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Which of the following are limitations of the observation method of collecting data?

a. The willingness of a respondent to provide data
b. The memory of a respondent to accurately report data
c. The honesty of a respondent when providing data
d. All of these are limitations of the observation method of collecting data.
e. None of these are limitations of the observation method of collecting data.

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The limitations listed, such as respondent's willingness, memory, and honesty, are related to self-reported data, not observational methods. In observational research, the observer records what they see without participant input, so these issues are not relevant. Other issues like observer bias and limited generalizability are actual limitations of observational studies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The limitations of the observation method of collecting data do not include the willingness of a respondent to provide data, the memory of a respondent to accurately report data, or the honesty of a respondent when providing data. These are limitations associated with self-reported data, such as in surveys or interviews. In contrast, observational research involves a researcher directly observing subjects and behaviors without asking participants for their input, thus these limitations are unrelated to the observation method. However, observational studies do have other limitations, such as observer bias, where researchers might unconsciously skew their observations to fit their expectations, and issues with generalizability due to small sample sizes.

When considering the given options: a) willingness of a respondent to provide data, b) memory of a respondent to accurately report data, c) honesty of a respondent when providing data, and d) All of these are limitations of the observation method of collecting data, the correct answer is e) None of these are limitations of the observation method of collecting data.

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