1 1 Research Methods and Techniques Observation structured

1. 1 Research Methods and Techniques Observation – structured, unstructured, naturalistic, controlled, participant, non-participant, overt and covert 1. 2 Planning and Conducting Research Designing observations = behavioural categories, coding frames, time sampling and event sampling

An observation… • A method where we simply observe and record naturally occurring behaviour. • In an observation, no IV is manipulated. This is a non-experimental method. • Observation can also be used as a technique within an experiment, in order to collect data.

How good are your observation skills?

Let’s test our observational skills… • Spot the difference (there are eight differences). • Our observation skills aren’t always great!

• https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ub. NF 9 QNEQLA

Five key questions Who – Who will you observe? How – How will you observe? Overt/covert, participant/ non-participant, event/time sampling? Where – Where will the observation be? Naturalistic/ controlled? What – What behaviour are you looking for? Observations When – Day, time, how long will you observe for?

WHO to observe Who do you want to watch? A particular age of people? Location? Imagine you are asked to observe football fans… What sampling method is likely to be best for you?

What – What behaviour are you looking for? WHAT to focus on in the observation. . . ? Structured Unstructured • You go in to the observation an • You go in to the observation with observe anything and everything a behaviour trait you wish to find • Generates quantitative data as • Generates descriptions (qualitative data) of the range of the observation focuses on categorised behaviours from a behaviours being observed. coding scheme. A coding scheme is made up of multiple behavioural categories.

Structured or unstructured? 1. You watch a group of friends and write down everything they say. • Unstructured 2. You watch a group of friends and record their compliments and insults. • Structured 3. You go to a zoo and record the quantity and type of food that each animal eats. • Structured 4. You sit in a cafe and people-watch, writing down anything that interests you. • Unstructured

WHEN to observe • As well as WHO and WHAT, we also need to consider WHEN to observe. • This could be the time of day, which day to do it or which season! • Have a look at the scenarios on the next page and decide when the best time to conduct these observations would be.

Questions… WHEN to observe 1. An observation looking at the differences between suntan lotion usage in men and women. 2. Christmas shopping behaviour in a local supermarket. 3. Social interactions between new university students. 4. Interactions between couples on a date.

WHEN to observe • As well as WHO and WHAT, we also need to consider WHEN to observe. • This could be the time of day, which day to do it or which season! • Have a look at the scenarios on the next page and decide when the best time to conduct these observations would be.

Questions… WHEN to observe 1. An observation looking at the differences between suntan lotion usage in men and women. 2. Christmas shopping behaviour in a local supermarket. 3. Social interactions between new university students. 4. Interactions between couples on a date.

WHERE to observe Naturalistic Observation Behaviour is studied in a natural situation where everything has been left as it is normally. Controlled Observation Some variables are controlled by the researcher, possibly in a lab, reducing the likelihood of natural behaviours being studied.

• In pairs, identify the advantages and disadvantages of conducting an observation in a natural location and in a controlled location. • Aim for two good things and two bad things for each location.

How would you observe? Overt observation Covert observation This is when the participant is fully aware that they are part of an observation. This is when the participant is unaware that they are being observed. Ethical question: Should participants be informed?

HOW will we conduct the observation • Who will do the observation? • Participant observation – This is when the researcher is involved with those who are being observed. • Non-participant observation – The researcher observes from the ‘outside’. • Identify advantages and disadvantages of both of these types of observation (clues on the next slide).

• Which one allows you to see behaviours usually hidden from the public? • In which one is it easier to record data? • Which is likely to be easier to replicate? • Which is more likely to be ethical? • Which one is likely to provide greater depth and reasoning for behaviours? • In which one are we having no impact on the behaviours? • Is there any risk of bias? If so, how?

WHEN to record data G N I PL M A TS N E V E The observer keeps an account of each time a particular behaviour occurs TIM ES AM P Set time intervals are established within the observation period & behaviours are recorded only at these points LIN G

HOW will you record the data from this observation? • We may decide beforehand what specific behaviours we are looking for, which are then recorded when they occur. • For example, if we are recording the aggression of children in the playground, we may identify behaviours such as: • This is called a coding scheme.

Coding schemes • A behaviour checklist or coding scheme should: • Be objective – record clear behaviours that are not open to interpretation. • Cover all possible behaviours. • Have no overlapping categories that make observers unsure which category to tick, i. e. in the previous example ‘push/pull’ and ‘wrestle’ are closely linked, so this is something the researcher would need to revise.