Observations involve watching and recording behaviors as they naturally occur without influencing them. This allows researchers to describe behaviors and relationships between variables in real-world settings. Different types of observations include naturalistic, participant, structured, and unstructured observations. While observations provide accurate and reliable data in natural contexts, they also have limitations such as not being able to study past events and requiring events of interest to occur naturally.

2. A method of data collection in
which the situation or individual of
interest is watched and the
relevant facts, actions and
behaviors are recorded.

3. The researcher observes the
behavior without influencing it.
1.
to describe behavior as it naturally occurs
2.
to assess relationships among variables present

4.  Observations
can be conducted with the
help of
 In recent research, Observations are
conducted with the help of

5. 1.
2.
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6.
7.
Sigmund Freud
Jean Piaget
Ion Pavlov
Lev Vygotsky
John Watson
Albert Bandura
B.F Skinner

6. 1.
2.
3.
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7.
Naturalistic observation (non-participant)
Participant-observation
Structured observation
Unstructured observation
Covert observation
Overt observation
Field experiments/Controlled Observations

7. Observing a phenomena
that cannot be created in lab,
for practical or ethical reasons
 Method is expensive
 Effects can only be observed
when such events occur naturally


8. 
Researcher is passive recorder
A psychologist observes the confrontation between two rival
neighborhood gangs from the window of an abandoned building.

9. 

Example: effect of early childhood isolation on later
psychological development.
We can’t isolate children to study them But we can use
naturalistic observation when we discover such cases.

10. (1993) – descriptions of feral
children (raised outside human cultures)

(1977) case studies of children
subjected to unusual isolation by parents (e.g.,
Genie)

(1965) – observation of institutionalized
children, Showed effects of deprivation of
stimulation during infancy and early childhood

11.  Observer
joins a group for the purpose of
studying group members
 Researcher is insider and intervene in situations
 Researcher can be biased
1.
2.
How is it different from ethnography?
Potential cost to objectivity= Stockholm
syndrome

12.  Usually
“Check Lists”
 focus on predetermined categories
 study only the factors of interest
 easy to analyze data
 saves time
 Replication depends upon following exactly the
same procedures

13. For example
Piaget’s studies
Watson experiemnts

14. 
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Categories are not predetermined
Focus on new emergent issues
Researcher do not predict anything in advance
Observer can be biased
Difficult to analyze
Time and sources consuming

15. 
Also called
Researcher do not identify
himself and mixes in situation
 Researcher easley understands the participants
 Purpose is to achieve access to behaviors


16. Also called undisguised observation
 Researcher identifies himself and
explains the purpose of observation
 Participants knew that they are
being observed and can change their behavior


17. 

Researcher manipulates one or more variables in a
natural setting to determine effect on behavior
One end of the intervention – non-intervention continuum

18. 
For example Crusco & Wetzel (1984)
waitresses worked as allies, tip amount was dependent
variable
 Compared No Touch condition with Shoulder Touch
conditions
 Men tipped more than women
 Both men and women tipped more after being touched at
some point during their meal.

19. 
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Phenomena can be studied in real context
Data collected is very accurate in nature and also very
reliable.
Best to study human nature

20. 
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Problems of the past cannot be studied
Participant feel uncomfortable being watched
Time consuming method and hence expensive
Requires specific skills
Researcher has to wait until the appropriate event occurs