Observational techniques

• There are 6 observational techniques which are in pairs:

  • naturalistic and controlled
  • covert and overt
  • participant and non-participant
• Naturalistic observations (setting):

  take place in the setting or context where the target behaviour would usually occur. all aspects of the environment are free to vary
• Controlled observations (setting):

  it is something useful to control certain aspects of the research situation so a controlled environment observed may be preferred
• Covert observations (observer's status):

  behaviour may occasionally be recorded without first obtaining the consent of the participants. covert observations are those in which the participants are unaware they are the focus of the study and their behaviour is observed in secret. such behaviour must be public and happening anyways if the observations is to be ETHICAL
• Overt observations (observer's status):

  when participants know their behaviour is being observed and and haven given their INFORMED CONSENT beforehand
• Participant observations (observer's involvement):

  sometimes it may be necessary for the observer to become part of the group they are studying, as is the case with PARTICIPANTS OBSERVATION
• Non-participant observations (observer's involvement):

  are when the researcher remains separate from those they are studying and records behaviour in a more objective manner. it may often be impractical or even impossible to join particular groups so that non-participants is the only option
• advantages of naturalistic observations:

  tend to have high external validity as findings can often be generalised to everyday life. this is because the behaviour is studied within the environment where it would normally occur
• advantages of controlled observations:

  confounding/extraneous variables may be less of a factor of the observation
• advantages of covert observations:

  the fact that participants do not know they are being watched removes the problem of demand characteristics and ensures any behaviour observed will be natural. this increases the internal validity of the data gathered
• advantages of covert observations:

  more ethically acceptable
• advantages of participant observations:

  the researcher can experience the situation as the participants do, giving them increased insight into the lives of the people being studied. this may increase the external validity of findings
• advantages of non-participant observations:

  allow the researcher to maintain an objective psychological distance from their participants
• disadvantages of naturalistic observations:

  the lack of control over the research situation makes replication of the investigation difficult. there may also be many uncontrolled confounding/extraneous variables that make it difficult to judge any pattern of behaviour
• disadvantages of controlled observations:

  may produce findings that cannot be as readily applied to everyday ife
• disadvantages of covert observations:

  the ethics of these studies may be questioned as people, even in public, may not wish to have their behaviours noted down (right to privacy)
• disadvantages of overt observations:

  the knowledge that participants have that they are being observed may act as a significant influence on behaviour
• disadvantages of participant observations:

  there is a danger, however, that the researcher may come to identify too strongly with those that therefore studying and lose objectivity some researchers refers to this as adopting a local lifestyle when the line between being a researcher and being a researcher and being a participant becomes blurred
• disadvantages of non-participant observations:

  they may lose valuable insight to be gained in a participant observation as they are too far removed from the people and behaviour they are studying