Observations

Question 1

What are participant and non participant obsvervations? What are the advantages and dis advantages?

Answer 1

Participant - participates in the activity under study
Advantage- greater understanding of group behaviour
Disadvantage-participants my act different
Non participant- observes the activity without getting involved in it
Advantage- can remain objective
Disadvantage - looses a sense of group dynamic

Question 2

What are overt and covert observations? What are the advantages and disadvantages

Answer 2

Overt- where the researcher presence is obvious to the participants
Adv-more ethical as they’re aware
Dis adv-people may change their behaviour if they know they are being observed
Covert-
Adv- participants are more likely to behave naturally
Dis advantage-gaining ethical approval may be difficult

Question 3

What are controlled observations?

Answer 3

Takes part in lab and the researcher can control the conditions.
Adv-highly controlled and can be replicated
Effect can be established as the extraneous variables are controlled
Dis adv- lower ecological validity
They may alter behaviour if they know they are being observed

Question 4

What are naturalistic observations?

Answer 4

They take place in natural environments
Adv- ecological validity
Dis adv- can’t be repeated easily