OBSERVATIONAL TECHNIQUES

• Observational Techniques


  Non-experimental technique where observers investigate observable behaviours, but cannot infer motive, intention, feeling or thought
• Observational Techniques


  • Observers can only investigate observable behaviours
  • Observers cannot infer motive, intention, feeling or thought from an observation
• Covert Observation


  Participants are observed without their knowledge
• Covert Observation


  • The researcher may be physically present, but participants do not know or realise they are being observed
  • Observing natural, unmanipulated behaviour
• Covert observation has higher levels of validity as it rules out demand characteristics (the observer effect)
• Covert observation is unethical as it does not have participants' informed consent
• Overt Observation


  Participants are aware that they are being observed
• Overt Observation


  • Participants may be able to see the researcher observing them
  • Participants are aware their behaviour is being observed and recorded
• Overt observation is ethical as participants have given informed consent to be observed
• Social desirability and demand characteristics (the observer effect) are more likely in overt observation, impacting the validity of the results
• Participant Observation


  The researcher joins the group being observed and becomes involved with them
• Participant Observation


  • The group being observed may not realise that the observer is not really 'one of them'
  • The researcher is able to build a rapport with the participants, meaning the participants are more likely to have open conversations and act in a natural way
  • The researcher can become too involved with the participants and the interpretation of their behaviour becomes biased as they only see it from the participants' point of view
  • There are ethical considerations with this type of observation such as deception and right to withdraw because the participants may not know that they are being observed, despite the researcher's participation
• Non-participant Observation


  The researcher remains separate from the participants and observes and records their behaviour without taking part
• Non-participant Observation


  • The researcher is more likely to remain objective whilst observing and recording the participants' behaviour
  • The researcher is not able to build rapport with the participants and so they are less likely to open up completely or enough to show the full natural behaviours