Transcript Observational Research Design

Observational Research Design
Researcher observes and systematically
records the behavior of individuals to
describe the behavior
Behavioral Observation
• Direct observation and systematic recording of
behaviors, usually in natural settings
– Unobtrusive observations
• Subject reactivity
– Subjective interpretation by observer
• Reliability issues
Problem of Subjectivity
• Operational definition of beh
– Behavioral categories
• Well trained observers
– List beh of interest
– videotape
• Multiple observers to assess inter-rater
reliability
Behavior Recorded
• Frequency
– Number of times a beh is emitted
• Duration
– Amount of time spent engaged in the beh
• Interval
– Dividing observation period into interval and
noting whether beh occurred or not
Sampling Observations
• Take samples of potential observations rather
than watch/record everything
• Divide observation period into time intervals
– Time sampling: observing for one interval, then
pausing during the next interval to record all the
observations
– Event sampling: specific beh recorded and then
onto next beh
– Individual sampling: one participant per interval
Content Analysis and Archival
Research
• Books, movies
– Jeffres (1997) Saturday morning cartoons
• Historical records
– internet
Naturalistic Observation
• Researcher observes behavior in a natural
setting as unobtrusively as possible
– Classroom
– Mall
– Goodall (1971, 1986)
• High degree of external validity, however no
control
• Time consuming process
Participant Observation
• Researcher engages in the same activities as
people being observed
• Rosenhan’s (1973) investigated experiences of
mental patients and patient-staff interactions
in psyc hospital
– Admittence into hospital by reports of hearing
voices
Contrived Observation
• Researcher sets up situation that is likely to
produce the behavior
• Participants asked to come into laboratory
– Piaget (1986-1980)
• Natural setting manipulated in field
experiments
– Lorenz
Survey Research Design
• Way to gather large amount of information in
short period of time
• Measure attitudes, opinions, personal
characteristics, and beh
• Goal is to provide “snapshot” of group
Issues Regarding Survey Research
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Question development
Question organization
Sample?
Administered
Types of Questions
• Nature of questions determines responses
which determines analysis
– Open-Ended Questions
– Restricted Questions
– Rating-Scale Questions
Constructing a Survey
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Demographic
Sensitive questions placed in middle
Similar format grouped together
Don’t overwhelm
Vocabulary simple
Participants
• Large N
• Representative sample
– Generalize to desired population
Strengths and Weaknesses
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Table 13.2
Lots of information in short period of time
Validity of answers
Analysis difficult