A sociologist used an observation to investigate social cohesion and helpfulness in different urban environments. They decided to conduct a covert observation in three locations: a busy train station platform, a quiet public square, and a local supermarket checkout area. Members of the public who were present in these locations formed the sample. The researcher recorded specific occurrences of helping behavior, such as assisting someone who dropped their belongings, holding open a manual door, or offering directions to a seemingly lost individual.
Outline one strength of using a covert observation in this study rather than obtaining self-report data.
644 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Psychology Research methods and techniques. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.