What are the disadvantages of systematic observation?

Answer 1

While systematic observation can be a useful tool to scientists it can have many disadvantages as well. Scientists do not have control over outside factors that can influence the outcome of their scientific observation. This can prevent inaccurate results.

Answer 2

Disadvantages of systematic observation include potential researcher bias, limited ability to capture spontaneous behavior, and difficulties in ensuring complete objectivity. Additionally, systematic observation can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, leading to concerns about feasibility and scalability.

Answer 3

There is sometimes a great disadvantage in how easily focus can be broken and/or taken away due to even the most minute and perhaps unrelated occurrence when a person is blessed with overt observation. One with overt observation skills must learn to hone these and let them work to one's advantage. Sometimes too, seeing more than most can give you true tribulations of conscience.

Being overtly observant has lead me away from the top venue in a sport for which I used to have great passion and desire to be regularly at the top nationally in that venue. Not being able to miss the blatant cheating that goes on more each decade has turned me away after a lifetime of participation (sometime the cheating is done semi-privately, sometimes right in the open, but more and more it is acceptable by the majority of participants and the governing body in charge does little to nothing about the rule infractions). It's not that I haven't witnessed the cheating over the years; it is that now that the cheating is so much more obvious that more normally observant people are also speaking up (on the internet in the press for the sport) that I had expected the rules to finally be better enforced. Yet, to date, nothing is done to correct the problem and as a result, quite a few of us have had to take a leave of absence due to what can now be easily observed as rule infractions. One with overt observation can find "seeing" and noticing details as things to take to heart or to ignore. I am one that had taken just so much in over the years that it was just impossible to gloss over anymore.

Most still in the sport today regularly write that they didn't see anything done against the rules. I just happen to see everything and register rule infractions in my mind as wrong and not how I want to play. Again, this "ability" of overt observation has ruined my enjoyment of my chosen sport sponsored by the main United States organization of this sport. I can't just ignore or let go by what my eyes are drawn to Behind the Scenes and sometimes on the floor or field during competition. My concentration is broken, as I weigh the fairness of the situation. When I mention what has occurred, nearly all the people around me say they didn't observe such a rule infraction. I am left standing there with palms up!

Gladly, there is a second, smaller venue in which I can participate in this sport. Time will tell how long the rules will be properly followed and enforced to maintain this second-run venue as enjoyable for me and my overt observation. I am truly enjoying the ability to relax and compete in this venue.

In daily life, I think an overt level of observation can work to advantage for everybody from police officers and detectives to politicians, hairdressers and comedians! One must learn to find a beneficial outlet for this ability; otherwise the distractions can work as a great disadvantage against one's focus.