Observational Techniques
- Observations are a non-experimental technique
- Observations may still use manipulation (controlled observations do this e.g. Bandura, 1961)
- Observers can only investigate observable behaviours i.e. what they can see (e.g. a child hits a Bobo doll with a mallet)
- Observers cannot infer motive or intention or feeling or thought from an observation (e.g. a child ignores the Bobo doll because they are not interested in it)
Covert Observation
- Participants are observed without their knowledge
- The researcher may be physically present, but, the participants do not know or realise they are being observed
- The researcher is observing natural, unmanipulated behaviour
Evaluation Points
| Strengths | Limitations |
| Higher levels of validity as participants are unaware they are being observed which rules out demand characteristics (the observer effect) | Unethical as does not have participants informed consent |
Overt Observation
- Participants are aware that they are being observed
- Participants may be able to see the researcher observing them
- Participants are aware their behaviour is being observed and recorded for an observational study
Evaluation Points
| Strengths | Limitations |
| Ethical, participants have given informed consent to be observed |
Social desirability is likely, where participants present their 'best selves' to the researcher |
|
Demand characteristics, known as the observer effect, are more likely which impacts the validity of the results |
Participant Observation
- The researcher joins the group being observed and becomes involved with them
- The group being observed may not realise that the observer is not really 'one of them'
Evaluation Points
| Strengths | Limitations |
| The researcher is able to build a rapport with the participants, meaning the participants are more likely to have open conversations and act in a natural way | The researcher can become to involved with the participants and the interpretation of their behaviour becomes biased as they only see it from the participants point of view |
| There are ethical considerations with this type of observation such as deception and right to withdraw because the participants may not know that they are being observed, despite the researcher's participation |
Non - participant Observation
- The researcher remains separate from the participants
- The researcher observes and records the participants without taking part in activities or conversations
Evaluation Points
| Strengths | Limitations |
| The researcher is more likely to remain objective whilst observing and recording the participants behaviour | The researcher is not able to build rapport with the participants and so they are less likely to open up completely or enough to show the full natural behaviours |
