What are the advantages and disadvantages of observation?

The main advantages of observation method are:

1. It can obtain information directly through observation without other intermediate links. So the observed data is more real.

2. Observed in the natural state, vivid data can be obtained.

3. Observation has the advantage of immediacy, which can capture what is happening.

4. Observation can collect some unspeakable materials.

The main limitations and shortcomings of the observation method are:

1. Due to the time limit, some events have a certain time limit, and will not happen again after this time.

2. Limited by the observed object. For example, studying juvenile delinquency, some secret gangs generally don't let others observe.

3. Limited by the observer himself. On the one hand, human senses have physiological limitations, and it is difficult to observe directly beyond this range. On the other hand, the observation results will also be influenced by subjective consciousness.

Observers can only observe external phenomena and some material structures, but can't directly observe the essence of things and people's ideology.

5. Observation method is not suitable for large-scale investigation.