Observational methods in qualitative research

What are some of the most important ethical principles for psychological research to follow?

• Ensure you have quantitative data

• Ensure there is no harm through the research process

• Make sure that participants do not know the aims of the study.

• Make sure participant information is kept anonymous and stored confidentially

• Ensure that participants are able to give valid consent

"Qualitative methods can test hypotheses".

• Agree

• Disagree

• Don't know

Answer explanation

The qualitative researcher may be guided by ideas and hypotheses, but they cannot test them, only explore them.

You must manipulate a variable in qualitative research.

• Don't know

• Agree

• Disagree

Answer explanation

No of course not: jump over to quantitative, experimental methods if you need to do this.

"Observational methods can generate quantitative and qualitative data".

• Not sure

• Disagree. It's only qualitative.

• Yes of course. It depends on the methods used.

Answer explanation

It is both. Narrative methods capture qualitative data, writing down what is happening. Structured observations 'filter' the observation, for example, through tally charts, or interval sampling.

Name some dimensions that observations can capture

• Actors (people)

• Events

• Feelings

• Time

• Space (e.g. physical layout of the setting)

Answer explanation

You can only infer feelings or internal states. You might do this in the analysis of the raw data. For example, 'It appeared from Jo's behaviour that she was angry'.

If you observe a behaviour, you must write down an inference about what it means.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

No. If you are a psychological researcher you should just record what you observe, and then later you can drawn interpretations from your data, in the analysis.

Can observations be used to support case study methods?

• Yes

• No

• Don't know

Answer explanation

Yes. Observations can help to triangulate other data, particularly 'self-report' data from participants.

Observations help us understand more about why things are happening, sometimes.

Can the observer also be a participant in a situation?

• No

• Yes

• Don't know

Answer explanation

The observer can be a participant. If so, they should describe this, and their own actions, carefully. An example in educational psychology practice is 'dynamic assessment'.