Observational Design

6 Key excerpts on "Observational Design"

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  eBook - ePub

  Essentials of Clinical Psychology

  An Indian Perspective

  • S. K. Mangal, Shubhra Mangal(Authors)
  • 2023(Publication Date)
  • Routledge

    (Publisher)

  As the name suggests, in the use of the systematic observation method for studying clinical aspects of behavior, attempts are made to observe the target aspect of the behavior in a systematic way, along with its careful recording for deriving the needed conclusion in view of the objectives of the research study. The nature of such observation thus differs a lot from our routine observation in daily life. It is quite systematic as well as objective in its processing and outcomes. Because it entails the observation and recording of the clinical aspects of one’s behavior in its natural setting, it is termed the naturalistic observation method.

  Systematic or Naturalistic Observation Method

  The research method in which the investigator tries to observe and record the occurrence of people’s behavior in its natural setting in a systematic way for deriving the needed conclusion in view of the objectives of the research study.

  In its use and application, this observation method is regarded as one of the most convenient and appropriate methods for investigation employed in clinical psychology. We can get valuable quantitative as well as qualitative information about aspects of peoples’ clinical behavior by the systematic and careful observation of their behavioral activities going on in their natural, day-to-day living. A clinical psychologist or researcher may collect valuable data or information regarding the causation, symptoms and syndromes, characteristic features, assessment and diagnosis, and the effectiveness of preventive and treatment measures related to mental illness and disorders of individuals in various physical and social situations of real-life contexts.

  Styles and Ways of Carrying Out Observation

  The task of observation carried out in the use of the systematic or naturalistic observation method for investigation in clinical psychology may usually take one of the forms and styles known as participant and non-participant observation. Let us examine them.

  • Participant Observation:

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  Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology

  • S Alexander Haslam, Craig McGarty(Authors)
  • 2018(Publication Date)
  • SAGE Publications Ltd

    (Publisher)

  Computer-aided interviewing is one particular form of interview that is used for telephone surveys. Here the computer assists interviewers by telling them which question to ask next. Computer-aided interviewing also allows researchers to conduct split-ballot surveys. That is, they can help to turn surveys into experiments by introducing manipulations. The computer achieves this because it is programmed either to produce different questions depending on previous responses or to ask different people different questions (randomly assigning them to different conditions).

  Observational studies are widely used in both human and animal research and involve the observation of behaviour. Naturalistic observational studies do this without any attempt to interfere with that behaviour. As an example, comparative psychologists might study the behaviour of animals by observing them in the wild, or environmental psychologists might study the movement of people through a shopping centre or the flow of traffic through an intersection. In all of these cases there is no attempt to change behaviour through intervention (e.g., in the form of an experimental manipulation).

  Observational studies can take many forms. One possibility is direct public observation, where the participants are fully aware that they are being observed. This is normally true in case studies (as discussed in Chapter 3 ). For example, organizational psychologists might want to know how corporate boardrooms really work. Suppose they want to examine the hypothesis that male board members have more power than female members. The psychologists might obtain permission to attend a company’s boardroom meetings for a few months in order to get a picture of what is going on. While attending meetings they would attempt to measure the amount of control over decisions that was exerted by males and females. To do this they might record the amount of time male and female board members spent talking during meetings, the number of times their suggestions were agreed to by other members, or the number of times males and females were interrupted. However, if the board members know they are participating in research, their behaviour might clearly change. For example, men may want to appear more reasonable and so restrain from engaging in dominant behaviour. Here, then, observation raises the possibility of reactivity that we discussed in the previous chapter. This is one reason why researchers will often try to conduct non-obtrusive observational studies,

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  eBook - ePub

  Designing and Conducting Research in Health and Human Performance

  • Tracey D. Matthews, Kimberly T. Kostelis(Authors)
  • 2011(Publication Date)
  • Jossey-Bass

    (Publisher)
• Kasper, Garber, and Walsdorf (2007) studied young women's knowledge of and beliefs about osteoporosis. Kasper et al. used a predeveloped survey, The Multiple Osteoporosis Prevention Survey, to determine college-age women's knowledge of and beliefs about osteoporosis. The Survey used Likert-based responses and dichotomous or categorical responses. Because bone health is a major health concern as a woman ages, the researchers wanted to determine whether younger woman were knowledgeable about the issues that surround osteoporosis. These results could help health educators in developing appropriate materials to better educate younger women about the risk factors of osteoporosis.