Covert Participation Observation

Question 1

Griffin (1962)

Answer 1

• investigated racism towards black people in southern states, 60s
• southern states heavily segregated, KKK strong
• schools, cafes, hotels, transport, toilets all segregated
• black people faced discrimination in housing, jobs
• used sun lamps and medications to turn his skin black

Question 2

Humphreys (1970)

Answer 2

• interested in men who participated in sexual activity in public places
• homosexually was illegal and taboo
• acted as the ‘watch queen’s
• obtained information through license plates & police contacts got addresses + background information
• asked them to take part in ‘market research’
• disguised himself during survey so men wouldn’t recognise
• 14% of men were part of the gay community. Most involved in relationships with women (often married), but involved little sex
• alternative source of sex that was quick, private
• protected identity of respondents

Question 3

Patrick (1973)

Answer 3

• invitation from Tim, 16yrs old juvenile offender, to see what it is like in the ‘Young Team’
• ‘Young Team’ = Glasgow gang of which Tim was leader
• joined gang between October 1996 and January 1967
• had to change clothes and speech to be accepted. Almost found out when bought suit with cash instead of credit + when he fastened middle button not the top one
• gang trash a library, set things on fire, assaulted someone
• gang handed Patrick an axe for an expected fight, he abandoned the study

Question 4

Hawthorne Effect

Answer 4

• participants change their behaviour because they know they are being observed

Question 5

Going Native

Answer 5

• researcher becomes so embedded in the group they are observing that they lose objectivity and effectively become a member of

Question 6

Getting in, staying in, getting out

Answer 6

• stages of observation - joining, maintaining cover, leaving safely

Question 7

Covert

Answer 7

• participants do not know about the research

Question 8

Overt

Answer 8

• participants do know about the research

Question 9

PET analyse (Griffin)

Answer 9

Practical - first hand knowledge, hard to track
Ethical - confidentiality, deception
Theoretical - verstehen, hard to repeat (lacks structure)

Question 10

PET analyse (Humphreys)

Answer 10

Practical - access, cannot ask all questions (covert)
Ethical - anonymity, lack of consent
Theoretical - valid, low reliability

Question 11

PET analyse (Patrick)

Answer 11

Practical - no cost, limited information
Ethical - no native, deception
Theoretical - more valid (no hawthorne), lacks representativeness