Disadvantage of Participant observation Flashcards
Practical (FATS)
Access: Getting In
Researchers need a contact, the right personal traits (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity), and preparation (e.g., clothing, language). In The Glasgow Gang study, James Patrick gained access through Tim, a 16-year-old gang leader, and was advised on dress and slang to blend in.
Access: Staying In
Maintaining the act is crucial. Patrick made small mistakes, such as buttoning the wrong button, which could have exposed him.
Linked Advantage (AO3)
Participant observation may be the only way to access certain groups, as criminals are unlikely to disclose illegal activities in a survey. Building rapport allows researchers to uncover hidden details. For example, Patrick’s gang showed him how they hid knives, revealing information unavailable through other methods.
Ethical
Covert participant observation raises several ethical concerns, including deception, lack of informed consent, and the inability of participants to withdraw, as they are unaware they are being studied. It also invades privacy, as researchers gain access to intimate aspects of the group’s lifestyle. In The Glasgow Gang study, James Patrick faced an ethical dilemma when he gained “guilty knowledge” of the gang’s illegal activities, such as carrying knives and vandalism. He chose not to report them to the police to maintain his cover and continue his research.
Despite ethical issues, covert research prevents the Hawthorne Effect, increasing validity. Harm from deception can be minimized through delayed publishing and anonymization. Patrick waited months before publishing his findings and changed all names to protect himself and the gang members.
Lacks Reliability
Participant observation is not standardized and is unplanned, making each observation unique. This lack of reliability is a disadvantage for positivists, as it prevents them from establishing social facts.
AO3 (Linked Advantage):
Despite lacking reliability, participant observation is flexible, allowing researchers to take a ‘bottom-up’ approach and discover the group’s worldview naturally. This flexibility is an advantage for interpretivists, as it enables them to explore new insights and aspects they may not have anticipated.
Lacks Representativeness
Participant observation often involves a small sample size due to access issues, and building rapport can take months. The observed group is unlikely to represent the broader population, which is a disadvantage for positivists as they cannot generalize findings or create laws of society.
AO3 (Linked Advantage):
A small sample size allows researchers to gain verstehen with the group, providing deep subjective insight. This is an advantage for interpretivists, as it enables close, personal involvement with the group, as seen in James Patrick’s study of the Glasgow gang’s illegal activities.
