Evaluate the strengths and limitations of using covert participant observation to investigate pupils with behavioural difficulties

Applying material from item B and your knowledge of research methods, evaluate the strengths and limitations of using covert participant observation to investigate pupils with behavioural difficulties. (20 Marks)
Pupils who experience behavioural problems within the education system are often male and from a working class background. Sociologists may choose to study children using covert participant observation (cbo) to increase validity. Studying children in general can however, raise many practical and ethical issues.
Access is the main practical issue in this investigation. Gatekeepers such as other teachers prohibit access to the children. In order to gain lawful access, cbo would allow the sociologist to take on the role of an assistant teacher. This would raise ethical issues such as deception of both the children and staff. If access is successful, the method will allow the researcher to ‘witness directly the pupils behaviour’ wiping out the chance of creating a hawthorne effect and increasing validity.
