Observations in Psychology

The type of observation where some variables are regulated by the researcher.

• Natural

• Controlled

• Overt

• Covert

Type of observation where the person does not know they are being observed.

• Natural

• Controlled

• Overt

• Covert

Observation where the person is studied in a natural situation, and everything is left as it is...

• Natural

• Controlled

• Participant

• Covert

Type of Observation when observer observes from a distance.

• Covert

• Controlled

• Participant

• Non-Participant

Observation where person is aware of being observed.

• Overt

• Covert

• Participant

• Non-Participant

Observation where observer joins the group being observed.

• Non-Participant

• Participant

• Covert

• Overt

Noting what an individual does every 5 minutes for 30 seconds is an example of...?

• Event Sampling

• Time Sampling

• Volunteer Sampling

• Random Sampling

A strength of natural observations is...

• High levels of control

• High level of ecological validity

• High level of demand characteristics

• Lots of people

A limitation of observations is that they may suffer from...

• Inter-observer reliability

• Behavioural categories

• Observer Bias

• Operationalising

A strength of controlled observations is they have...

• More demand characteristics

• More control over variables

• More ecological validity

• Large samples