Edexcel Learning Psychology Exam
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Observations - ✔✔- Can be used alongside other research methods such as case studies
and lab experiments
- Can be used on their own
- No IV to manipulate
- All data gathered by observing
What types of data can be gathered using observations? - ✔✔Quantitative data e.g.
observing how many times people act
Qualitative data e.g. describing how people acted aggressively
What are the ways to collect data in observations? - ✔✔Tallying, event sampling and
time sampling
Tallying in observations - ✔✔Identify the type of data to record, then record each
instance of something happening on a piece of paper.
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,Event sampling in observations - ✔✔Choosing which events are to be observed and
then noting down each time that event occurs.
Time sampling in observations - ✔✔Observing for certain periods of time. Makes the
observation more manageable.
What are the types of observations? - ✔✔- Structured/ naturalistic
- Participant/ non-participant
- Overt/ covert
Structured observations - ✔✔The situation is set up and then what happens is observed
Strengths of structured observations - ✔✔- Can be repeated, so results can be compared
between observations, reliable
- Ensures the behaviour takes place, it can take a long time for some behaviour to occur
naturally
Weaknesses of structured observations - ✔✔- Situation is artificial, lack ecological
validity
- The situation might be interpreted differently by different participants, so may not be
as controlled as thought
Naturalistic observations - ✔✔Takes place in the participants' natural setting
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,Strengths of naturalistic observations - ✔✔- Natural environment, so ecologically valid
- Gather in depth data and detail, data often qualitative and rich
Weaknesses of naturalistic observations - ✔✔- Subjectivity because the observer has to
choose what to observe and what to record
- An observation of one group/ individual at one moment in time, data not
generalisable to other people at different times
Participant observations - ✔✔Observers are part of what they are observing, involved
in the situation, activity or group
Strengths of participant observations - ✔✔- Ecological validity, observation in a natural
setting
- Observer likely to gather valid data because the behaviour is naturally occurring
Weaknesses of participant observations - ✔✔- Difficult to replicate because it is difficult
to find an observer who is also a member of the group
- Observer too involved to record all the data, cannot step back from it
Non-participant observations - ✔✔Observers are not a part of what is being observed,
they sit away from the activity
Strengths of non-participant observations - ✔✔- Objective, the observer can stand back
from the situation
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, - Can record data easily because they have time to concentrate
- Tally systematically
Weaknesses of non-participant observations - ✔✔- Likely to affect the situation just by
their presence
- May miss relevant information and interactions or misunderstand something as they
are not part of the observation
Covert observations - ✔✔Participants do not know the observation is taking place
Strengths of covert observations - ✔✔- Behaviour of participants likely to be natural
because they are unaware that they are being observed, validity
- Easier to carry out as the participants are not watching the observer carry out the
observation
Weaknesses of covert observations - ✔✔- Often not ethical because there is no informed
consent, if not carried out in a public place it goes against ethical guidelines
- Observer cannot be helped by participants
Overt observations - ✔✔The participants know the observation is taking place and they
are aware of all aspects of the study
Strengths of overt observations - ✔✔- Ethical because informed consent can be gained
and the right to withdraw can be given
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Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Observations - ✔✔- Can be used alongside other research methods such as case studies
and lab experiments
- Can be used on their own
- No IV to manipulate
- All data gathered by observing
What types of data can be gathered using observations? - ✔✔Quantitative data e.g.
observing how many times people act
Qualitative data e.g. describing how people acted aggressively
What are the ways to collect data in observations? - ✔✔Tallying, event sampling and
time sampling
Tallying in observations - ✔✔Identify the type of data to record, then record each
instance of something happening on a piece of paper.
100% Pass Guarantee Sophia Bennett, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,Event sampling in observations - ✔✔Choosing which events are to be observed and
then noting down each time that event occurs.
Time sampling in observations - ✔✔Observing for certain periods of time. Makes the
observation more manageable.
What are the types of observations? - ✔✔- Structured/ naturalistic
- Participant/ non-participant
- Overt/ covert
Structured observations - ✔✔The situation is set up and then what happens is observed
Strengths of structured observations - ✔✔- Can be repeated, so results can be compared
between observations, reliable
- Ensures the behaviour takes place, it can take a long time for some behaviour to occur
naturally
Weaknesses of structured observations - ✔✔- Situation is artificial, lack ecological
validity
- The situation might be interpreted differently by different participants, so may not be
as controlled as thought
Naturalistic observations - ✔✔Takes place in the participants' natural setting
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,Strengths of naturalistic observations - ✔✔- Natural environment, so ecologically valid
- Gather in depth data and detail, data often qualitative and rich
Weaknesses of naturalistic observations - ✔✔- Subjectivity because the observer has to
choose what to observe and what to record
- An observation of one group/ individual at one moment in time, data not
generalisable to other people at different times
Participant observations - ✔✔Observers are part of what they are observing, involved
in the situation, activity or group
Strengths of participant observations - ✔✔- Ecological validity, observation in a natural
setting
- Observer likely to gather valid data because the behaviour is naturally occurring
Weaknesses of participant observations - ✔✔- Difficult to replicate because it is difficult
to find an observer who is also a member of the group
- Observer too involved to record all the data, cannot step back from it
Non-participant observations - ✔✔Observers are not a part of what is being observed,
they sit away from the activity
Strengths of non-participant observations - ✔✔- Objective, the observer can stand back
from the situation
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, - Can record data easily because they have time to concentrate
- Tally systematically
Weaknesses of non-participant observations - ✔✔- Likely to affect the situation just by
their presence
- May miss relevant information and interactions or misunderstand something as they
are not part of the observation
Covert observations - ✔✔Participants do not know the observation is taking place
Strengths of covert observations - ✔✔- Behaviour of participants likely to be natural
because they are unaware that they are being observed, validity
- Easier to carry out as the participants are not watching the observer carry out the
observation
Weaknesses of covert observations - ✔✔- Often not ethical because there is no informed
consent, if not carried out in a public place it goes against ethical guidelines
- Observer cannot be helped by participants
Overt observations - ✔✔The participants know the observation is taking place and they
are aware of all aspects of the study
Strengths of overt observations - ✔✔- Ethical because informed consent can be gained
and the right to withdraw can be given
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