5 Questions
What is the primary advantage of covert observations in reducing the impact of the Hawthorne effect?
Unawareness of being observed, leading to more natural behavior
What is a common limitation of covert observations?
Maintaining a cover and obtaining consent from participants
What type of data is typically produced through covert observations?
Qualitative data
What is the primary role of the researcher in a covert observation?
Observer who notes and records behaviors
What is a potential ethical concern with covert observations?
Deception of research participants
Study Notes
- Covert observations occur when research subjects are unaware of being observed.
- Researchers observe, note, and record individual behaviors in these observations, which can be participant or non-participant.
- Covert observations offer insights into people's experiences and reduce the Hawthorne effect, as individuals act naturally without knowing they're being observed.
- This method produces high-validity, qualitative data, preferred by interpretive sociologists.
- Covert observations require developing and maintaining a cover, which can be logistically challenging.
- Covert observations are often seen as unethical due to deception of research subjects and lack of consent, which can be problematic without Ethics Committee approval.
Learn about covert observations, a research method where participants are unaware of being observed, and its advantages and challenges. Understand how it provides high-validity data, but raises ethical concerns.
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