Type Strengths Limitations
Overt - Participants can be informed - The participants are aware of
observation of the study so it is possible to the study so may manipulate
gain informed consent. their behaviour to please the
researcher > less validity in
results.
Covert - Removes demand - Less ethical > participants
observation characteristics so behaviour unaware of the study so cannot
observed is natural > increases give informed consent.
validity of results
Participant - Researcher also experiences - May lose objectivity if
observation the conditions which gives them researcher begins to identify too
an increased insight into the strongly with the research. The
investigation > increase line between being a researcher
external validity of results. and being a participant becomes
- Unlikely to miss any blurred.
behaviour. - The presence of the
researcher may also influence
participants' behaviour > less
validity.
Non participant - Allow researchers to maintain - Key behaviours may be
observation objectivity as they do not missed or overlooked if the
participate in the study. researcher is too far away from
- Investigator effects are less the participants > loss of
likely as the researcher valuable insight.
maintains distance from the
study.
Controlled - Study can be replicated to - Study may produce findings
observation check reliability. that are not as applicable to
- Confounding and extraneous everyday life.
variables can be less of a factor. - Low ecological validity.
Naturalistic - High external validity as the - Replication of the study is
observation findings can be generalised to difficult due to the researchers
everyday life > the behaviour is lack of control over the
studied under the conditions it conditions..
would normally occur in. - Uncontrolled
confounding/extraneous
variables also make it difficult to
judge behaviour.
Overt - Participants can be informed - The participants are aware of
observation of the study so it is possible to the study so may manipulate
gain informed consent. their behaviour to please the
researcher > less validity in
results.
Covert - Removes demand - Less ethical > participants
observation characteristics so behaviour unaware of the study so cannot
observed is natural > increases give informed consent.
validity of results
Participant - Researcher also experiences - May lose objectivity if
observation the conditions which gives them researcher begins to identify too
an increased insight into the strongly with the research. The
investigation > increase line between being a researcher
external validity of results. and being a participant becomes
- Unlikely to miss any blurred.
behaviour. - The presence of the
researcher may also influence
participants' behaviour > less
validity.
Non participant - Allow researchers to maintain - Key behaviours may be
observation objectivity as they do not missed or overlooked if the
participate in the study. researcher is too far away from
- Investigator effects are less the participants > loss of
likely as the researcher valuable insight.
maintains distance from the
study.
Controlled - Study can be replicated to - Study may produce findings
observation check reliability. that are not as applicable to
- Confounding and extraneous everyday life.
variables can be less of a factor. - Low ecological validity.
Naturalistic - High external validity as the - Replication of the study is
observation findings can be generalised to difficult due to the researchers
everyday life > the behaviour is lack of control over the
studied under the conditions it conditions..
would normally occur in. - Uncontrolled
confounding/extraneous
variables also make it difficult to
judge behaviour.
