PSYC 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Random Assignment, Observer-Expectancy Effect, Confounding

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1010
• Professor: Rebecca Jubis

Document Summary

Used when you want to describe or measure behaviour in a natural setting. You might see something happen but you cannot determine the cause. May be wrong in the interpretation of your findings. May be looking for what you want to see, rather than what is there. Might waste time waiting for something to happen. Participant observer: the researcher who is observing behaviour is also part of the group they are observing. Can be in a lab, but usually not. Subject reactivity: the subject is reacting to their belief that they are being watched, and will no longer act naturally. You don"t have to rely on memory or writing. If you are biased in what you are seeing, you can look over that video 10 times and make the wrong assumption 10 times over. These people have not consented to being studied. A researcher must receive approval from an ethics committee.