CYC 601 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Participant Observation, Face Validity, Schizophrenia
13 Oct 2016
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Chapter 7: Structured Observation
Introduction
- Structured observation observes behaviour directly
Structured Observation
• Based on explicit rules for observing, categorizing and recording behaviour
• Direct observation over inferences from respondent reports
• Limited access to some social spaces
• Smaller sample sizes
• Each person is observed for a period of time following rules set out in a docu (aka
observation schedule)
• Eliminates some problems found in survey research:
o Misunderstanding the meaning of the terms used in the survey
o Problems of memory: what was done, where it was done, etc.
o Social desirability effect in answering questions
o Threatening or embarrassing questions not answered sincerely
o Gap between stated and actual behaviour
Other Types of Observation Research
• Participant Observation
o Qualitative method
o Immersion in a particular social setting for an extended period of time
o To determine meanings that people give to their environment and their behaviour
• Non-participant or “unobtrusive”
o Observer does not take part in the activities of the observed group
o Observed group may or may not know that it is being observed
o Process may be structure or unstructured
• Unstructured observation
o No rules for observing or recording the observations
o Observer attempts to gather as much detail as possible, make thorough notes, and
develop a narrative account of the behaviour at a later time
o Most participant observation is unstructured
Structured Observation
• The rules for observation and for recording the data are contained in the observation
schedule
• The next slide shows an example of Bales’ observation schedule for comparing small-
group leaders and followers:
o The actions are observed over a three-minute period
o The action observed every 15 seconds is noted and given a numerical value for
the spreadsheet
o The values are tabulated and a score given
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