PSYC 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Participant Observation, The Control Group, Headache

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1010
• Professor: Rebecca Jubis

Document Summary

Pilot study: problems mini study/version of what you are going to do, opportunity to fix/revise. In order to generalize from the sample to the population, the sample must be representative of the population (sample must be mini version of that pop. ) Otherwise sample would be biased (opposite of representative) : each person in population has an equal chance of being chosen for the sample. Naturalistic observation behaving naturally in a natural setting. : used to measure/describe people"s behaviour as they are. You want to minimize subject reactivity (reacting to the idea of being watched) > hide or observe in more private area, avoid eye contact, record, try blending in. > become a participant observer, generally don"t need their consent. > talk to them after observation but not during. Advantage: people behaving naturally, so you can generalize. Disadvantages: you cannot infer cause/effect: cannot interpret your observations, no control over situation. Subject: an individual who takes part in a study.