CIE Psychology (9990)

CIE Psychology Knowledge Organiser: Research Methods – Observations

Controlled observation
Covert observation
Event sampling
Inter-rater reliability
Naturalistic observation
Non-participant
observation
Observation
Key Words
When the observation is conducted in a non-
natural environment e.g., laboratory where the
environment is controlled
Where the participant does not know that they
are being observed
Where the observer is looking for certain
behaviours and a tally chart/record is kept of
every instance of these behaviours
Where two observers observe the same
behaviour independently. The data is compared
and the level of agreement can be calculated
using a correlation test
When the observation is conducted in an
environment that is natural for the participants
When the observer isn't part of the group and
observes from a distance (could be overt or
covert)
Data collected through observing or watching
participants with the aim of recording the
behaviour that it witnessed
Overt observation Where a participant knows that they are being
observed
Participant observation When the observer becomes part of the
community (group) they wish to observe (could
be overt or covert)
Structured observation The observer creates a list of what is to be
observed (behavioural categories or tally chart)
before beginning the observation
Test-retest reliability Where an observation is repeated at a later date
and the two sets of observations are compared
Time sampling Where the observer records the behaviour at
certain times e.g., 5 second intervals
Unstructured The observer records what is happening as it
observation happens

Key Ideas
Strengths
☺ The observed behaviour can be natural. ‘Real’
Overt observation behaviour is observed, because the person is
unaware, it is high in ecological validity
☺ Data can often be quantitative through
response categories, meaning that they can be
measured objectivity
☺ Data can be extremely rich if unstructured
observation or participant observation is used
Participants
Weaknesses
 In non-participant/covert observations, the
participants cannot explain why they behaved in
a particular way (and the observer should not
make assumptions about it)
 An observer’s view might be obstructed and
the observations might not be reliable
 With naturalistic observations there is a lack
of control over variables, making it difficult to

☺ If the participants are unaware of the conclude cause and effect relationships
observation (covert or naturalistic), they are  With structured or participant observations
Covert observation unaffected by demand characteristics there might be bias, with the observer ‘seeing’
things he or she desires
 With structured observation (using time or
event sampling), the observer might mis-record
instances of behaviour
 It might be difficult to replicate natural
observations as some circumstances can be
unique
 It is unethical if people are observed without
their permission in a non-public area; it is also
Participant observation deception if the observer, in order to obtain
data, pretends to be something he or she is not
Observers

Non-participant observation

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CIE Psychology (9990)

Naturalistic observation
Setting

Controlled observation

Structured observation
Data

Non-structured observation