Name two types of observations. 1 2

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Covert; [1] Overt; [1] Participant; [1] Non-participant; [1] Controlled; [1] Naturalistic;
2. [1] Covert: Because the participants are unaware that they are being observed; [1] So are less likely to show socially desirable behaviour (than in overt observations) / So are less likely to be aware of the aim / will be affected less by demand characteristics; [1] Overt: Valid observations may be impossible with a hidden observer; [1] e.g. in a natural group outdoors, overt observations must be used (otherwise the situation would become artificial); [1] Participant: The observer is well placed to observe behaviour clearly / to experience the intensity of a social event; [1] So observations are unlikely to be confounded by poor access / So observations are more likely to represent the situation in a more complete / complex way; [1] Non-participant: The observer is unlikely to become biased by individuals or events; [1] So observations are likely to be more objective than in participant observation / So observations are more likely to represent the situation in a more complete / complex way; [1] Controlled: Situation is guaranteed to elicit the target behaviour is a specific way; [1] So observations are likely to be more objective than in participant observation / So observations are more likely to represent the situation in a more complete / complex way; [1] Naturalistic: Situation is (like) everyday life so will elicit genuine target behaviour; [1] So observations are more likely to represent behaviours of people who are not in a study (than a controlled situation);