Topic: Psychological- Observational Design
Key points/ Notes/Diagrams:
Main Ideas/
Unstructured observation-
Questions:
- Rich in detail. Researchers may use this in a pilot study to
What is determine which behaviours they will observe in an actual study
unstructured using a structural system.
observation?
- No system. Too much to record. No numerical data. Focusing on
What is structured most eye catching behaviours (not really relevant ones too). Most of
observation? the time researchers will avoid using all instances of behaviours
(unstructured observation itself).
What is event and
time sampling Structured observation- Involve the researcher using various systems to
(goes under organise observations.
sampling ★ Behavioural categories (the behaviour checklist)
procedures and - Target behaviours should be operational into observable
structured behaviours to reduce subjectivity.
observation)? - Affection --> holding hands, smiling, hugging
- These behaviours should be presented to the researcher in
What is inter- a behavioural checklist.
observer reliability? ★ Sampling procedures (time and event sampling)
- Event sampling- counting the number of times a particular
At what percentage behaviour occurs. The behaviour is the event.
should the extent of - Time sampling- Recording behaviour within a pre-
inter-observer established time frame (e.g how often a behaviour occurs
reliability be over? every 60 seconds).
Inter-observer reliability- An observer may miss important details or may
only notice events that confirm their opinions or hypotheses. Observationists
should be consistent, which means there should be two observers and
ideally produce the same record of events. The extent to which two or more
people agree is known as inter observational reliability. It should be at least
80%.
Target behaviours should be observable and measurable.
Target behaviours should be broken down in a set of behavioural categories.
Summary: Target behaviours should be observable and measurable. They should also be broken
down in a set of behavioural categories. Target behaviours should be operational into observable
behaviours to reduce subjectivity (must be specific). Unstructured- lots of things going on.
Structured- organised and specific. Inter-observer reliability- 80% or above (essentially a peer
review between researchers).
Key points/ Notes/Diagrams:
Main Ideas/
Unstructured observation-
Questions:
- Rich in detail. Researchers may use this in a pilot study to
What is determine which behaviours they will observe in an actual study
unstructured using a structural system.
observation?
- No system. Too much to record. No numerical data. Focusing on
What is structured most eye catching behaviours (not really relevant ones too). Most of
observation? the time researchers will avoid using all instances of behaviours
(unstructured observation itself).
What is event and
time sampling Structured observation- Involve the researcher using various systems to
(goes under organise observations.
sampling ★ Behavioural categories (the behaviour checklist)
procedures and - Target behaviours should be operational into observable
structured behaviours to reduce subjectivity.
observation)? - Affection --> holding hands, smiling, hugging
- These behaviours should be presented to the researcher in
What is inter- a behavioural checklist.
observer reliability? ★ Sampling procedures (time and event sampling)
- Event sampling- counting the number of times a particular
At what percentage behaviour occurs. The behaviour is the event.
should the extent of - Time sampling- Recording behaviour within a pre-
inter-observer established time frame (e.g how often a behaviour occurs
reliability be over? every 60 seconds).
Inter-observer reliability- An observer may miss important details or may
only notice events that confirm their opinions or hypotheses. Observationists
should be consistent, which means there should be two observers and
ideally produce the same record of events. The extent to which two or more
people agree is known as inter observational reliability. It should be at least
80%.
Target behaviours should be observable and measurable.
Target behaviours should be broken down in a set of behavioural categories.
Summary: Target behaviours should be observable and measurable. They should also be broken
down in a set of behavioural categories. Target behaviours should be operational into observable
behaviours to reduce subjectivity (must be specific). Unstructured- lots of things going on.
Structured- organised and specific. Inter-observer reliability- 80% or above (essentially a peer
review between researchers).
