A type of descriptive method in which already-existing records are examined to test some research hypothesis.

A type of descriptive method in which an in-depth analysis is made of either a single individual, a single rare event, or an event that exemplifies some phenomenon.

Case history- clinical work

EVALUATION:

•External validity- low

•Findings needed to be replicated to increase validity

•Biases of the researcher

•Memory

•Provide insight into behavior

•Highlights individual differences

•Sources of empirical questions

•Serve the purpose of falsification

EVALUATION:

Advantages

­Large amount of information available

­Converge with the results of laboratory research, thereby increasing external validity

­Archival Information is nonreactive

­Analysis of decades

EVALUATION:

Problems

­Some information vital to a researcher might be missing or

­The available data might not be a representative  sample

­Experimenter bias

Can be used as a component of a large research effort

­Program evaluation research

­Interrupted time series design

Content analysis

­Clearly define categories of content

­More than one person doing the analysis

­In order to avoid biases scorers should be blind to the hypothesis

•Varieties of _____________

•Classified along two dimensions

1. Degree of involvement

•Naturalistic Observation

•Participant Observation

2. Degrees of structure 

­Absence of control

­Observer bias

­Subject reactivity

­Ethical dilemmas

•Descriptive research method in which the behavior of people or animals is studied as it occurs in its everyday natural environment.

•Human of all ages

•Semi-artificial environment

•Observer is hidden

•Presence all time- videorecorder

•Hiding of the observer- habituation

•Descriptive research method in which people's behavior is studied as it occurs in its everyday natural environment and the researcher becomes a part of the group being observed.

• First-hand insight- close to the action

•Some control in structured studies

•Researcher must take what circumstances provide

•Lack of control – careful conclusion

•Serves purpose of falsification – theory testing

•Call some ideas into question

•Source of hypotheses

•Having preconceived ideas about what will be observed and having those ideas color one’s observation

•Reduce

•Behavior should be defined precisely

•Behavior checklist

•Defining is not simple

•Least replication

•Intercoder reliability

•Percentage of times that observer agree

•Combination of checklist

•Observer training

•Mechanism of procedure

•Various sampling Procedure

•Time sampling

•Behavior would be influenced by the knowledge that it was being recorded

•Unobtrusive Measures

Subjects are unaware that observation is being made

•Direct Methods- hidden audio or video recording or observers

•Indirect Methods – events that seems the outcome of the behavior

•Invading  privacy

•Lack of informed consent

•APA Ethical Code and Observational Research

•Avoiding harm

•Minimizing intrusion of privacy

•Use of Confidential Information for Didactic or other Purpose

•Dispensing with Informed Consent

•Informed Consent in Research Filming or Recording

Subjects are unaware that observation is being made

Subjects are aware that observation is being made

Hidden audio or video recording or observers

Events that seems the outcome of the behavior

_____________ such as

­Census data

­Court records

­Genealogical data

­Corporate annual reports and

­Patent office records

___________ such as

­Credit histories

­Health history data

­Educational records

­Personal correspondence and

­Diaries

“______________” as locations refer to places like

­University libraries

­Government offices, and

­Computerized databases

____________ – records and to the places where the records are stored

Can be used as a component of a large research effort

­Program evaluation research

­Interrupted time series design

Content analysis

­Clearly define categories of content

­More than one person doing the analysis

­In order to avoid biases scorers should be blind to the hypothesis

•Classified along two dimensions

1. Degree of involvement

•Naturalistic Observation

•Participant Observation

2. Degrees of structure