Edexcel A Level Psychology June 2024
Exam Questions and Answers 100%
Pass
Observations - Answer>> - Can be used alongside other
research methods such as case studies and lab experiments
- Can be used on their own
- No IV to manipulate
- All data gathered by observing
What types of data can be gathered using observations? -
Answer>> Quantitative data e.g. observing how many times
people act
Qualitative data e.g. describing how people acted aggressively
What are the ways to collect data in observations? - Answer>>
Tallying, event sampling and time sampling
Tallying in observations - Answer>> Identify the type of data to
record, then record each instance of something happening on a
piece of paper.
Event sampling in observations - Answer>> Choosing which
events are to be observed and then noting down each time that
event occurs.
Time sampling in observations - Answer>> Observing for
certain periods of time. Makes the observation more manageable.
What are the types of observations? - Answer>> - Structured/
naturalistic
- Participant/ non-participant
- Overt/ covert
,Structured observations - Answer>> The situation is set up and
then what happens is observed
Mary Ainsworth - Answer>> 'Strange situation': observed
interactions between mothers and their children to examine
attachment patterns. Watched through a one-way mirror.
Observations to see what the child did when the mother was both
in and out of the room, with or without the stranger.
Strengths of structured observations - Answer>> - Can be
repeated, so results can be compared between observations,
reliable
- Ensures the behaviour takes place, it can take a long time for
some behaviour to occur naturally
Weaknesses of structured observations - Answer>> - Situation
is artificial, lack ecological validity
- The situation might be interpreted differently by different
participants, so may not be as controlled as thought
Naturalistic observations - Answer>> Takes place in the
participants' natural setting
Grady et al (2012) - Answer>> Looked at parents dropping off
children at preschool to look at parental behaviour, the length of
time the separation between the child and parents took and how
the child interacted with peers. Aim to see effects of parental
lingering - the longer the parents took to leave, the less time
children spent playing with peers.
Strengths of naturalistic observations - Answer>> - Natural
environment, so ecologically valid
- Gather in depth data and detail, data often qualitative and rich
,Weaknesses of naturalistic observations - Answer>> -
Subjectivity because the observer has to choose what to observe
and what to record
- An observation of one group/ individual at one moment in time,
data not generalisable to other people at different times
Participant observations - Answer>> Observers are part of what
they are observing, involved in the situation, activity or group
Strengths of participant observations - Answer>> - Ecological
validity, observation in a natural setting
- Observer likely to gather valid data because the behaviour is
naturally occurring
Weaknesses of participant observations - Answer>> - Difficult to
replicate because it is difficult to find an observer who is also a
member of the group
- Observer too involved to record all the data, cannot step back
from it
Non-participant observations - Answer>> Observers are not a
part of what is being observed, they sit away from the activity
Strengths of non-participant observations - Answer>> -
Objective, the observer can stand back from the situation
- Can record data easily because they have time to concentrate
- Tally systematically
Weaknesses of non-participant observations - Answer>> -
Likely to affect the situation just by their presence
- May miss relevant information and interactions or misunderstand
something as they are not part of the observation
, Covert observations - Answer>> Participants do not know the
observation is taking place
Strengths of covert observations - Answer>> - Behaviour of
participants likely to be natural because they are unaware that
they are being observed, validity
- Easier to carry out as the participants are not watching the
observer carry out the observation
Weaknesses of covert observations - Answer>> - Often not
ethical because there is no informed consent, if not carried out in
a public place it goes against ethical guidelines
- Observer cannot be helped by participants
Overt observations - Answer>> The participants know the
observation is taking place and they are aware of all aspects of
the study
Strengths of overt observations - Answer>> - Ethical because
informed consent can be gained and the right to withdraw can be
given
- Observers can ask for help to set up the study (where to
observe from) or they might want a further explanation
Inter observer/ inter-rater reliability - Answer>> When there is
more than one observer, observations can be compared.
Separate sets of data are recorded and tested to see if there is a
correlation between them.
