![]() ![]() A further disadvantage is that the researcher needs to be trained to be able to recognize aspects of a situation that are psychologically significant and worth further attention.This makes it difficult for another researcher to repeat the study in exactly the same way. Natural observations are less reliable as other variables cannot be controlled.This may result in the findings lacking the ability to generalize to wider society. These observations are often conducted on a micro (small) scale and may lack a representative sample (biased in relation to age, gender, social class, or ethnicity).Because it gives the researcher the opportunity to study the total situation, it often suggests avenues of inquiry not thought of before. Like case studies, naturalistic observation is often used to generate new ideas.By being able to observe the flow of behavior in its own setting, studies have greater ecological validity.Kathy Sylva used it to study children at play by observing their behavior in a playgroup in Oxfordshire. With regard to human subjects, Margaret Mead used this method to research the way of life of different tribes living on islands in the South Pacific. There may be too much to record, and the behaviors recorded may not necessarily be the most important, so the approach is usually used as a pilot study to see what type of behaviors would be recorded.Ĭompared with controlled observations, it is like the difference between studying wild animals in a zoo and studying them in their natural habitat. In unstructured observations, the researcher records all relevant behavior without a system. The researcher simply records what they see in whatever way they can. This technique involves observing and studying the spontaneous behavior of participants in natural surroundings. Naturalistic observation is a research method commonly used by psychologists and other social scientists. When participants know they are being watched, they may act differently. Controlled observations can lack validity due to the Hawthorne effect /demand characteristics.This means a large sample can be obtained, resulting in the findings being representative and having the ability to be generalized to a large population. Controlled observations are fairly quick to conduct which means that many observations can take place within a short amount of time.The data obtained from structured observations is easier and quicker to analyze as it is quantitative (i.e., numerical) – making this a less time-consuming method compared to naturalistic observations.This means it is easy to test for reliability. Controlled observations can be easily replicated by other researchers by using the same observation schedule.What is observed are the changes in electrical activity in the brain during sleep ( the machine is called an electroencephalogram – an EEG).Ĭontrolled observations are usually overt as the researcher explains the research aim to the group so the participants know they are being observed.Ĭontrolled observations are also usually non-participant as the researcher avoids any direct contact with the group, keeping a distance (e.g., observing behind a two-way mirror). Here electrodes are attached to the scalp of participants. Albert Bandura used this method to study aggression in children (the Bobo doll studies).Ī lot of research has been carried out in sleep laboratories as well. Sometimes the behavior of participants is observed through a two-way mirror, or they are secretly filmed. The observer noted down the behavior displayed during 15-second intervals and scored the behavior for intensity on a scale of 1 to 7. During the Strange Situation procedure infant’s interaction behaviors directed toward the mother were measured, e.g. The categories on the schedule are coded so that the data collected can be easily counted and turned into statistics.įor example, Mary Ainsworth used a behavior schedule to study how infants responded to brief periods of separation from their mothers. Coding might involve numbers or letters to describe a characteristic or the use of a scale to measure behavior intensity. The researcher systematically classifies the behavior they observe into distinct categories. Rather than writing a detailed description of all behavior observed, it is often easier to code behavior according to a previously agreed scale using a behavior schedule (i.e., conducting a structured observation). Participants are randomly allocated to each independent variable group. The researcher decides where the observation will occur, at what time, with which participants, and in what circumstances, and uses a standardized procedure. Controlled observations (usually structured observation) are likely to be carried out in a psychology laboratory.
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