8.1.3

Covert, Overt & Controlled Observation

Test yourself on Covert, Overt & Controlled Observation

After reading these notes, test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Covert, Overt & Controlled Observation

You need to know the difference between covert and overt observation. You also need to know what a controlled observation is.

Covert observation (under cover)

Covert observation (under cover)

  • Participants are unaware they are being observed and this reduces demand characteristics; participants act naturally.
  • However, participants have not given consent and therefore it is unethical. Care must be taken not to invade participant’s privacy. As a general rule, it is permissible to observe people in a public place, where they could reasonably expect that others may witness their behaviour. However, in psychological research you are not allowed to record observations using video or audio equipment without the participants’ consent.
Overt observation (in the open)

Overt observation (in the open)

  • Participants are aware they are being observed.
  • This is obviously more ethical but leads to demand characteristics (remember how your teachers’ behaviour changed when they had an Ofsted inspector in the room).
Controlled observation

Controlled observation

  • Unlike in naturalistic observation, in a controlled observation the researcher has set up a situation and observes what happens.
  • It is not an experiment as there are no independent and dependent variables.
  • Mary Ainsworth’s (1969) Strange Situation is an example of a controlled observation.
Jump to other topics
1

Social Influence

2

Memory

3

Attachment

4

(2026 Exams) Psychopathology

5

(2027 Exams) Clinical Psychology & Mental Health

6

Approaches in Psychology

7

Biopsychology

8

Research Methods

8.1

Research Methods

8.2

Scientific Processes

8.3

Data Handling & Analysis

8.4

Inferential Testing

9

Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

10

Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10.1

Relationships: Sexual Relationships (A2 only)

10.2

Relationships: Romantic Relationships (A2 only)

10.3

(2026 Exams) Relationships: Virtual (A2 only)

10.4

(2027 Exams) Relationships: Online (A2 only)

11

Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

12

Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

13

Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

14

Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

15

Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

16

Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

17

Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

18

Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

Practice questions on Covert, Overt & Controlled Observation

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
  2. 2
Answer all questions on Covert, Overt & Controlled Observation

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium