- Careful observation of one or more particular behaviours to quantify behaviours
- Less global, more interest in specifics
- Hypotheses are made in advance
- More focused on observational method
e.g., Video and coding of child’s play, interested in sequence and order of play behaviours
- To observe and code specific behaviour, quantified using coding system
Coding System – A description of a set of behaviour of how they are coded, with clear operational definition (need to be simple and categorised)
Issues in Systematic Observation
- Reactivity is also a problem here, but time with cameras usually solves problem
- Inter-rater reliability – coders need to agree on coding method
- More reliable with more coders
- Better to look at segments of behaviour across time
Naturalistic Observation – Researcher makes observations in a natural settings with summary and interpretation
- Qualitative approach → inspiration of ideas
- Wide array of information
- In-depth description
- High external validity
- Low internal validity
- There are concerns with biases and reactivity
- Interpretation of results
e.g., Jane Goodall and Chimpanzees
- Focuses on naturally occurring behaviours and recorded in-depth
- Researcher must immerse self into environment of study
- Detailed notes, organise observations around themes
Issues in Naturalistic Observation
- Whether to be participant in setting being studied
- Non-participant observer – does not join group but observes
- Participants may become aware of observation
- Not as immersed in situation
- Participant Observer – participates
- Might over sympathise with participants
- Weather or not to use concealment
- Reactivity – When measure (observation) changes participant behaviour
- Concealed observation might be unethical
- People become used to being observed and may become used to situation
- Defining scope of observation – what aspects to focus research on
- Limited in what we can write down
- Difficult, inconvenient, time-consuming
- Starting point for science; making a few observations
- With observations and accumulation of knowledge, theories can be made
- Variables can be qualitative or quantitative
Qualitative Research
- People in natural settings
- In-depth on relatively fewer people
- Conclusions based on interpretations drawn by researcher
- Often no hypothesis tested, description of observations
Quantitative Research
- Examining specific behaviours that can be easily quantified
- Less in depth and larger samples
- Conclusions are based on statistical analysis
- Specific and focused
∴ Qualitative research begins research and provides ideas, then moves into quantitative domain