Systematic

observation
Choosing the behavior
 Operational definition of behavior
 Measurement of behavior
 We will learn
 Definition of systematic observation
 Steps in conducting a systematic observation
 Examples
Which one is systematic observation?
Freud observes his patient while the patient tell
their stories
A psychologist observes his suspected autism
client using Child Autism Rating Scale
Did you remember “Marshmallow
experiment”? Is it?
 What are the differences between naturalistic
observation and systematic observation?
DEFINITION OF SYSTEMATIC
OBSERVATION
 Systematic Observation
 Scientific observation is made under precisely
defined conditions, in a systematic and objective
manner, and with careful record keeping.

 Systematic observation of behavior: observe

behavior in natural or specially designed settings,
record & classify each behavior objectively as it
occurs or shortly thereafter, ensure that the
obtained data are reliable and valid, and convert
the data into quantitative information.
 Systematic Observation
 Systematic observation of behavior should
have:
 Goal
 Focus

 Limit on the amount of data to be collected

 Standardized recording method that has

adequate reliability & validity
STEPS IN CONDUCTING
SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION
 Choosing the behavior /
Sampling

 Observer cannot observe all behavior due to

several reasons  behavior only occurs at
particular time, in specific setting, under
particular conditions, etc.
 Sample is used to represent the larger
population of all possible behaviors.
 By choosing times, settings, and conditions
that are representative of a population,
researchers can generalize their findings to
that population
 Sampling behavior

 The sampling of times, situations and conditions

strongly influences the most important
dimensions of sampling – who the participants
will be.
 The key feature of representative samples is
that they are “like” the larger population of
participants, times, settings and conditions from
which they are drawn.
 Sampling behavior

Types of sampling:
 Time sampling: choosing various time
intervals for making observations either
systematically or random.
 Event sampling: for infrequent/rare events;
events that occur unpredictably
 Situation sampling: observing behavior in
different locations and under different
circumstances and conditions
 Sampling behavior:
Time sampling

 Time sampling:
seeking representative sample by choosing
various time intervals.

 Interval: selected systematically (first day of

each week), randomly, or both.
 Sampling behavior:
Time sampling
Example: observing children’s classroom behavior
 Observe 2 hours/day
 Schedule observation systematically throughout the
school day (during four 30-minute periods beginning
every 2 hours)

 Random time-sampling: distributing four 30-minute

periods randomly over the course of the day
 Times would vary from day to day but on the long run,
behavior would be sampled equally from all times of
the school day
 Sampling behavior:
Time sampling
 Systematic and random time-sampling can be
combined

 Whatever time-sampling procedure is used, the

observer must carefully consider both the advantages
and limitations of the schedule in terms of its potential
to yield a representative sample of behavior

 Time sampling is not an effective method of sampling

behavior when the event of interest occurs infrequently
 Sampling behavior:
Event sampling
 Event sampling: for infrequent events

 The observer records each event that meets a

predetermined definition
 Also useful in situations or events that occur
unpredictably, such as natural or technical
disaster
 Can easily introduce biases into the behavioral
record
 Sampling behavior:
Situation sampling
 Situation sampling: studying behavior in
different locations and under different
circumstances and conditions

 Can significantly increase external validity

 Usually combined with time sampling

 Sampling behavior:
Situation sampling
Example:
Study of eating behavior of students in Faculty of
Psychology
 Interval time sampling: lunch (12-2 pm), dinner
(6-8 pm)
 Situation sampling: canteen/food stalls at
various Faculty of Psychology in several
Universities
 Subject sampling: only male or female students;
or random
 Operational definition of
behavior
Behavior that are going to be observe
 Target behavior  must be define in objective,
clear and complete terms

 Operational definition: by specifying the

precise operations that signal the appearance of
the behavior as well as specifying the operations
that do not reveal the behavior of interest

 Help recognize when each behavior is occurring

and distinguish the target behaviors from other
similar behavior
 Operational definition of
behavior
Example: research on relationship between mood &
weather.

 define what is meant by mood, and weather

 Mood: positive (example of behavior: laughing, smiling,

etc.), and negative (crying, frowning, etc.)

 Weather: gloomy (cloudy, damp, muggy, raining, etc.),

and sunny (warm, the sun shines, dry, etc.)
 Operational definition of
behavior
 Target behavior: inappropriate gross motor
behavior – standing
 Motor activity that results in the child ’s leaving
his or her seat or standing on one or both legs
(on the floor, chair, or desk) in an erect or
semi-erect position; this code is not used
when the child has permission to leave his/her
seat or when the child must move in order to
work on a task
 Operational definition of
behavior
Steps in developing an operation definition of a
target behavior:
 Target behavior must be defined as clearly and
precisely as possible.
 List examples of the target behavior.
 Revise the definition of the target behavior to
include all of the examples.
 List examples of behaviors that are similar to the
target behavior, but yet do not qualify as
reflecting the target behavior.
 Revise the definition so that it does not include
the non-qualifying examples.
 Operational definition of
behavior
Another example:
Individual’s reaction towards physically disabled
person

 Definition of “reaction” ?
 Eye contact?
 Making conversation?
 Helping behavior?
 Avoiding/approaching?
 Etc.
 Measurement of behavior

 How to measure and record the behavior

 Example: eye contact

- the occurrence of eye contact?
- how long / duration of eye contact?
- how intense the eye contact is?
- etc.
 Measurement of behavior

Depending on what method of observation is

used, behavior can be measured based on:
 Frequency: 5, 10, 15 times

 Duration: 5, 10, 15 minutes

 Volume: amount of milk a baby consumed

in a day
 Lapse of time / time between instruction
and behavior
 Measurement of behavior

Measurement scales:
1. Nominal scale: categorizing an event into one
of a number of discrete categories.
Example: skin color  brown, white, yellow, etc.

2. Ordinal scale: ordering or ranking events to be

measured. There is an arithmetic relationships
 “greater than”, “less than”.
Example: class rank  tdk diketahui seberapa
jauh beda performance antara ranking 1 dan 2,
atau antara 2 dan 3
 Measurement of behavior
Measurement scales (cont.):
3. Interval scale: specifying how far apart two
events are on a given dimension. Differences of
the same numerical size in scale values are
equal.
Example: the difference between 50 and 70
correct answer on an aptitude test is equal to the
difference between 70 and 90 correct answer.
 Measurement of behavior
 In order to quantify behavior in an observational study,
observers sometimes make ratings of behaviors and
events  degree or quantity of some trait or condition
 Most of rating scales to evaluate people or events on a
psychological dimension yield ordinal information

Example of rating scale:

 Parent-infant interactions
 Thirteen dimension (degree of verbal, physical,
emotional interaction), using 7-point scale
 Measurement of behavior

Scale value Description

1 There is an absence of warmth, affection and pleasure.

Excessive hostility, coldness, distance and isolation from
child are predominant
2
3 There is occasional warmth and pleasure in interaction.
Parents shows little evidence of pride in the child
4
5 There is moderate pleasure and warmth in the interaction.
Parent shows pleasure in some areas but not in others.
6
7 Warmth and pleasure are characteristic of the interaction
with the child. Evidence of pleasure and pride in the child.
Pleasure response is appropriate.
 Measurement of behavior

Measurement scales (cont.)

4. Ratio scale: has all the properties of an interval
scale, but also has an absolute zero point.
Examples: physical scales measuring time,
weight, distance.
 Tugas Kelompok

Buatlah definisi operasional dari perilaku di bawah

ini:
 play

 prosocial behavior

 aggression

Buatlah PPT nya dan presentasikan di kelas di

kuliah ke 5