An educational psychologist conducted an observational study to investigate commuter behaviours on a busy underground railway platform during the morning rush hour. They positioned themselves discreetly near a platform pillar to record passenger interactions and habits over a two-hour period. The results of the observation are shown in the table below.
Table 1: Observed behaviours among commuters on a railway platform
| Checks platform screen | Interacts with smartphone | Adjusts headphones/earbuds | Reads printed material | Drinks a beverage | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112 | 148 | 64 | 18 | 8 | 350 |
This study is an example of a structured observation. What is a structured observation?
644 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Psychology Research methods and techniques. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.