Observations

Question 1

what are the 4 types of observations

Answer 1

participant
non participant
overt
covert

Question 2

what does it mean by participant observation

Answer 2

the researcher will join a group to observe their activities as well as observing them

Question 3

what is meant by non participant observation

Answer 3

the researcher will observe the group but not take part in any activities

Question 4

what is meant by covert observation

Answer 4

this means the subject group will not know they are being studied or what they are being studied for

Question 5

what is meant by overt observation

Answer 5

the researcher is transparent about what they are researching and the participants know they are in a study

Question 6

what are two theoretical strengths of participant observations

Answer 6

• high validity due to natural setting

* rich qualitative data (interpretivists)

Question 7

give 4 practical weaknesses of participant observations

Answer 7

• hawthorne effect (if overt) affects validity
• trouble getting in/staying in/ dangerous to leave group
• personal skills of researcher required
• cant record notes(if covert) based off memory

Question 8

give 3 ethical weaknesses of participant observations

Answer 8

• difficult to ensure anonymity
• moral dilemma eg if participant commits crime
• consent issues

Question 9

give 2 theoretical weaknesses of participant observations

Answer 9

• lack reliability as less controlled and more subjective

* researcher bias could influence data; going native bc too involved ; lacks objectivity

Question 10

give 4 practical strengths of non participant observations

Answer 10

• less dangerous for researcher
• less risk of going native
• less personal skills needed
• can openly take notes

Question 11

give a theoretical strength if non participant observations

Answer 11

• more likely to be objective = more valid

* more structured = quantitative data

Question 12

give 2 theoretical weaknesses kf non participant observations

Answer 12

• lacks reliability as each observation is subjective

* lacks detail and can misinterpret data

Question 13

give a practical weakness of non participant observations

Answer 13

the hawthorne effect (if overt)

Question 14

give an ethical weakness of non participant observations

Answer 14

•(if covert) hard to obtain consent and right to withdraw

Question 15

give two practical strengths of overt observations

Answer 15

• less risk if going native + interviewer methods allowed

* observer can openly take notes

Question 16

give a theoretical strength of overt observations

Answer 16

more reliable than ckvert

Question 17

give an ethical strength if overt observations

Answer 17

•consent easily gained

Question 18

give a practical weakness if overt observations

Answer 18

hawthorne effect

Question 19

give two theoretical weaknesses of overt observations

Answer 19

lacks reliability (difficult to repeat)
less valid (hawthorne effect)

Question 20

give two practical strengths if covert observations

Answer 20

• no hawthorne effect

* more access to more groups

Question 21

give two theoretical strengths of covert observations

Answer 21

• rich detailed data

* more valid than overt

Question 22

give 3 practical weaknesses of covert observations

Answer 22

• takes time to build rapport
• memory based bc cant take notes openly
• danger of going native

Question 23

give 4 ethical weaknesses of covert observations

Answer 23

• building rapport may lead to deception
• no consent
• moral dilemmas
• potential danger /harm

Question 24

give two theoretical weaknesses of covert observations

Answer 24

• lacks reliability

* going native affects validity bc researcher bias

Question 25

give two practical weaknesses of all observations

Answer 25

small scale = lacks representativeness

time consuming

Question 26

give 3 examples of participant observation studies (include if overt or covert)

Answer 26

the glasgow gang
tearoom trade
black like me

Question 27

what happened in the glasgow gang observation

Answer 27

researcher met Tim, gang member, who introduced him and protected him in gang so he could research; eventually fled due to danger and violence

Question 28

what happened in the tea room trade observation

Answer 28

researcher became a ‘watch queen’ for men in toilets and often questioned them after; fact checked by returning to their houses as a health surveyor

Question 29

what happened in the observation study black like me

Answer 29

researcher physically altered his appearance for 6 weeks and went thru normal life like that; recurved a lot of backlash