PSYC 201W Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Habituation, Naturalistic Observation, Observer-Expectancy Effect
8 Apr 2014
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Document Summary
An in-depth analysis of an individual, social unit, or event. Direct observation and questioning = two most common methods for gathering case study data, but other measures may also be used. Can offer a unique window into the nature of a person"s behaviour and mental life. Excel at describing behaviour can provide support for the external validity of findings obtained in experiments/other types of research. Enable data to be collected about rare events and people who have rare abilities/experiences. Assesses behaviour without making people aware that the behaviour is being measured. Unobtrusively examine traces of behaviour that people create/leave behind. Previously existing documents/other data that were produced independently of the current research. Archival measures and physical trace measure may be unobtrusive, it does not mean the original data collection was also unobtrusive. Occurs when researchers have expectations/other predispositions that distort their observations. Encompasses different types of non-experimental studies in which behaviour is systematically watched and recorded.
