Delimiting observations is a term used especially in naturalistic observation that refers to the necessity to limit or choose the classes of behaviors to be observed.
In the psychology context, "delimiting observations" refers to the process of setting specific boundaries or limitations on the types of observations that will be made in a study or experiment. These boundaries help to ensure that the observations are focused and relevant to the research question or hypothesis being investigated. Here are some examples of how delimiting observations may be used in psychology research:
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Delimiting the time frame: Researchers may delimit their observations to a specific time frame, such as observing the behavior of children during a 30-minute play session. This can help to ensure that the observations are focused and relevant to the specific behavior being studied.
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Delimiting the setting: Researchers may delimit their observations to a specific setting, such as observing the behavior of drivers at a particular intersection. This can help to ensure that the observations are relevant to the specific context being studied.
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Delimiting the participants: Researchers may delimit their observations to a specific group of participants, such as observing the behavior of adolescents with ADHD. This can help to ensure that the observations are relevant to the specific population being studied.
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Delimiting the behaviors: Researchers may delimit their observations to specific behaviors, such as observing the frequency of aggressive behaviors in preschoolers. This can help to ensure that the observations are focused and relevant to the specific behavior being studied.
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Delimiting the variables: Researchers may delimit their observations to specific variables, such as observing the relationship between self-esteem and academic performance in college students. This can help to ensure that the observations are focused and relevant to the specific variables being studied.