Final answer:
The advantage of structured observation is the direct observation of behavior in realistic settings, which improves the honesty and reliability of the collected data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key advantage of structured observation over survey research is that it allows you to observe people's behavior directly. This method alleviates issues such as the imposition of expectations on respondents' behavior and reliance on their ability to accurately self-report, which are common in survey research. Direct observation facilitates the collection of data in a realistic setting, which can help ensure the honesty of the findings. Also, by using structured observation, biases such as observer bias can be mitigated through well-defined criteria for behavior recording and by assessing inter-rater reliability to ensure consistency across different observers.
In structured observation, researchers observe individuals engaged in specific, predefined tasks, such as in Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation. This can reveal much about behavioral patterns, which is particularly useful in contexts where participant observation is challenging or subjective reports via surveys may not be reliable. However, it is important to note that while observation can illustrate patterns and trends through correlations, it might not suffice for establishing causal relationships due to the often small sample sizes and the correlational nature of the data.