can use,
e.g. 'deviant' groups, such as non-mainstream religious groups,
will not allow a researcher in to observe their practices and
behaviour.
 DISADVANTAGES
•Excessive observer bias could occur due to the two roles that are
being played at the same time, i.e. taking part in an interaction whilst
also trying to observe it. In other words the researcher may be too
close to the object of study to make a reliable and valid report on
what took place. He may ‘see’ things that are not really there.
There are problems in regards to how and when notes will be
recorded. If they are recorded after the event then distortions in
recall and memory and selection of what to use may be so great that
the data is completely unreliable and highly dubious in its validity.
It is unethical to record data without participants
consent.
 NON-PARTICIPANT
OBSERVATION
Non-participant observation occurs when the
observer isn’t part of the group and observes
from a distance.
One disadvantage of this type is that participants
cannot explain why they behaved in a particular
way and the observer should not make
assumptions about it.
 Overt or Covert?
•Overt observation is where a participant knows
who the researcher is and they are being observed.
•Covert observation is watching behaviour (and listening)
and recording it
•covert is where the participants are unaware of the
observer / don’t know they are being observed
•because they are physically hidden/ not present / not
apparent e.g. by using one-way mirrors /
cameras
 DISADVANTAGES
•being covert may make it hard to see all behaviours
e.g. restricted by moving around conspicuously / by
video camera angle
•may make it hard to record behaviour at the time /
need to remember record and write it down later
•because if you are spotted taking notes it would break
your cover
 Structured or unstructured?

• In a structured observation, the observer creates

a checklist of behaviours (also called an
ethnogram) to be observed before beginning the
observation. He tallies the behaviours.
• In a non-structured observation, the observer
records what is happening as it happens. There is
a danger of mis-recording instances of a
behaviour here. They note ALL the behaviours
they see in qualitative form.
 STRENGTH OF STRUCTURED

The coding system allows objective quantitative

data to be collected. This can then be analysed
statistically.
WEAKNESS
The sampling method tends to be restricted (e.g.
time sampling) and does not give an idea of the
reasons behind the behaviour.
 STRENGTH OF
UNSTRUCTURED

Unstructured observations can generate rich

qualitative data that can help explain why
behaviours are occurring.
WEAKNESS
Behaviours may not fully represent all the
behaviours as researchers may be drawn to certain
eye-catching behaviours.
 Recording observational data

•EVENT SAMPLING where the observer is looking

for certain behaviours and a tally chart or record
is kept of every instance of these behaviours.
•TIME SAMPLING where the observer notes
down or records the behaviour at certain time
intervals
 Reliability?
•TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY where an observation is
repeated at a later date and the two sets are compared.
•INTER-RATER RELIABILITY where two observers
observe the same behaviours independently. The data
are compared and the level of agreement can be
calculated.