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

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

An advantage of covert observation is that it should be high in validity, as people are observed in natural surroundings, and – as they are unaware of being observed – the Hawthorne Effect is avoided. However, a disadvantage of covert observation is that it raises a number of ethical concerns.

What are the advantages of overt observation?

A critical advantage of overt observation is that it enables the researcher to build some kind of rapport with the participants because the researcher, from the very beginning, is open and honest about the intentions of his/her research.

What are the advantages of covert surveillance?

Advantages of covert observation

  • It does not disturb the normal behaviour of the group so there is higher validity.
  • It allows the observer to dig deeper into the groups’ behaviour.
  • It gives access to certain secret behavior of the group.
  • Interviewer bias can be avoided.
  • No prior knowledge of social incidence is required.

What are the disadvantages of covert observation?

Disadvantages

  • Time consuming.
  • Difficult to gain access.
  • Gamekeeper.
  • Informed Consent.
  • Deception.
  • Protection from harm.
  • Legality.
  • Difficult to repeat.

What is the difference between overt and covert observations?

Overt non-participant observation can be biased through the observer effect, when people change or seek to improve an aspect of their behavior just because they are aware of being observed. Covert non-participant observation refers to observing research subjects without them knowing that they are being observed at all.

What is an example of overt observation?

Overt means that research subjects know that researchers are present, but they do not interact with each other – for example, when a researcher joins employees for meetings without interfering at all.

What are the strengths of observations?

Advantages of Observation:

  • (1) Simplest Method:
  • (2) Useful for Framing Hypothesis:
  • (3) Greater Accuracy:
  • (4) An Universal Method:
  • (5) Observation is the Only Appropriate Tool for Certain Cases:
  • (6) Independent of People’s Willingness to Report:
  • (1) Some of the Occurrences may not be Open to Observation:

What are the strengths of participant observation?

The strengths of participant observation include the depth of knowledge that it allows the researcher to obtain and the perspective of knowledge of social problems and phenomena generated from the level of the everyday lives of those experiencing them.

What is covert observation and why is it important?

Covert observations, also considered going undercover, provide insights and understanding by watching the actions, behaviors, or communication patterns of a group without the knowledge of those being observed that research is being done. Thus, this method provides a more natural understanding of a phenomenon.

What is overt and covert behavior?

The term ‘overt’ means visible or apparent. The term ‘covert’ means hidden or concealed. Overt behaviors can be observed. Covert behavior cannot be observed. Overt behaviors are in the form of actions or verbal expressions.

What is the difference between covert and overt behavior?

Synonyms: Secret, Behind the Scenes. Overt behavior can be defined as observable behavior or responses depicted in the forms of actions. Covert behavior can be defined as unobservable behavior which leads to certain actions. Behaviors such as speaking, walking, running, working etc are termed under observable behavior.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of covert observation?

Covert The identity of the researcher and the study are kept hidden Positivist views of observation Society can be scientifically and objectively investigated and measured if the observations are non-participant Interpretivist views of observation Participant observation gives the best opportunity of achieving verstehen

What’s the difference between covert Po and covert Po?

Whereas with covert PO, informed consent has not been collected and participants, after realising they have been deceived may choose to withdraw and not allow the researchers to use the data collected.

What do you mean by covert observation in psychology?

This kind of approach to research is called covert observation, which is when the researcher joins the group of participants without them knowing that they’re being studied. There are different reasons why a researcher would use this methodology but, as with undercover police officers,…