What is a disadvantage of observation as a research method?

Observation as a research method has the disadvantage of observer presence potentially influencing the behavior of participants. When people know they are being observed, they may alter their behavior – consciously or unconsciously – in a way that does not accurately reflect their true actions or thoughts. This phenomenon is often referred to as the "Hawthorne effect," where individuals change their performance or behavior due to the awareness of being observed, leading to data that may not represent their typical behavior in an unobserved setting. This shows a critical limitation of relying solely on observation for data collection, as it can compromise the validity and reliability of the findings.

In contrast to this correct assessment, notions such as providing generous time management solutions or ensuring unbiased data collection do not apply to observational methods. Observation requires significant time and resources, and it does not automatically guarantee that data collected will be free from bias due to the observer's presence. Additionally, it does not grant researchers full access to participants' internal thoughts, as observation primarily focuses on external behaviors rather than mental processes.