What is one criticism of overt non-participant observation?

One criticism of overt non-participant observation is that it alters participants' behavior due to their awareness of being observed. When individuals know they are being watched, they may modify their actions and interactions, consciously or unconsciously, to present themselves in a certain way. This phenomenon is known as the Hawthorne effect, where people change their behavior because they are aware of the observation. As a result, the data collected may not accurately reflect their typical behavior in natural settings, potentially compromising the validity of the research findings.

In contrast, while time consumption, ethical considerations, and data analysis demands are relevant factors in research methodology, they do not directly relate to the immediate impact on participants' behavior like awareness does. Thus, the influence of observer presence is a specific and significant concern in overt non-participant observation.