Designing Observations and Questionnaires Designing Observations Key Issues

Designing Observations and Questionnaires

Designing Observations – Key Issues • • • Observation V Observational Techniques Making Reliable Observations Sampling Issues – Time V Event Sampling Structured V Unstructured Overt V Covert

Observation V Observational Techniques P 26 -7 • How do we use observation in experiments? • What is a NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION? – Give an example. • What is a CONTROLLED OBSERVATION? – Give an example.

Making Reliable Observations • What is a behavioural category? • Identify 3 important things about behavioural categories. • What is the difference between a behavioural checklist and a coding system?

Sampling Issues – Time V Event Sampling • Continuous observation is generally impossible because it generates too much data, so we use: • EVENT SAMPLING (which means…. ? ) • OR • TIME SAMPLING (which means…. . ? ) • Note a strength and weakness of each

Structured V Unstructured • Structured observation uses: • Behavioural categories and sampling procedures to structure the observation (even if individuals observed are uncontrolled – this is an important point why? ) • Unstructured observation : observer notes all relevant behaviour but has no system due to unpredictable subject • Note strength and weakness of each

Overt V Covert • Make a note of the difference • What are the issues?

Designing Questionnaires – Key Issues • Writing Good Questionnaires and Interviews

What’s a good Question? Clear and Unambiguous Avoid SOCIAL DESIRABILITY BIAS Unbiased eg Not a LEADING QUESTION Closed Questions – what are they? Give a strength and a weakness. • Open Questions – what are they? Give a strength and a weakness. • •

What’s a Good Questionnaire/Interview? • • Start with unthreatening questions – why? What are Filler questions? Why is sampling so important? Why do a pilot study? • The answers to all questions should be found on pages 24 -7 of your text book.