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Sonal N. Sheth
Observation Method:
Observational Methods in psychological research entail the observation and
description of a subject's behavior. Researchers utilizing the observational method can
exert varying amounts of control over the environment in which the observation takes
place.
Advantages of Observation
1. Very direct method for collecting data or information best for the study of
human behavior.
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By using good and modern gadgets observations can be made continuously and
also for a larger duration of time period.
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9. If the researcher observes and records events, it is not necessary to rely on the
willingness and ability of respondents to report accurately.
10. The biasing effect of interviewers is either eliminated or reduced. Data collected
by observation are, thus, more objective and generally more accurate.
Disadvantages of Observation
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Observation involves a lot of time as one has to wait for an event to happen to
study that particular event.
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The actual presence of the observer himself Vis a Vis the event to
occur is almost unknown, which acts as a major disadvantage of
observation.
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11.It also takes time for the investigator to wait for a particular action to
take place.