OBSERVATIONAL METHODS

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Compare quantitative and qualitative methods of describing behavior

Describe naturalistic observation and discuss methodological issues such as participation and concealment

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Describe systematic observation and discuss methodological issues such as the use of equipment, reactivity, reliability, and sampling

Describe the features of a case study Describe archival research and the sources of

archival data: statistical records, survey archives, and written records

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Quantitative Focuses on specific behaviors that can be easily

quantified Assigns numerical values to responses and

measure Uses large samples Is subject to the data statistical analyses

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Qualitative Observational measures

Focuses on behavior in natural settings Small groups and limited setting Describe or capture themes that emerge from the

data Data are non-numerical and expressed in language

and/or images

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Field Work or Field Observation Researchers make observations in a natural setting

over a period of time, using a variety of techniques to collect information

Used to describe and understand how people in a social or cultural setting live, work, and experience the setting

Used to observe people involved with sports teams or other social settings, at work or animals in their natural habitat

Scribner (1997) used naturalistic observations to identify how business decisions are made

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Description and Interpretation of Data Techniques include:

- Observing, interviewing, and surveying documents Goals:

- Describe setting, events, and persons- Analyze the categories that emerge- Researcher must interpret what occurred- Generate hypotheses that help explain the data- Write a final report of results- Needs accurate descriptions and objective interpretation

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Issues in Naturalistic Observation Participation Concealment Identifying the scope of the observation

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Strengths of Naturalistic Observation Useful in complex and novel settings

Limitations of Naturalistic Observation Cannot be used to study all issues Less useful when studying well-defined hypotheses under

precisely specific conditions Must constantly reanalyze and revise hypotheses

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Systematic observations: careful observation of specific behaviors in a particular setting

Coding Systems Methodological Issues

Equipment Reactivity Reliability Sampling

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Provides a Description of an Individual Psychobiography – a type of case study in which a

researcher applies psychological theory to explain the life of an individual

Valuable in Informing Us of Conditions that are Rare or Unusual

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Archival research involves using previously compiled information to answer research questions

Statistical Records Survey Archives Written and Mass Communication Records Use of the General Social Survey (GSS)

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Content Analysis of Documents Systematic analysis of existing documents Requires coding system Can address questions that can be addressed in no

other ways Limitations

Difficult to obtain Cannot be sure of accuracy

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