Psychology A-Level
observation
What observation means in Psychology A-Level, as defined for OCR.
Definition of observation
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain observation in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: OCR
Watching behaviour as it happens, coded against categories agreed beforehand, keeps the behaviour real, but risks observer bias unless categories are operationalised and inter-rater reliability is checked.
Topics that use observation
- Practical activities (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- choosing an analysis
- correlation and third variables
- risk assessment
- self-report
- ethical safeguards
- experiment and causation
- small-scale practical work
Using observation in the exam
Check the command word and mark scheme for your exact question. After comparing your explanation with the reference, use the term in an answer on the linked topic. This practice does not predict an exam mark.
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