observation techniques

• naturalistic observation 


  watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur
• controlled observation


  watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment
• covert observation


  participants behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent
• overt observation 


  participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent
• participant observation

  researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording
• non-participant observation 


  researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording
• naturalistic and controlled (evaluation)


  strength:

  • high external validity- can be generalised to everyday life

  weakness:

  • replication is difficult
  • cannot control extraneous variables
• covert and overt (evaluation) 


  strength:

  • means behaviour will be natural

  weakness:

  • unethical- people do not know they are being watched
• participant and non-participants observations (evaluation)

  strengths:

  • researcher experiences it too, gives them an insight into the lives of the people being studied- increases the validity