The Purpose Of This Essay Is To Evaluate The Use Of...

The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the use of observation as a method of study within psychology. In order to undertake this evaluation the essay will initially discuss two traditional methods of investigation which are experimentation and observation. Furthermore, it will highlight differences between the two methods. In the second part of the essay, a deeper examination of the observational method itself will be undertaken. Here, examples of research in which the use of the observational method has proven successful will be considered. In conclusion, the essay will examine limitations of the observational method in psychological research. Two traditional methods used in psychological research are known as the experimental method†¦show more content†¦There are four categories of observation; the controlled observation when participants are observed in the environment under the observers control, such as Milgram cited in Banyard (2010), where the filming of participants occurred to observe their emotional reactions; naturalistic observation where behaviour is studied within its natural context; structured observation guided by observational categories and finally, participant and non-participant observation where the researcher participates in the group being studied or as in non-participant observes from outside the group. The research into cognitive dissonance within a religious cult by Festiinger (1956), exemplifies participant observation. Examining both of these methods, experimental psychology has received criticism especially in its use of the laboratory setting. The laboratory experimental setting is considered by some as being too controlled, meaning behaviour studied may be artificial and therefore, not generalisable beyond this setting. Further criticisms levied at the experimental method have included confounding variables such as demand characteristics , may impact upon results. Demand characteristics occur when participants develop ideas of the purpose of the experiment and alter behaviour accordingly. Furthermore, the experimental method has been hampered by an inability to study naturally occurring behaviour which if created artificially would be considered unethical Show MoreRelatedReflective Essay1508 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluences they have left in our lives. In simple words a reflective essay is a piece of ‘you’ being presented in words. What is Reflection? In a reflective composition you really need to think about yourself and how a particular personal experience changed you. 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