- Practice
- To be used effectively, observation requires great deal of practice.
- Observer presence
- Presence of observer will affect behaviours, therefore disturbances must be minimised.
- Objectivity
- Difficult to remain objective – therefore ethical – when asking detailed questions to enhance understanding.
- Element of chance
- Chance event occurring may be taken as a regular occurrence if observations not taken over prolonged period of time.
- Interpretation
- May observe someone talking idly whereas they may actually be on a break.
- Selectivity
- May be selective in what is observed and recorded. E.g. behaviour in IT support department will not be typical of behaviour in other departments.
Potential problems gathering information by observation
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