Observational Methods (Aina & Imaan)

OBSERVATIONAL
METHODS
Submitted to:
Dr Rabia Khawar
Submitted by:
Aina Nadeem, Imaan Sabeeh, M Usman
 Observation provides a rich
source of hypotheses about
behavior, and so observation can
also be a first step in discovering
why we behave the way we do.
 The primary goal of observational
Observation methods is to describe behavior.
 Scientific observation is made
under precisely defined
conditions, in a systematic and
objective manner, and with
careful record keeping.
 When a complete record of
behavior cannot be obtained,
researchers seek to obtain a
representative sample of
Sampling behavior.
Behavior  The extent to which observations
may be generalized (external
validity) depends on how
behavior is sampled.
 Time sampling refers to
researchers choosing time intervals
for making observations either
systematically or randomly.
 Observations might be made during
four 30-minute periods every 2
hours. A random time-sampling
Time Sampling technique could be used in the
same situation by distributing four
30-minute periods randomly over
the course of the day.
 Its not an effective method for
sampling behavior when the event
of interest occurs infrequently.
 When researchers are interested
in events that happen
infrequently, they rely on event
sampling to sample behavior.
 In event sampling the observer
records each event that meets a
Event Sampling predetermined definition.
 For example, researchers
interested in observing children’s
reactions to special events in
school, such as a holiday play,
would use event sampling.
 Situation sampling involves
studying behavior in different
locations and under different
circumstances and conditions.
Situation  Situation sampling enhances the
Sampling external validity of findings.
 Within situations, subject
sampling may be used to observe
some people in the setting.
 The goals of naturalistic
observation are to describe
behavior as it normally occurs
and to examine relationships
among variables.
Observation  Naturalistic observation helps to

establish the external validity of
(Without
laboratory findings.
intervention)
 When ethical and moral
considerations prevent
experimental control, naturalistic
observation is an important
research strategy.
 Most psychological research uses
observation with intervention.
Observation  The three methods of observation
(With with intervention are participant
observation, structured
Intervention) observation, and the field
experiment.
 In participant observation,
observers play a dual role: They
observe people’s behavior and
they participate actively in the
situation they are observing.
 In undisguised participant
Participant observation, individuals who are
observation being observed know that the
observer is present for the
purpose of collecting information
about their behavior. This method
is used frequently by
anthropologists
 In disguised participant
observation, those who are being
observed do not know that they
are being observed. As you might
imagine, people do not always
behave in the way they ordinarily
would when they know their
behavior is being recorded.
 a major problem when observing
behavior is reactivity.
 Often used by clinical and
developmental psychologists,
structured observations are set up
to record behaviors that may be
difficult to observe using
naturalistic observation.
 Often the observer intervenes in
Structured order to cause an event to occur
Observation or to “set up” a situation so that
events can be more easily
recorded.
 The degree of intervention and
control over events is less,
however, than that seen in field
experiments.
 In a field experiment, researchers
manipulate one or more
independent variables in a
natural setting to determine the
Field effect on behavior.
Experiment  The field experiment represents
the most extreme form of
intervention in observational
methods.
 An important advantage of
indirect observational methods is
INDIRECT that they are nonreactive.
(UNOBTRUSI  Indirect, or unobtrusive,

observations can be obtained by
VE) examining physical traces and
archival records.
 Researchers choose qualitative
data analysis or quantitative
data analysis to summarize
observational data.
 The type of data analysis that
researchers choose depends on
the data they’ve collected and the
ANALYSIS OF goals of their study. For example,
OBSERVATION when researchers record selected
behaviors using a measurement
AL DATA
scale, the preferred data analysis
is quantitative (i.e., statistical
summaries and analyses). When
comprehensive narrative records
are obtained, researchers may
choose either quantitative or
qualitative analyses.
 The first problem is associated
with the influence of the observer
on behavior.
 The second problem occurs when
observers’ biases influence what
behavior they choose to record.
 The problem of reactivity occurs
when the observer influences the
behavior being observed.
 Research participants may respond
to demand characteristics in the
research situation to guide their
behavior.
Influence of  Methods to control reactivity

include concealing the observer’s
the observer presence, adaptation
(habituation, desensitization),
and indirect observation
(physical traces, archival
records).
 Researchers must consider ethical
issues when attempting to control
reactivity.
 Observer bias occurs when
researchers’ biases determine which
behaviors they choose to observe, and
when observers’ expectations about
behavior lead to systematic errors in
identifying and recording behavior.
 Expectancy effects can occur when
observers are aware of hypotheses for
Observer the outcome of a study or the outcome
Bias of previous studies.

 The first step in controlling observer
bias is to recognize that it may be
present.
 Observer bias may be reduced by
keeping observers unaware (“blind”)
of the goals and hypotheses of the
study.
Correlational Research
Method
By
Muhammad Usman
Correlation
Coefficient
Test new
measurement
instruments
Use of Investigate the
Correlation
Research casual relationships
between the factors
To look into non-
causal relationships
Dynamic
Characteristics Non-
of Correaltional
Research Expaerimental
Backword-
Looking
Examine Statistical
Link
Cost & time
Pros coefficient
of Correlational
Research Naturalist Contex
Non Experiment
Nature
Data collection
Two Variable
relation
Causation
Cons Un-controllable
of Correlational
Research variable
Data Collection
Method
Research Example
Ethical
Consideration
(IRB)
Observer Biasnes,
Points to Training Observer
remember
Having multiple
Observer
Sampling
Timing
Research Example
Surveys
Research objective
Sampling method
Points to
remember Question Design
(Surveys)
Piolot testing
Question Sequence
Archival data
 Research Example
Secondary data
Reliable source
Points to Data Validation
Remember
Time period
Data Integration
Pearson's
correlation
How to analyse coefficient
Correlational
data Regression
analysis
Scatterplots

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OBSERVATIONAL

Observation  Naturalistic observation helps to

(UNOBTRUSI  Indirect, or unobtrusive,

Influence of  Methods to control reactivity

Bias of previous studies.

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