Covert Participant Observation Previous Page Observer Effect
Dave's attempts to hide his video camera from the group were taken to ridiculous lengths... The potential problem of an observer effect is avoided precisely because the group are unaware they're being studied. The researcher, therefore,  can safely assume they really are observing people's "normal behaviour". However, although this is a clear strength of the method, it is not without it's problems.

As Howard Parker ("A View From The Boys") discovered, his involvement with a juvenile gang (although covert) changed their behaviour not because of his presence in the group but because of his actions as part of the group. Parker, for example, frequently tried to stop gang members from stealing cars and he also provided legal advice to gang members charged with theft.  The question here, therefore, was the extent to which his behaviour changed the behaviour of the group...