Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersWhat is an observation?
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 17 Flashcards — Observational methods
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
What is an observation?
Answer
A method that studies behaviour by watching and systematically recording what people do.
Question
Naturalistic vs controlled observation?
Answer
Naturalistic = real setting (high ecological validity); controlled = set-up situation (more control).
Question
Covert vs overt observation?
Answer
Covert = people don't know they're watched; overt = they know.
Question
Participant vs non-participant observation?
Answer
Participant = the researcher joins the group; non-participant = watches from outside.
Question
What are behavioural categories?
Answer
Actions defined so exactly that they can be seen and counted, such as "playing alone" or "speaks in Spanish".
Question
What is reactivity?
Answer
People changing their behaviour because they know they are being observed.
Question
One strength of observation?
Answer
Captures real behaviour directly, often with high ecological validity.
Question
One limitation of observation?
Answer
It shows what people do, not why, and can suffer observer bias.
Question
How do you reduce observer bias?
Answer
Use a clear coding scheme and a second observer (inter-rater reliability).
Question
Insider's view or outsider's view?
Answer
A participant observer gets an insider's view of the group. A non-participant keeps an outsider's view, which is more objective.
Question
What is a behaviour checklist?
Answer
A list of operationalised behavioural categories that observers tally.
Question
Time sampling vs event sampling?
Answer
Time = record at fixed intervals; event = record each time the behaviour occurs.
Question
What is observer bias?
Answer
The observer notices and records what they expect to see. Clear categories and a second observer reduce it.
Question
Can you observe people without consent?
Answer
Usually only in public places where they expect to be seen, with no identification and no harm.
Question
What is point sampling?
Answer
Watching one person, recording what they are doing, then moving on to the next person.
Question
What is inter-rater reliability?
Answer
How closely two observers' separate records of the same behaviour agree.
Question
Why is a staged event not an observation?
Answer
If the researcher sets something up and changes it on purpose, it is a field experiment. In an observation nothing is changed.
Read the notes
Full study notes for Observational methods
Topic 2.4 hub
Research methodology
More from Topic 2.4
All flashcards in this topic
Psychology exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free