Chapter 7 - Field Research, Participant Observation, and Case Studies Flashcards
According to lecture, what is the most natural form of data collection employed by social scientists?
The direct observation of social phenomena in natural settings
When did academic field research begin?
In the late 19th century with anthropology
Where did sociological field research begin?
In the US at the University of Chicago
What three principles emerged from sociological field research?
- study people in their natural setting
- study people by directly interacting with them
- gain an understanding of the social world and make theoretical statements based on the members’ perspectives
What is participant observation?
Researchers study a group in its natural setting by participating in the activities of the group
What is Weber’s verstehen approach?
researchers understand a group by immersing themselves in that group
What is Glaser’s and Strauss’s grounded theory approach?
Developing a theory during data gathering rather than artificially predetermining which hypotheses will be looked at
According to lecture, what three things are included in field research?
- Direct observation
- Participant observation
- Case Studies
What are field notes?
the keeping of a detailed field and extensive diary during field
What is word crunching?
The use of computers in qualitative analysis
What are mnemonics?
Simple memorizing devices that are particularly useful in field studies
What is visual criminology?
The use of photographs in field studies
According to lecture, what activity is field research a part of?
theory-generating activity
According to lecture, what types of social phenomena are addressed by field research?
-acts
-activities
-meanings
-participation
-relationship
-settings
What state did Lehman do his 2-day expo at?
Michigan
In what state was the dispensary where Lehman did his field research?
California
In the textbook, how did Hamm display him when interviewing skinheads?
He presented himself as a sociologist operating independently of law enforcement
Which country has the largest per capita rate in the world in terms of adult incarceration?
USA
What tips does Trulson, et al. provide for breaking into prison?
- get a contact
- establish yourself
- showing up when it’s convenient for them (the little things)
- Make sense of agency data by keeping in contact.
- Deliver competent, readable reports on time.
- Request to brief the agency and give a formal presentation of your findings.
- Write a personal thank-you note to everyone involved.
- Deal with adversity by planning ahead.
- Inform the agency of data use, including providing copies of the publication.
- Maintain trust by staying in for the long haul and keep in contact.
What do critics of quantitative research suggest about the relationship between attitude and behavior?
Little relationship exists between them; more sensitizing strategies involving field studies contain greater accuracy
What did LaPiere discover about attitude vs behavior?
The disparity between what people say (attitudes) and what people do (deeds) illustrates the hazards of attitudinal measurement of behavioral items.
What are the issues in field research/participation observation?
-Objectivity in research
-Going native (overidentifying with the group studied)
According to lecture, how may people modify their behavior if they find out you’re studying them?
-expelling you from the group/setting
-changing their speech/behavior toward social norms
-changing the overall social process itself
What is disguised observation?
Informed consent of subjects is not sought and researchers pretend to be part of the study group
What are the types of participant observation?
-complete participation
-participant as observer
-observer as participant
-complete observation
What is objectivity?
basic canon of research; approach to subject matter from an unbiased, ethically neutral, or value-free perspective
According to lecture, what are the general procedures in participant observation?
-gaining access
-sampling (ex: snowball)
-field notes/mnemonics
-reciprocity and protection of identity
What are the advantages of transferring to the street with a trusted native?
- having a guide to the territory
- you’re introduced to some groups
What is reciprocity in field research?
The researcher permits the subjects to study him or her by answering questions they may ask
What are some examples of participation observation?
-Humphrey’s tearoom trade
-Adler & Adler’s wheeling and dealing
-lehman’s research
What is Adler & Adler’s wheeling and dealing?
involved interviewing and observing cocaine and marijuana dealers and smugglers for six years
What did Martin Sanchez Jankowski study?
37 gangs in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles of color. He didn’t act like a researcher; he did what they did unless they were illegal
What did “This Thing, of Darkness: The Sociology of the Enemy” and “The Politics of Righteousness: Idaho Christian Patriotism, Sociologist Jim Aho” conduct a participant observation on?
right-wing hate groups to investigate what kind of people join those groups and how people get in/out of them
What are the studies “Stripteasers” and “Cavan’s Liquor License” about?
Mating behavior in singles bars
What are the advantages of participant observation?
-direct connection to what is being studied
-fun, interesting, sometimes dangerous
-flexible way to investigate phenomena
What are the disadvantages of participant observation?
-take time, money
-danger of “going native”
-ethical dilemmas
-yields nonquantitative data
What are case studies?
In-depth qualitative studies of one or a few illustrative cases
ex: life history/oral history, journalistic field studies (60 minutes, 20/20)
What was the case study The Professional Thief about?
Chic Conwell, Sutherland’s assistant describes the world of the professional thief
What are single-subject designs?
Quantitative case studies that involve longitudinal measurement of a dependent variable on a single subject or case (N=1)
What are the different single subject designs?
Basic AB design - A B
Reversal design - ABA, ABAB
Multiple treatment design - ABACA
What is process evaluation?
establishment of relationships between results and project inputs and activities
