Observations

Summary

• participant

• Non-participant

• Covert

• Overt

Participant observation

✅- valid (groups are observed in natural settings)

✅- valid (data generated is richly detailed)

❌- unreliable (open ended and subjective to research)

❌- practical issues (get into the group, staying in the group)

Non-Participant observation

✅- valid (limited risk of the researchers ‘going native’

❌- not reliable (each observation will be subjective)

❌- not representative (involves a small-scale research sample)

Overt observations

• the researcher explains their intentions to the group

  ✅- less ethical issues then covert

• ✅- higher level of reliability than covert

• ✅- allows researcher to use interview methods too

• ❌- practical (time consuming)

• ❌- lacks validity (Hawthorne effect)

• ❌- less reliable (difficult to repeat)

Covert Observations

• the teacher keeps their real identity and purpose secret from research subjects

• ✅- more valid then overt because there’s a lack of Hawthorne effect

• ✅- research obtained is more valid due to first-hand insight

• ✅- find out more in depth detail about what, who, where, why, how

• ❌- ethical issues, immoral to deceit people

• ❌- researcher has to gain trust and acceptance