ABSTRACT

Cooper and Schindler (2001: 375) suggest that observation can be considered along three dimensions:

whether the observation is direct or indirect (the OO former requiring the presence of the observer; the latter requiring recording devices, e.g. video cameras); whether the presence of the observer is known or OO unknown (overt or covert research, whether the researcher is concealed (e.g. through a two-way mirror or hidden camera) or partially concealed, i.e. the researcher is seen but not known to be a researcher, e.g. the researcher takes up a visible role in the school); the role taken by the observer (participant to non-OO participant observation, discussed below).