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The researchers in the open plan office study used a covert, naturalistic, non-participant observation when measuring face-to-face communication - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 2 - 2020 - Paper 3
Question 2
The researchers in the open plan office study used a covert, naturalistic, non-participant observation when measuring face-to-face communication. Explain two streng... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The researchers in the open plan office study used a covert, naturalistic, non-participant observation when measuring face-to-face communication - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 2 - 2020 - Paper 3
Step 1
Explain two strengths of this type of observation in terms of validity.
Answer
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Naturalistic Observation: This method occurs in the participants' natural environment (the office), which means the interactions observed are likely more authentic and reflective of real-life behavior. This increases ecological validity since it allows researchers to capture genuine interactions.
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Cloaked Observation: Since the employees are unaware they are being observed, their behaviors are less likely to be influenced or altered by the presence of researchers. This reduces the risk of demand characteristics, leading to more valid results.
Step 2
Explain one strength and one weakness of using quantitative data in the open plan office study.
Answer
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Strength: The use of quantitative data, such as counting the number of emails or messages, provides objective and precise metrics that are easy to analyze statistically. This means the results can be clearly interpreted and compared, making it a reliable source of data.
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Weakness: A limitation of quantitative data is that it might lack depth. For example, while researchers can quantify the number of emails, they cannot gain insight into the context or the quality of the communications. Understanding employees’ experiences or satisfaction levels would require qualitative data, which the study may lack.
Step 3
Explain one weakness of the open plan office study in terms of generalisability.
Answer
The generalisability of the findings might be limited because the study was conducted in only one company. This means that the results may not be applicable to other organizations or different types of open plan layouts, as the unique culture and dynamics of each workplace can influence employee interactions.
Step 4
Explain one conclusion you can make regarding the open plan office study using the data in Table 2.
Answer
The data suggests that the introduction of the open plan office led to a significant decrease in face-to-face communication among employees, with an average reduction of 3,770 minutes per employee. Instead of enhancing communication as might have been expected, the open office layout appears to have created barriers to direct interactions.