Observation III
1. Scales of measurement
a. Nominal scales – categories; Schachter’s anxiety and affiliation study
b. Ordinal scales – rank order of data; top ten psychologists
c. Interval scales – equal intervals between points on scale
d. Ratio scales – true zero
e. Comparison and contrast of types of scales – “at the Kentucky Derby”
2. Evaluating observational methods:
Several issues:
- the absence of control
- the possibilities of observer bias
- subject reactivity
- ethical dilemmas associated with the issues of invasion of privacy and informed consent