Observation

Question 1

What is Participant Observation?

Answer 1

researcher takes part and becomes amember of the group they are researching

Question 2

4 Problem with Participant observation study?

Answer 2

1. Getting in
2. Staying in
3. Not going Native
4. Getting out

Question 3

Participants Observation Strength?

Answer 3

• Build report and get better insight get more rich meaningful data (Verstehen)-to understand because can emphasise with people
• High response rate

Question 4

Participant Observation Weaknesses?

Answer 4

• going native and you will lose objectivity
• Difficult to access and get in
• Time consuming because you actively take part in it

Question 5

What is Non Participant Observation?

Answer 5

the researcher watches the group from the outside without taking part.

Question 6

Advantage of Non Participant observation?

Answer 6

• Less chance of researcher losing objectivity
• Time efficient researcher just needs to observe and is more objective

Question 7

Weaknesses of Non Participant Observation?

Answer 7

• Ethical issues deception becasue participant might not know the aim
• Might not be involved and won’t understand and lose validity

Question 8

What is Overt Observation?

Answer 8

researcher tells the participants that they are being observed and what they are being observed for

Question 9

Strength of Overt Observation?

Answer 9

• Researcher can ask questions which allow Higher level of reliability
• Don’t have to fit in with group
• Can make notes not rely on memory

Question 10

Weaknesses of Overt observation?

Answer 10

• Time consuming
• Hawthorne effect
• Difficult to repeat

Question 11

What is Covert Observation?

Answer 11

the researcher doesn’t tell the participants that they are being observed until after the study is complete.

Question 12

Strength of Covert observation?

Answer 12

• Gaining access, especially to closed groups, is much easier because the does not have to seek permission.
• if respondents are not aware research is taking place, they are less likely to act differently.

Question 13

Weaknesses of Covert observation?

Answer 13

•Recording information will be difficult for researcher because they can’t take notes or record activities if they are undercover so they will forget the information and make up there own
•the covert researcher is under constant pressure due to having to ‘maintain a front’ (frontstage, if you like) and on top of this has to then record data back-stage – it’s like working two jobs.
•Maintaining cover some groups if they find out they are being research it will impact the aim of research and researcher themselves