• Indication
• Pros and cons
• Practical considerations
• Resources required
• References
• Examples and links

• Physical activity assessment
• Methods
• Observation
• Pros and cons

Pros and cons

Pros

• Observational procedures are flexible and allow researchers to record factors related to physical activity behavioural such as:

    - behavioural cues
    - environmental conditions
    - the presence of significant others
    - availability of toys and equipment (Trost, 2007)

• Observation can be used as a process or an outcome measure, hence is valuable to researchers and those undertaking interventions or practitioners

Cons

• The method is highly burdensome for observers and is labour intensive and expensive
• Observers must be well trained
• The data coding is laborious using older paper and pen instruments
• Observation can only be undertaken in controlledsettings and therefore can only measure physical activity in one domain at a time
• The presence of an observer may lead to a reactivity effect leading to a change in usual behaviour. Repeated measures may reduce the potential effect of reactivity (Trost, 2007).

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