Covert participation observation

• ADVANTAGES

  • Practical - Reduces the risk of altering people's behaviour and sometimes the only way to research an activity (something like criminal behaviour). Humphreys did this by pretending to be in the same boat as those engaging in the activities.
  • Theoretical - Data gained from the research is very in-depth. It allows the researcher to understand and gain meaning (verstehten) behind actions.
• DISADVANTAGES

  • Practical - Requires the researcher to keep 'up an act' and also requires and extensive detail knowledge of the group's activity.
  • Practical - Must rely on memory in order to record your finings.
  • Ethical - Researcher may have to involve themselves in activities which are distasteful, immoral or sometimes illegal. Additionally , the researcher may witness acts which they cannot record to the police.
  • Theoretical - Positivits suggest there are problems with the data's reliability and validity. e.g. there is no way to repeat or check the findings of the research, it is probable that no two events will happen in the same way.