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Behavioural Observation Data

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Behaviour Observation Data The most efficient way to measure someone's personality is to observe how they behave, however, the behavioural observation method is seldom used in research. Behavioural data (reports) can help collect information about normal and abnormal personality characteristics and ways of thinking. To obtain behavioural observation data, researchers directly observe and record the behaviour of people in a laboratory or a more naturalistic (real-world) setting. This method is useful because many behaviours can be assessed through direct observation. Usually, two or more researchers conduct such observations to ensure higher accuracy and reliability (Schultz & Schultz, 2017) and although this method of data collection does …show more content…

Self-reports are most commonly used because of their ease and low cost, however, the addition of informant reports and observation data increases validity, reliability and answers questions that cannot be answered with self-reports alone. While informant reports are useful, there does exists several weaknesses with this method, but if researchers use the technology that is available to them then they can avoid issues of high costs and time-consumption that can arise from using more traditional methods for informant data collection. Behaviour observation is significant because personality traits can be directly observed through how a person behaves. Although this method has many limitations, it is becoming increasingly popular due to its ability to provide thorough and elaborate data information. Each method on its own only provides partial information and accuracy regarding a person's personality. To obtain a full understanding of such characteristics, multiple methods must be used in conjunction with one

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