7.2.2 Covert and Overt Observation

• What is required from participants in overt observation?

  Participants must be informed and give consent
• What is the disadvantage of overt observation?

  Behaviour may not be natural/normal.
• What is the advantage of participant observation?

  Easier to understand the observer's behaviour.
• What are the key characteristics of overt observation?

  • Participants are aware of being observed
  • Behavior is recorded for study purposes
  • Researchers collect data openly
  • Informed consent is obtained from participants
• What is the advantage of non-participant observation?

  Observations made as they happen = more reliable.
• What is another advantage of participant observation?

  High ecological validity.
• How might a researcher conduct overt observation in a store?

  By informing shoppers they are part of a study
• What is the disadvantage of participant observation?

  Hard to record observations retrospectively (therefore low reliability).
• What is the main difference between covert and overt observations?

  Participant awareness
• What does covert observation mean?

  Watching people without their knowledge
• If you wanted to study natural social interactions in a busy park, which observation method would you use?

  Covert observation
• What are the three main ethical considerations of covert observation?

  Privacy, informed consent, potential harm
• What are the two main types of observation methods?

  Covert observation and overt observation
• How can covert observation potentially cause harm to participants?

  Participants may feel distressed if they discover they were observed without consent
• What is the definition of overt observation?

  Participant knows they are being observed.
• How do the strengths and weaknesses of covert and overt observation methods differ?

  Covert observation has higher ecological validity but raises ethical concerns, while overt observation is ethical but has lower ecological validity
• Why is the lack of informed consent a major ethical concern with covert observation?

  It violates the ethical principle of obtaining consent from participants
• What does it mean when participants are aware they are being observed?

  They know their behavior is recorded for study
• If you wanted to observe group dynamics in a classroom, which observation method would you use?

  Overt observation
• What is the disadvantage of covert observation?

  Ethical issues.
• How does covert observation function in research?

  It allows silent observation of social interactions
• What is the definition of covert observation?

  Participants unaware they are being observed.
• What is the main ethical consideration of covert observation?

  Participants are unaware they are being studied
• What is the advantage of overt observation?

  No ethical issues.
• What is the advantage of covert observation?

  High ecological validity.
• In what scenario might researchers use covert observation?

  Observing students in a cafeteria unnoticed
• What is the definition of participant observation?

  The observer becomes actively involved in the activities of the people being studied.
• How does participant awareness differ between covert and overt observations?

  Covert is secret, overt is open
• What are the scenarios for covert and overt observations?

  • Covert: Studying crowd behavior at a music festival
  • Overt: Analyzing student participation in a classroom
• In covert observations, what is the impact on participant behavior?

  Behavior is more natural
• What is the key advantage of covert observation over overt observation?

  Natural behavior as participants are unaware they are being watched
• What is a key ethical consideration of covert observation?

  Privacy
• What is the key difference between covert and overt observation in terms of participant awareness?

  Covert is secret, overt is open
• What type of behavior is typically observed in covert studies?

  Natural behavior
• What is an ethical concern of overt observations?

  Participants may alter their performance due to awareness
• What is a strength of overt observation?

  Ethical as participants know they're being observed
• What is a benefit of covert observations?

  Observe natural crowd interactions without changing behavior
• What ethical principle is violated when participants are observed without their knowledge in covert observation?

  Privacy
• What impact does participant awareness have on behavior in overt observations?

  Behavior can be altered due to awareness
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of covert observation?

  Strengths:

  • Natural behavior as participants are unaware they are being watched
  • Higher ecological validity

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Raises ethical concerns (privacy and consent)
  • Difficult to get detailed data