Observational techniques

• What is covert research?


  Research conducted without the knowledge or consent of the participants.
• What is overt research?


  Research conducted when the participant is aware that they are being observed
• What does it mean if the researcher is a participant?


  The researcher acts like a participant, taking part in the activity and gaining inside information.
• What does it mean if the researcher is a non-participant?


  The researcher is observing without participating.
• What does it mean if research is naturalistic?


  The researcher is observing behaviour in its natural setting without manipulation.
• What does it mean if research is controlled?


  The research is carried out in an artificial setting/situation created
• What are the strengths and limitations of participant observation?

  Strength: Greater insight into behaviour

  Weakness: Researcher is more likely to influence behaviour
• What are the strengths and limitations of non-participant observation?

  Strength: Researcher is unlikely to influence behaviour

  Weakness: Less insight into behaviour
• What are the strengths and limitations of covert observation?

  Strength: Less likely to change their normal behaviour (demand characteristics)

  Weakness: More likely to have ethical issues
• What are the strengths and limitations of overt observation?

  Strength: Less likely to have ethical issues

  Weakness: More likely to change their normal behaviour (demand characteristics)
• What are the strengths and limitations of controlled observation?

  Strengths:

  • More control of extraneous variables
  • Less likely to have ethical issues
  • Standardised - easy to replicate

  Weakness: Less likely to capture natural behaviour (Lower ecological validity)
• What are the strengths and limitations of naturalistic observation?

  Strength: More likely to capture natural behaviour (higher ecological validity)

  Weaknesses:

  • Less control of extraneous variables
  • More likely to have ethical issues
  • Not standardised so difficult to replicate