observational 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 member of the group whose behaviour they're watching and recording
• non-participant observation? 


  researcher remains outside of group whose behaviour they're watching and recording
• strength and weakness of naturalistic observation?

  strength - high external validity as findings generalised to everyday life

  weakness - lack of control so replication difficult and uncontrolled extraneous and confounding variables
• strength and weakness of controlled observation?

  strength - CVs and EVs less of a factor so replication easier

  weakness - findings can't be applied to real life
• strength and weakness of covert observations?

  strength - no demand characteristics and behaviour of participants is natural so good internal validity

  weakness - unethical as participants don't know
• strength and weakness of overt observations?

  strength - ethically acceptable

  weakness - participants knowledge of being watched may influence their behaviour
• strength and weakness of participant observations?

  strength - increased insight as experiencing it themselves so increases external validity

  weakness - researcher may identify strongly with those they're studying so lose objectivity
• strength and weakness of non-participant observations?

  strength - allow researcher to maintain objective psychological distance so less danger of them adopting local lifestyle

  weakness - lose valuable insight