Observation - Theoretical Advantages and Disadvantages

Question 1

Which sociologists identify advantages of observation?

Answer 1

Interpretivists

Question 2

What does PO allow researchers to join and see? (Advantage)

Answer 2

To fully join the group and see things through eyes of people in the group

Question 3

What does being placed in the same situations as the group allow researcher to do? (Advantage)

Answer 3

Understand the perspective of the group more than other researchers

Question 4

What can researchers gain and generate from PO? (Advantage)

Answer 4

Gain completely new insights and generate new theoretical ideas, unlike traditional research

Question 5

What does PO allow researchers to be? (Advantage)

Answer 5

Open-minded

Question 6

What problem of questionnaires is prevented when using PO? (Advantage)

Answer 6

Problem of the respondent lying

Question 7

Why can’t the respondent lie during a PO?

Answer 7

Because the researcher can see the person on action and gain an understanding of why the group members may lie

Question 8

When researchers build a rapport with the group members, what may individuals in the group be prepared to do? (Advantage)

Answer 8

Tell the researcher views that would normally remain hidden

Question 9

As PO takes place over a long period of time, what does PO allow researchers to gain an understanding of? (Advantage)

Answer 9

How changes in attitudes and behaviours take place

Question 10

What does PO researcher reflect? (Advantage)

Answer 10

Everyday life

Question 11

Which sociologists identify disadvantages with PO?

Answer 11

Positivists

Question 12

Why aren’t PO usually representative? (Disadvantage)

Answer 12

Because they are vert small studied with a haphazardly selected sample, not making sound basis for generalisations to be made

Question 13

Why aren’t PO considered to be reliable? (Disadvantage)

Answer 13

Because hey are dependent on researcher’s personal skills and characteristics, making it unlikely that another researcher would be able to replicate study

Question 14

What is difficult as a result of PO producing qualitative data? (Disadvantage)

Answer 14

Making comparisons with other studies

Question 15

What may cause a researcher to withhold sensitive information from the publishing of their observations? (Disadvantage)

Answer 15

Loyalty to the group or fear of reprisals

Question 16

Why do positivists reject the idea that PO gives insight and an authentic account? (Disadvantage)

Answer 16

Because they believed they give a subjective biased impression

Question 17

Why don’t the results of a PO have total validity?

Answer 17

Because PO records what the researcher sees as important which fits into their pre-existing prejudices

Question 18

How may the Hawthorne Effect be present in PO? (Disadvantage)

Answer 18

People being observed overtly may alter their behaviour

Question 19

Which sociologists see PO as inadequate (not positivists)? (Disadvantage)

Answer 19

Structural socialists like Marxists and Functionalists

Question 20

Why do structural sociologists see PO as inadequate? (Disadvantage)

Answer 20

Because it is micro level, meaning it ignores all structural forces that shape behaviour

Question 21

What is the only view that PO gives due to their lack of structure? (Disadvantage)

Answer 21

Only a partial view