AS Psych - Observation

The role of the observer is not obvious to participants, they don't know they are being observed – hidden, disguised, CCTV

• Naturalistic observation

• Controlled observation

• Overt observation

• Covert observation

The role of the observer is obvious to participants or they are explicitly told

• Naturalistic observation

• Controlled observation

• Overt observation

• Covert observation

The environment has been manipulated socially or physically by the researchers.

Mainly conducted in standardised, laboratory settings.

• Naturalistic observation

• Controlled observation

• Overt observation

• Covert observation

Participants are observed in uncontrolled, natural, real-world settings.

No interference from researchers.

• Naturalistic observation

• Controlled observation

• Overt observation

• Covert observation

Behaviour is only recorded during specific time periods, e.g. 10 minutes per hour, 1 hour per day, every 15 seconds, etc

• Hawthorne effect

• Behavioural checklist

• One way mirror

• Time sampling

Types of behaviour are decided as targets and all occurrences of them are recorded. All other behaviours are ignored.

• Event sampling

• Behavioural checklist

• One way mirror

• Time sampling

A list of clearly defined specific behaviours to be recorded

• Event sampling

• Behavioural checklist

• One way mirror

• Time sampling

Researcher does not become involved in the social setting.

• Structured observation

• Unstructured observation

• Non-participant observation

• Participant observation

Researcher observes from the perspective of being part of the social setting.

• Structured observation

• Unstructured observation

• Non-participant observation

• Participant observation

A study where the observer records only a pre-determined limited range of behaviours, using a behavioural checklist.

• Structured observation

• Unstructured observation

• Non-participant observation

• Participant observation