RESEARCH METHODS; observation

Observation:

covert - observation where the participant is un aware they are being studied 

overt- participant knows 

non participant - the researcher is not partcipating with the group 

participant - the researcher is involved 

Advantages:

covert:

P; can access difficult to research/ deviant groups - increasing validity 

E; no hawthrone effect, increasing validity

overt;

P; ability to probe respondents and keep a field diary increasing validity 

E; consent recieved maintains validity as more likely to tell the truth 

participant;

P; researcher must be part of the group can get full versethen and involvement with the group  being researched increasing validity

E; depending on wheteher covert or overt 

non participant;

P; unlikely to lose objectivity…