Participant doesn't know they are being observed until after the study is complete
Could be ethical problems or deception and consent with this particular observation method
Overt observation
Participant knows they are being observed and what they are being observed for
Controlled
Behaviour is observed under controlled laboratory conditions
Naturalistic
Spontaneous behaviour is recorded in a natural setting
Participant
Observer has direct contact with the group of people they are observing
Researcher becomes a member of the group they are researching
Non-participant - "AKA fly on the wall"
Researcher does not have direct contact with the people being observed
Observation of participants' behaviour is from a distance
They do not have an independent variable as there is nothing being directly manipulated
Researcher just watches / observes
Covert observations may be unethical as people do not know they are being watched and so if poor behaviour is demonstrated this may cause participant to feel morally wronged
Guilt and other emotions may be present after and effect how the research is presented to the public due to reputation
