Evaluate participant, non-participant, naturalistic, overt, and covert observations

Question 1

Characteristics of participant observations (3)

Answer 1

• researcher becomes part of target group under investigation
• focus is on natural behaviour in natural context
• researcher acts as instrument of data collection by being personally involved in participants environment
  = researcher must be able to initiate and maintain relationships

Question 2

Strengths of participant observations (3)

Answer 2

• generates detailed, in-depth info
• holistic approach: useful in exploring socially sensitive issues because the researcher can take many diff aspects of topic into consideration
• good method to avoid researcher bias because aim is to understand social processes from participant perspective

Question 3

Limitations of participant observations (4)

Answer 3

• data collection and analysis is very time consuming
• groups so small difficult to generalise findings
• highly invasive research method: can influence peoples lives
• difficult to keep balance between involvement and detachment = researcher may lose objectivity = need reflexivity

Question 4

Characteristics of non-participant observation (3)

Answer 4

• unobtrusive method: researcher does not take part merely observes and records
• can take place in natural setting
• will inform participants in general terms so they do not change behaviour

Question 5

Strength of non-participant observations (4)

Answer 5

• easier to collect data than participant observations
• researcher can observe natural behaviour
• useful way of observing small groups/ interactions between individuals
• observational data can be cross-checked with other observers to establish credibility

Question 6

Limitations of non-participant observations (4)

Answer 6

• reactivity: risk that presence of researcher influences data
• deception may be necessary to avoid reactivity
• artificiality: difficult to know that natural behaviour is recorded esp in lab observations
• coding of observational data = difficult
• analysis can be time consuming and costly

Question 7

Characteristics of naturalistic observations (3)

Answer 7

• natural environment
• researcher spends long time “in the field” to become familiar with participants’ natural environment
• observations in the field can be complemented with interview data or quantitative data (questionnaires)

Question 8

Strengths of naturalistic observations (3)

Answer 8

• researcher can observe natural behaviour in natural environment = increase ecological validity
• can be combined with controlled lab observations and data from other qualitative methods = increase credibility
• can be cross-checked with other observers to establish credibility

Question 9

Limitations of naturalistic observations (2)

Answer 9

• ethical issues if naturalistic observation is covert

- analysis of data can be time consuming and costly esp if observation is unstructured

Question 10

Strengths of overt observation (2)

Answer 10

• participants can be informed about the topic and give informed consent
• data collection can be triangulated with interview data

Question 11

Limitations of overt observation (2)

Answer 11

• researchers may lose objectivity and become too involved

- reactivity: researchers presence is potential source of bias = decrease ecological validity

Question 12

Strengths of covert observations (2)

Answer 12

• possible to study groups that could not be studied otherwise/ when vital to avoid reactivity
• limited or no reactivity since participants don’t know about research

Question 13

Limitations of covert observations (2)

Answer 13

• participants are not informed about research and cannot give informed consent
• can be dangerous if participants find out about study