Observations

• Four types of observation: Participant observation, Non-participant observation, Overt Observation and Covert Observation.
• Participant Observation: Researcher gets involved with what the participants are doing and observes them throughout the experience.
• Non-participant observation: Researcher observes without taking part in the activity or event being observed.
• Overt observation: the researcher is present and observes the behaviour of the participants
• Covert observation: The researcher goes undercover and pretends to be a participant while observing the actual participants.
• Covert observation evaluation:

  • Strength- No Hawthorne effect (P)
  • Strength- People may be more open and honest with you (P)
  • Limitation- Introduces ethical issues such as deception (E)
  • Limitation- Can be time consuming (P)
• Overt observation evaluation:

  • Strength- Avoids ethical issues as the participants know they are being watched (E)
  • Strength- Won't be as time consuming (P)
  • Limitation- Could introduce the Hawthorne effect (P)
  • Limitation- Not as valid (T)
• Participant observation evaluation:

  • Strength- creates valid data (T)
  • Strength- No Hawthorne effect (P)
  • Limitation- Can introduce researcher bias (P)
• Non-participant observation evaluation:

  • Strength- Avoids ethical issues (E)
  • Limitation- Introduces the Hawthorne effect (P)
  • Limitation- Can cause researcher bias (P)