PSYC 2250 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Konrad Lorenz, Naturalistic Observation, Content Analysis
24 Sep 2018
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Quantitative and qualitative approaches: quantitative: original data are numbers (analyzed statistically, qualitative: original data are not numbers (analysis is interpretive) Many kinds of research methods: naturalistic observation, systematic observation, case study method, archival research. Used to describe and understand people"s behavior and experience (cid:498)first hand(cid:499): (uman e. g. "s getting admitted to a mental institution (cid:523)rosenhan, 1973) so. Lots of possibilities: observe risk-taking in teenagers, wearing of bicycle helmets, romantic interchanges in public, etc. Researcher: keeps lots of accurate and detailed notes, audio and video recording: does not have a (cid:498)hypothesis(cid:499) inductive or grounded, (hypothesis often emerges from the interpretation of the records- Issues in naturalistic observation: participation vs. concealment, scope of the observation, limitations. Potential researchers bias (e. g. , friends) + may influence those being observed. Objective and unbiased, but can be very unethical. Ethics of minimal concern if participants know nature of research. Invasion of privacy: deception, psychological harm if behavior is public.