Strengths of thematic analysis - Answer>> - Flexibility it allows
researchers
- Well suited to large data sets
- Allows researchers to expand range of study past individual
experiences
Exam Questions and Answers 100%
Pass
Observations - Answer>> - Can be used alongside other
research methods such as case studies and lab experiments
- Can be used on their own
- No IV to manipulate
- All data gathered by observing
What types of data can be gathered using observations? -
Answer>> Quantitative data e.g. observing how many times
people act
Qualitative data e.g. describing how people acted aggressively
What are the ways to collect data in observations? - Answer>>
Tallying, event sampling and time sampling
Tallying in observations - Answer>> Identify the type of data to
record, then record each instance of something happening on a
piece of paper.
Event sampling in observations - Answer>> Choosing which
events are to be observed and then noting down each time that
event occurs.
Time sampling in observations - Answer>> Observing for
certain periods of time. Makes the observation more manageable.
What are the types of observations? - Answer>> - Structured/
naturalistic
- Participant/ non-participant
- Overt/ covert
,Structured observations - Answer>> The situation is set up and
then what happens is observed
Mary Ainsworth - Answer>> 'Strange situation': observed
interactions between mothers and their children to examine
attachment patterns. Watched through a one-way mirror.
Observations to see what the child did when the mother was both
in and out of the room, with or without the stranger.
Strengths of structured observations - Answer>> - Can be
repeated, so results can be compared between observations,
reliable
- Ensures the behaviour takes place, it can take a long time for
some behaviour to occur naturally
Weaknesses of structured observations - Answer>> - Situation
is artificial, lack ecological validity
- The situation might be interpreted differently by different
participants, so may not be as controlled as thought
Naturalistic observations - Answer>> Takes place in the
participants' natural setting
Grady et al (2012) - Answer>> Looked at parents dropping off
children at preschool to look at parental behaviour, the length of
time the separation between the child and parents took and how
the child interacted with peers. Aim to see effects of parental
lingering - the longer the parents took to leave, the less time
children spent playing with peers.
Strengths of naturalistic observations - Answer>> - Natural
environment, so ecologically valid
- Gather in depth data and detail, data often qualitative and rich
,Weaknesses of naturalistic observations - Answer>> -
Subjectivity because the observer has to choose what to observe
and what to record
- An observation of one group/ individual at one moment in time,
data not generalisable to other people at different times
Participant observations - Answer>> Observers are part of what
they are observing, involved in the situation, activity or group
Strengths of participant observations - Answer>> - Ecological
validity, observation in a natural setting
- Observer likely to gather valid data because the behaviour is
naturally occurring
Weaknesses of participant observations - Answer>> - Difficult to
replicate because it is difficult to find an observer who is also a
member of the group
- Observer too involved to record all the data, cannot step back
from it
Non-participant observations - Answer>> Observers are not a
part of what is being observed, they sit away from the activity
Strengths of non-participant observations - Answer>> -
Objective, the observer can stand back from the situation
- Can record data easily because they have time to concentrate
- Tally systematically
Weaknesses of non-participant observations - Answer>> -
Likely to affect the situation just by their presence
- May miss relevant information and interactions or misunderstand
something as they are not part of the observation
, Covert observations - Answer>> Participants do not know the
observation is taking place
Strengths of covert observations - Answer>> - Behaviour of
participants likely to be natural because they are unaware that
they are being observed, validity
- Easier to carry out as the participants are not watching the
observer carry out the observation
Weaknesses of covert observations - Answer>> - Often not
ethical because there is no informed consent, if not carried out in
a public place it goes against ethical guidelines
- Observer cannot be helped by participants
Overt observations - Answer>> The participants know the
observation is taking place and they are aware of all aspects of
the study
Strengths of overt observations - Answer>> - Ethical because
informed consent can be gained and the right to withdraw can be
given
- Observers can ask for help to set up the study (where to
observe from) or they might want a further explanation
Inter observer/ inter-rater reliability - Answer>> When there is
more than one observer, observations can be compared.
Separate sets of data are recorded and tested to see if there is a
correlation between them.
Strengths of thematic analysis - Answer>> - Flexibility it allows
researchers
- Well suited to large data sets
- Allows researchers to expand range of study past individual
experiences
