Observation with context links to education

Question 1

Observations

Answer 1

• interpretivists favour it as it produces valid findings
• observations allow the sociologist to see real behaviour in the natural setting
• participant observation involves the researcher taking part in the event they’re observing
• non participant observation allows the researcher to watch the event without taking part
• overt observation is when the researchers identity and purpose is known to the participants
• covert involves the researcher to remain under cover with their identity
• positivists rarely use observation and when they do they use structured observation and turned into quantitative date

Question 2

Structured/unstructured observation

Answer 2

• structured: allows the researcher to classify the behaviours they witness into categories making it easier to analyse
• unstructured is much more free as the researcher simply records what they’ve observed

Question 3

Participant observation

Answer 3

• produce really valid data as they experience first hand events, authenticity increases with covert observation as the researcher’s identity and aims are not known by the participant

Question 4

overt observation

Answer 4

• has no ethical implications that covert can have
• participants are aware of the sociologist and their purpose so this avoids any deception and allows for practical advs such as ensuring that the sociologist can freely take written notes of behaviour

Question 5

EVALUATION (OBSERVATIONS)

Answer 5

• participants may be wary of outsiders or people new to their social group
• covert research can be considered unethical as its breaches the need for informed consent
• participants are deceived by the researcher and must be debriefed
• participant observation is difficult with large samples therefore it lacks representiveness
• Hawthorne effect may occur when behaviour changes because they knows they’re being studied
• overt observation is less valid than covert
• when noting observations the sociologist may influence the behaviour of the sample

Question 6

Observation in the context of education

Answer 6

• interactions that take place in education are often in closed settings such as the classroom. Access to the classroom is controlled by a number of gatekeepers from the head teachers to the school governors
• pupils may also change their behaviour as they see the researcher as an authority figure in the class
• observations in school has its practical advantages because parent permission isn’t needed
• covert and participant approaches are likely not to be possible in school setting