Non-Participant (Unstructured) Observation

Non-Participant (Unstructured) Observation

1. What is it?

   • Non-participant observation does not involve the researcher in the activities of those being studied
   • It usually involves a checklist of things to observe (the structure), which can then be turned into quantitative data
   • It is more likely to be used by positivists

2. Strengths

   • Not as time consuming and cheaper than participant observation
   • Researchers can replicate and check findings
   • Reduced risk of the Hawthorne effect because researchers are detached
   • Easy to make comparisons with similar observations, providing quantitative data so that patterns, trends and causes can be highlighted
   • Consent is easily obtained, so more ethically preferable than participant observation

3. Weaknesses

   • Not practical to observe all groups
   • Very difficult to record all observed incidents
   • The categorisation of observations is influenced by subjective interpretations, so different observers of the same group may record incidents differently
   • Risk of Hawthorne effect due to presence of an observer
   • The use of covert observation devices, such as hidden cameras, are ethically problematic due to the lack of informed consent
   • Only a small group can be observed, so the sample may not be representative