Observation method in psychology

Observation method:

• In 1913 when Watson established the school of behaviorism, be defined psychology in a new context and was called at as science of behavior, whose study can be done by using observation method rather than the introspection method.
• In this method the observer observes the behavior of an organism or a person. On the basis of his observations prepares a special report. After analysis of the prepared report the observer came to any specific conclusion about the behavior of the organism. To make the observation more objective, observer observes the behavior of the organism in different situations. Sometimes many observers together observe the behavior of an organism. That can be the reason that this method is called as objective observation method. Observes observe both type of behavior i.e. external behavior, like: running, crying, playing and internal behavior, like: change in blood pressure, change in heart rate, etc.
• There are two main characteristics of objective observation:
  i) Observation is always purposive and intensive. In other words to fulfill some specific purpose the observer pays special focus on any particular aspect of the behavior of a person.
  ii) The purpose of observation is to find the relation among different variables by using different rules.

Observations are of three types:

a) Participant observation
b) Non- participant observation
c) Naturalistic observation

Participant observation:

• In this type of observation method the observer actively participates in the different activities with the participants in that behavior which he wants to observe. For example; to study the problems of workers of any factory the psychologist may register himself as one of the worker of that factory so that he can face same problems and meanwhile observes the other workers behavior.

Non Participant observation

• In this type of observation method the observer does not participate in that behavior which he wants to observe. The observer observes the desired behavior of the participants from the distance. The observation of the participant’s behavior under clinical, educational, social and industrial situation is mostly done using this method.

Naturalistic observation

• When the observation method is used under natural situation, mostly to observer the behavior of the animals then such type of observation is called as naturalistic observation. Like psychologists observe the behavior of bees, monkeys, ants etc. in their natural habitat.

Merits: Generally it is seen that observes –

The merits of the observation methods are as follows:

1. This method elaborated the study area for the psychologists. Introspection method was used only on adults, as a result of which the mental activities of adults could be studied. But observation method can be used on children, adults mentally challenged, disable people, animals, etc. Hence, the use of this method extended the field of psychology.
2. The behavior of more than one organism can be studied at the same time by using this method. Like if a psychologist wants to study the crowd behavior then he can do this very easily by using this method.
3. The statistical analysis can be done easily for the scores obtained from this method because the scores are generally in the form of frequency and percentage. As a result of which the validity of the conclusion obtained from this method increases.

Demerits:

Attitude, prejudice, needs etc may affect his observations. In other words it can be said that observations may become more subjective rather than being objective. In such a situation the results obtained do not hold high reliability or validity.

1. In this method by observing the behavior of an organism observes tries to find out his mental mechanisms. But observer may not find the success every time. for an example: two women of any village meets each other after a long time, to express their love towards each other they may start crying, any observer may come to a conclusion that they must in sorrow so they are weeping, but the fact is they are showing their joy. This example clearly mentions that it is not possible to interpret objectively the actual meaning of any mental mechanism.
2. In this method observation is done under a natural and uncontrolled situation, therefore the results obtained from this method cannot be described in the true cause effect relationship. In a study by Jones& Jones 1928, college students got scared by watching a snake. Here the cause of emotional reaction (fear) is unclear. The shape of snake might aroused the feeling of fear among the students, its crawling could be the reason behind, etc. at the end there is no fix cause which is responsible for the arousal of feeling of fear among the students.

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Important Points :- 

1. In the present chapter methods of psychology and measure of central tendency are discussed. Invigilation method is also called as observation method. In this method the observer studies the behavior of the organism or person.
2. The case study method is used in clinical psychology to identify the symptoms of any disease and the cause responsible for it.
3. Generally the conversation between two or more persons for any specific cause is called as an interview.
   Survey method, experimental method introspection method are the basic psychological methods.
4. The measure of central tendency are- Mean, Mode, Median. In the present chapter frequency distribution, linear presentation, graphical presentation, frequency polygon and histogram are discussed.

1. The meaning of frequency is:
a) Scores
b) No. of repetitions of scores
c) Multiple of scores
d) None of these

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2. Which of the method is not suitable for absolute frequency distribution?
a) Exclusive method
b) Inclusive method
c) Exact method
d) None of these

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Answer :- D

3.) Which is the formula for range?
a) (H-L)+1
b) (H+L)-1
c) (H-L)
d) NONE OF THESE

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Answer :- A

4. The symbol of size of class interval is:
a) Y
b) X
c) i
d) p

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Answer :- C

5. Which of the following is a graphical method?
a) Frequency polygon
b) Histogram
c) Bar diagram
d) All the above

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Answer :- A