PSY 321 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Participant Observation, Ethnography, Statistical Significance
Document Summary
Simple observation (ethnography) - involves observing and systematically recording behavior. Common in the early years or organizational psychology but are much less prevalent today. Allows behavior to be captured in its natural context. Allows researcher to minimize the problem of reactivity or changing the phenomenon of interest in the process of measuring it. Can be quite useful particularly in the very early stages of a research program. Managers may find the information generated from observational studies easier to understand and more easily used to guide organizational inventories. Presence of an observer could cause research participants to act differently than they normally would. Establish rapport with research participants to the point where they are comfortable enough with the researcher to act naturally. Research participants typically are not able to make an informed choice as to whether they wish to participate in the research. Making sense out of the recorded information can be time consuming as well.
