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Flashcards in Observational techniques Deck (1)
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Q

Evaluation:
In all observations, it is not possible to establish cause and effect.

Naturalistic and controlled observations.
Naturalistic observations tend to have high external validity insofar (to the extent that) as findings can often be generalised to everyday life, as the behaviour is studied within the environment where it would normally occur.
However, the lack of control over the research situation makes replication of the investigation difficult.
There may also be many uncontrolled extraneous variables that make it more difficult to judge any pattern of behaviour.
In contrast, controlled observations may produce findings that cannot be as readily applied to real-life settings, but extraneous variables may be less of a factor so replication of the observation becomes easier.

Covert and overt observations.
The fact that participants do not know they are being watched removes the problem of participant reactivity and ensures any behaviour observed will be natural.
This increases the validity of the data gathered.
However, the ethics of these studies may be questioned as people, even in public, may not wish to have their behaviours recorded.
For example, ‘shopping’ would generally be recognised as a public activity, but the amount of money people spend on a shopping trip is probably their own private business.
In this sense, overt observations are more ethically acceptable, but the knowledge participants have that they are being observed may act as a significant influence on their behaviour.

Participant and non-participant observations.
In participant observations, the researcher can experience the situation as the participants do, giving them an increased insight into the lives of the people being studied.
This may increase the validity of the findings.
There is a danger/risk, however, that the researcher may come to identify too strongly with those they are studying and lose objectivity.
Some researchers refer to this as ‘going native.’
However,

A

However, they may lose the valuable insight to be gained in a participant observation as they are far too removed from the people and behaviour they are studying

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