non- participant observation Flashcards
What is a non-participant observation?
The researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording.
name 5 examples of non-participant observation?
king’s study on childrens behaviour in the classroom, parker study on deviant groups, humphrey’s study on homosexuals in the 1960s. ofsted and willis study on wc boys
summarise king’s study?and what kind of observation was it?
a overt observation at first to study the behavour of children in the classroom although he realised that the children acted differntly due to his presence and asked the taecher if he could hide in the wendy house at the back of the classroom which she’s allowed
summarise humphery’s study and what kind of observation was this?and why was it a non-participant one?
wanted to study homosexuals in 1960s so he observed gay encounters in 90 public toilets, he was covert cuz they didnt know he was a researcher and it was non-participant because he did not engage in any sexual encounters
summarise parker’s study?was it overt or covert? why
he investigated deviant groups in liverpool and he frequently stopped the boys from commiting crimes to help with guilty knowlege. and it was overt as the boys know he was a researcher
summarise ofsted?what can it cause?covert or overt?why
inspectors that come in and inspect how a school is and how pupils and teacher interact although, was an overt observation as students know they are there to observe which could cause the hawthorne affect
summarise willis study? and why it was non-participant?
observed wc boys at school and while observing he did not participate in any of the boys activities
name a practical strength of non-participant observations?explain
flexibility as it allows the researcher to be flexible when something emerges so they can change thier focus and follow new interest
name a study in which non-participant observations provided flexibity?
humphery’s study he was able to consider why the men where engaging in the actions and was able to write down there number plates which he would not be able to do if he participated
name another practical strength of non participant observations?explain
getting in,staying in and getting out. access issues are reduced, the researcher does not have to fit into the group as he is not participating so he will not have to become one of them
name an example of where non-participant observations helped with, getting in, staying in and getting out?
parker study as it would be hard for he to fit in with the groups due to him being a middle aged man and them being teenagers if he used participant observation for example
name an ethical strength of a non-participant observation? and why?example
less likely to engage in criminal behaviour as they dont have to participate in the group if they are investigating deviant groups like in parker’s study
name a theoritcal strength of non-participant observations?
objectivity as the researcher is not paticipating in the research and influencing it
name a theoretical limitation of non-participant observation and give an example?
could get the hawthrone effect similar to participant observation as the presence of the researcher may change some of the groups behaviour e.g ofsted
name another theoretical limitation of non-participant observation?example
lack of versteshen because the researcher is not participating they can not fully be in the participants shoes like with humphery’s study
