SECTION 12: Observations (Participant vs. Non-Participant)

1. Participant Observation

The researcher joins in with the group they are studying.

• Covert (Secret): High validity as people act naturally, but Ethically wrong (no consent).

• Overt (Open): Ethical, but risks the Hawthorne Effect (people changing behavior because they know they are being watched).

2. Non-Participant Observation

The researcher watches from the "sidelines."

• Pros: Less likely to "go native" (lose objectivity).

• Cons: Hard to understand the meanings behind the actions.