Conducting A Participant Observation Study

Question 1

What was James Patrick’s study on a Glasgow gang?

Answer 1

• Patrick was able to gain entry to the group due to knowing a member + appearing youthful
• He had to gain the group’s trust + acceptance

Question 2

What is Sarah Thornton’s study on clubbing?

Answer 2

• Her Gender, Class + Ethnicity proved to be a barrier

- She was met with suspicion with working alongside media sources

Question 3

What did Maurice Punch’s study on police show?

Answer 3

• Striving to be accepted by a tightly-knit patrol group caused over-identification
• Over acted as a police officers to protect his ‘colleagues’

Question 4

How does Downes and Rock describe Participant Observation?

Answer 4

• ‘POs try to perform a most intricate feat’

- Required to attain a state as both an insider + outsider

Question 5

Why did James Patrick’s study on the Glasgow gang proved to be difficult to leave?

Answer 5

• He was sickened by the violence + abandoned study abruptly
• Difficult to re-enter ‘normal’ life
• Loyalty prevented the researcher to disclose all information learnt

Question 6

What are the ‘Practical Issues’ with covert observation?

Answer 6

• Researcher has to rely upon memory to not appear suspicious
• Can’t ask naive questions + scope for Hawthorne Effect
• Risk of researcher’s cover being ‘blown’

Question 7

What are the ‘Ethical Issues’ with covert observation?

Answer 7

• Immoral to deceive people to obtain information

- Researcher may have to engage in illegal activities in their ‘cover’ role