Obeservational and Sampling in Traditional and Cultural...

Sir Davi Mbelu University of Phoenix Introduction In this paper attempt shall be made to compare multicultural and traditional psychology research methods with a view to examining observation and sampling as the variables of interest. However, these variables of interest shall be assessed in respect of how they are applied in cultural and traditional psychological research. In addition, the fundamental problems that may be encountered by the researchers during the implementation of the observation and sampling in cultural and traditional psychological research setting shall be addressed. The major aim of observational methods as observed by†¦show more content†¦Researchers tend to choose intervention approach to apply in natural setting through three major methods, including participation observation, structured observation, and the field experiment; however, the extent and nature of intervention differs across these three approaches (Shaughnessy, 2003 p. 91). Participant observation is employed into major ways, which includes disguised, or undisguised. Once too often, researchers use undisguised participant observation for effective understanding or knowledge regarding the culture and behavior of group of people which most often applied by anthropologist (Levin, 1963). Moreso, the understanding that people do not behave normally as they should, if they are aware that their behavior is being observed, disguised participant observation is appropriately used. Much as participant observation be it either disguised or undisguised may allow an observer access to situations not ordinarily open to both traditional and multicultural research. It behooves an observer in employing these approaches to be mindful of possible loss of objectivity and unforeseen impacts the behavior under study may have on a participant observer. Structured observation is oftentimes employed to deal with the problem associated with using naturalistic observation