key terms you need to know about observations

Key terms YOU need to know

about observations

DEFINITIONS

To observe secretly, so your

participants do not know they

are being watched

Using observation to watch what participants do as a result of an experiment you have set up

Two or more observers agree on

the scoring of the

behaviours being

studied

To turn a concept into

precise definitions of

observable, measurable

behaviours

To observe a

group by

joining that

group and

observing ‘from

within’

Making a

note of what

is happening

at every

point on a

given timescale

Observing by looking at

second-hand

data, eg TV ads

or newspaper articles

To do an

observation

where your

participants

know that you

are watching

and making

notes

A list of items to

look out for when

conducting an

observation

Recording every

time a

particular

behaviour is

observed

Coding behaviours by being physically present wherever your participants are – observing ‘live’

Using observation as the only method of studying your participants

To observe a

group without

becoming a

part or member

of that group

EXAMPLES

• A psychologist wants to find out whether belonging to the WI improves your levels of self-esteem. She becomes a member of her her local group, makes some jam on jam-making night, attends all the talks, and makes friends with lots of the group members.

A professor wants to discover whether students communicate less with the people they are with if they have their mobile phones with them.

She sits at the back of sixth form lessons for a week but does not interact with her participants.

Erving Goffman, in his study

of mental hospitals, worked

in an asylum for the mentally

ill as Assistant Athletic

Director. Only a couple of

staff knew why he was

there, and via this method

he was able to uncover the

'unofficial reality' of life in a

mental institution.

A researcher decides to study biker gangs and their alcohol habits. She asks a local chapter of the Hell’s Angels if she can follow them around for a month, making notes about their drinking routines on a pad and using a video camera.

Aggression Stamping, thumping, shouting

Happiness Smiling, laughing, saying ‘hooray’

Excitement Jumping up and down, fidgeting

Self esteem Scores on a self-esteem scale

TALLY

Smiling

Winking

Nodding

Shrugging

STUDY TO INVESTIGATE NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

Two observers collecting data means that you can be more sure that behaviours are being interpreted consistently, and your data will be less subjective

Dr Nohow wants to

investigate whether heat

affects people’s mood. He

sets up a sauna and gets

half his Ps to watch a

weepie movie in it. He

watches through the window

how they behave. The other

half watch the film in an

igloo he has created while

he makes notes about what

they do.

Prof. Bighead wants to investigate people’s eating

habits whilst they are shopping. She collects her

data by standing in a shopping centre watching the Saturday crowds but does not interfere in any way or collect any other

type of data as well