Observerrated

Observer-rated is a term used in research and professional practice to describe assessments based on the observation and judgement of trained observers, rather than on self-report or automated measures. In observer-rated approaches, researchers use standardized coding schemes, checklists, or rating scales applied to recorded or live behavior. Observers may code whether a behavior occurs, how often, how long, and with what intensity or quality, following predefined criteria to support comparability across subjects and contexts.

To support reliability, observers typically undergo calibration and training, and may work blind to study hypotheses or conditions. Data from multiple observers are commonly aggregated, and inter-rater reliability statistics such as Cohen's kappa or intraclass correlation are reported to quantify agreement. Coding schemes are designed to be sensitive to the behavior of interest while minimizing ambiguity.

Applications of observer-rated measures appear across fields such as developmental psychology, clinical assessment, education, animal behavior, and organizational studies. Examples include ratings of child social engagement, observed clinical symptoms during structured tasks, classroom participation, and teamwork behaviors in the workplace.

Strengths include reduction of self-report bias and the ability to capture observable behavior in real or simulated settings. Limitations involve resource demands, potential observer bias, reactivity effects when subjects know they are being watched, and the need for ongoing training and monitoring to maintain reliability.

See also: inter-rater reliability, behavioral assessment, coded observation, rating scale.