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Questions and Answers
What is the primary advantage of covert observations in reducing the impact of the Hawthorne effect?
What is the primary advantage of covert observations in reducing the impact of the Hawthorne effect?
- Increased sample size
- Lower cost of data collection
- Reduced logistical challenges
- Unawareness of being observed, leading to more natural behavior (correct)
What is a common limitation of covert observations?
What is a common limitation of covert observations?
- Analyzing large datasets
- High cost of data collection
- Difficulty in generalizing findings
- Maintaining a cover and obtaining consent from participants (correct)
What type of data is typically produced through covert observations?
What type of data is typically produced through covert observations?
- Quantitative data
- Longitudinal data
- Mixed-methods data
- Qualitative data (correct)
What is the primary role of the researcher in a covert observation?
What is the primary role of the researcher in a covert observation?
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What is a potential ethical concern with covert observations?
What is a potential ethical concern with covert observations?
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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.
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Description
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.
