Strength and Limitation P.E.T - Covert observation and Overt observation

Question 1

Practical- strengths

Question 2

Practical- limitations

Answer 2

• A researcher cover can be blown easily if they don’t have any knowledge of the group way of life before joining
• Gaining a group acceptance/ trust is time consuming

Question 3

Ethical- strengths

Question 4

Ethical- limitation

Answer 4

• No informed consent can be obtained and its immoral to deceive people and get information through being their ‘friend’
  -Research may become involved in immoral/illegal acts to maintain the ‘cover’

Question 5

Theoretical - strengths

Answer 5

Validity- Highly valid because no Hawthorne effect
-Seen as collecting valid info due to first- hand experience

Question 6

Theoretical-limitation

Answer 6

Validity- Findings may not be true as what really occurred as the research cannot record data in front of the group.

Question 7

Overt observation - practical strength

Question 8

Practical- limitation

Answer 8

Can be time consuming
A group can refuse the research permission

Question 9

Ethical - strength

Answer 9

Informed consent is obtained from the group so they know the researchers intention

Question 10

Ethical -limitation

Question 11

Theoretical- strength

Answer 11

Validity- Researcher is openly able to make notes, means findings will be more accurate
-Researcher can use interview method to follow up what they’ve observed

Question 12

Theoretical-limitation

Answer 12

Validity- There is risk of Hawthorne effect
Reliability- Difficult to repeat.