PSYB01H3 Lecture Notes - Confirmation Bias
Document Summary
Observational research, case studies, archival evidence: quantitive data: numeric, fewer features/ variables, larger group, qualitative data: data is text, video, audio etc, smaller # of groups. Observational research: systematically recording beh to be scientific, observation must: serve a formulated research purpose, planned deliberately, systematically recorded and be subject to checks/ controls on validity and reliability. Advantages: naturally occurring, readily available, can yield ideas for future research. Disadvantages: potential for observer or confirmation bias. Observation of beh were it occurs naturally, shd be unobtrusive, good for studying beh that might be altered if participants knew they were being observed (reactivity effect), high external validity, time consuming and inconvenient. Observing beh from the inside: participant observation researcher enters context, maintain field notes (rich narratives about the experiences of the observed and observer) Disadvantages= time consuming + potentially dangerous, may be difficult to gain entrance, ethical issues like maintaining anonymity of informants. Observation can create conditions necessary to make the beh occur.
