PSYCH 610 Naturalistic Observation Lecture Notes PDF

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PSYCH 610 NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION LECTURE NOTES "In a naturalistic observation study, the researcher makes observations of individuals in their natural environments (the field)" (Cozby, p. 119, ch 6). The reason naturalistic observation was most interesting to me is that it feels like it's something close to what I use on a normal bases. For my subordinates, I have to write an evaluation on their work performance yearly. They're are judged by their performance compared to their peers. The best way to gather this information is to study them in "the field' or their natural working environment. When I'm checking to see if they're competent on task, I have to observe them during day-to-day operations and pull information that way. I like how the text discusses naturalistic observation because I believe it will give the most accurate results. Specifically the rating scales. Rating scales are very common in many areas of research. I think I understood it as a research on any number of dimensions; liking agreement . Rating scales can be a graphic rating scales, semantic differential scale, and non verbal scales for children (Cozby,2015). The non verbal scales for children makes alot of sense. The pain scale that shows faces is a good way to understand the non verbal scale. There are many ways that nonverbal scales for children can be used. Pain scale, anxiety level, tired level, ECT. Giving children a picture to go by helps to quickly get responses from children when may not be able to verbally respond. Creating a survey has a plethora of things that must be considered before drafting. It’s one of the things is this lesson that is twofold, because you want to know more about creating surveys but you will also apply what you have learned. I understand the importance of not confusing the respondents, not to mislead them or influence the respondent with my own opinion, not asking too many open ended questions or to avoid them all together if possible among other things. Some information that was of interest is the different methods of sampling (probability and nonprobability sampling) and the six variations hold use for various study requirements. An example of Probability sampling is simple random selection which gives everyone in the demographic the same probability of being selected (Cozby, 2015). Cluster sampling in probability sampling collects participants from clusters of people such as only individuals who have flown on a specific airline, people infected with measles or a specific school and does not exclude any of the respondents in the cluster. Non-probability sampling has three different methods of collecting subjects which includes purposive sampling and has strict guidelines for selection such as only a set age group, from a specific location, and for a specific reason. Non-probability sampling also includes haphazard sampling which is the opposite of purposive sampling as participants are selected out of convenience or just because they happen to be in close proximity (Cozby, 2015). The sampling methods will be usefulness when I reach my capstone and a dissertation in a PhD program as I will be required to create my own study that pertains to psychology. I do not understand why the two types of sampling are separated the way they are, and it would seem better organized to separate random and convenience from purposive and strategic methods of participant collection. I would like to learn more about mixed modality sampling and method of administering in relation to the objectives of the research needs.

The term reactivity, never once did I think it was a term relating to measurements so that was pretty cool to learn about, Of course learning this information, can help us in our every day lives but knowing that if we are ever in situation of interviewing or creating a questionnaire we can know how to create a great informative one that doesn't leave the person confused. Surveys are a series of questions that “ask people to provide information about themselves.” (Cozby, 2014). Companies use the answers to focus in on the attitudes, beliefs, demographics, gender, income, and marital status of consumers to create products that will satisfy them. The questions will ask consumers what products they like the best, products they use the most, and how the products can be improved to boost sales. There are also surveys that are not related to product sales but toward human behavior for preparation of research studies. I believe that surveys and questionnaires are important for helping companies make products and provide services that best meet the public. Being that said one thing that shocked me to learn was interview bias. Interview biases are preconceived responses in interviews based on how the questions are phrased and structured. This term describes all of the biases that can arise from the fact that the interviewer is a unique human being interacting with another human. Thus, one potential problem is that the interviewer could subtly bias the respondent's answers by inadvertently showing approval or disapproval of certain answers.” (Cozby, 2015, p. 145). An example of an interview bias could be asking only males a personal questioning in regards to their sexual habits and it is being asked by a female. Which makes me that that this is an actual issue and might create a problem. “In a naturalistic observation study, the researcher makes observations of individuals in their natural environments” (Cozby et. al, 2015, pg. 119). Per Cozby (2015), this research approach has roots in anthropology studies and the study of animal behavior and is as of now broadly utilized within the social sciences to think about numerous phenomena in all sorts of social and organizational settings Naturalistic observation, is as often as possible utilized to ponder behavior in a natural environment as a result information of the research can be expected to influence behavior, naturalistic perception suggests that the subjects don't know that they are being watched and, thus, cannot provide their free and informed consent (Ryan, 2019). Qualitative research is multimethod in focus, involving an interpretive, naturalistic approach to its subject matter. This means that qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them. Quantitative researchers aim to establish general laws of behavior and phenonomon across different settings/contexts.

Survey research employs questionnaires and interviews to ask people to provide information about themselves, their attitudes and beliefs, demographics (age, gender, income, marital status, etc.) and other facts, and past on intended future behaviors. Which leads me to my next point.

My husband is in the military and every time I go with him to the doctor he gets a survey about the amount of alcohol he drinks or if he is having nightmares. Every-time I see those Questionnaires it makes me upset because I am really sure they won't answer the true and those individuals won't get the help they need. And yeah, in this time surveys are becoming more popular and almost everyplace that has costumer service has one. Although the information that can be gained from the interview method might be more beneficial, Cozby also discussed how losing the anonymous factor can make people answers questions less truthfully than they would with a written questionnaire. It's so many factors that come into play even with how surveys are administered that researchers have so many things to consider. Surveys seem easy, but they can easily become complicated....