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4.2 Methods
4.2.1 Human research
● The use of the observational research method in psychology, including the
gathering of both qualitative and quantitative data (including tallying, event and
time sampling).
● Types of observation: participant, non participant, structured, naturalistic overt
and covert.
● Use of content analysis as a research method.
What is observational research?
The term observational research is used to refer to several different types of
non-experimental studies in which behaviour is systematically observed and
recorded.
what is naturalistic observation?
Naturalistic observation is an observational method that involves observing
people’s behavior in the environment in which it typically occurs. Thus
naturalistic observation is a type of field research (as opposed to a type of
laboratory research).
what is overt observation?
Overt observation is where those being observed are aware of the fact. The
researcher may still participate in the activity being observed (overt
participant observation) or might play no part and simply observe (overt non-
participant observation).
what is covert observation?
Covert observation is where the researcher is "undercover"; the
participants are unaware that they are being observed.
what is participant observation?
4.2 Methods 1
, Another approach to data collection in observational research is participant
observation. In participant observation, researchers become active
participants in the group or situation they are studying. Participant observation
is very similar to naturalistic observation in that it involves observing people’s
behavior in the environment in which it typically occurs.
compare naturalistic and participant observation:
As with naturalistic observation, the data that are collected can include
interviews (usually unstructured), notes based on their observations and
interactions, documents, photographs, and other artefacts. The only
difference between naturalistic observation and participant observation is that
researchers engaged in participant observation become active members of
the group or situations they are studying.
what is non participant observation?
Non-participant Observation involves observing participants without actively
participating. This method is used to understand a phenomenon by entering
the community or social system involved, while staying separate from the
activities being observed.
what is structured observation?
Here the investigator makes careful observations of one or more specific
behaviors in a particular setting that is more structured than the settings used
in naturalistic or participant observation. Often the setting in which the
observations are made is not the natural setting. Instead, the researcher may
observe people in the laboratory environment. Alternatively, the researcher
may observe people in a natural setting (like a classroom setting) that they
have structured some way, for instance by introducing some specific task
participants are to engage in or by introducing a specific social situation or
manipulation.
what is content analysis?
Content analysis is a research tool used to determine the presence of certain
words, themes, or concepts within some given qualitative data (i.e. text).
Using content analysis, researchers can quantify and analyse the presence,
meanings, and relationships of such certain words, themes, or concepts.
4.2 Methods 2
4.2 Methods
4.2.1 Human research
● The use of the observational research method in psychology, including the
gathering of both qualitative and quantitative data (including tallying, event and
time sampling).
● Types of observation: participant, non participant, structured, naturalistic overt
and covert.
● Use of content analysis as a research method.
What is observational research?
The term observational research is used to refer to several different types of
non-experimental studies in which behaviour is systematically observed and
recorded.
what is naturalistic observation?
Naturalistic observation is an observational method that involves observing
people’s behavior in the environment in which it typically occurs. Thus
naturalistic observation is a type of field research (as opposed to a type of
laboratory research).
what is overt observation?
Overt observation is where those being observed are aware of the fact. The
researcher may still participate in the activity being observed (overt
participant observation) or might play no part and simply observe (overt non-
participant observation).
what is covert observation?
Covert observation is where the researcher is "undercover"; the
participants are unaware that they are being observed.
what is participant observation?
4.2 Methods 1
, Another approach to data collection in observational research is participant
observation. In participant observation, researchers become active
participants in the group or situation they are studying. Participant observation
is very similar to naturalistic observation in that it involves observing people’s
behavior in the environment in which it typically occurs.
compare naturalistic and participant observation:
As with naturalistic observation, the data that are collected can include
interviews (usually unstructured), notes based on their observations and
interactions, documents, photographs, and other artefacts. The only
difference between naturalistic observation and participant observation is that
researchers engaged in participant observation become active members of
the group or situations they are studying.
what is non participant observation?
Non-participant Observation involves observing participants without actively
participating. This method is used to understand a phenomenon by entering
the community or social system involved, while staying separate from the
activities being observed.
what is structured observation?
Here the investigator makes careful observations of one or more specific
behaviors in a particular setting that is more structured than the settings used
in naturalistic or participant observation. Often the setting in which the
observations are made is not the natural setting. Instead, the researcher may
observe people in the laboratory environment. Alternatively, the researcher
may observe people in a natural setting (like a classroom setting) that they
have structured some way, for instance by introducing some specific task
participants are to engage in or by introducing a specific social situation or
manipulation.
what is content analysis?
Content analysis is a research tool used to determine the presence of certain
words, themes, or concepts within some given qualitative data (i.e. text).
Using content analysis, researchers can quantify and analyse the presence,
meanings, and relationships of such certain words, themes, or concepts.
4.2 Methods 2
