observations Flashcards
overt observation - practical and theoretical strength
researcher is free to ask naive Qs to clarify events if they don’t understand something that happens - helps make data valid
overt observation - practical and theoretical strength - note taking
researcher free to take notes openly in front of PPs - improves validity
overt observation - ethical strength
no ethical issues
overt observation - practical and theoretical limitations - validity
group under study may not let researcher see all their activities - undermines validity
hawthorne effect - PPs act different because they know they’re being observed - undermines validity
covert observation - practical and theoretical strength
reduces risk of hawthorne effect
covert observation - practical limitation
requires highly trained sociologist - researcher’s true identity and purpose hidden so has to maintain an act
covert observation - practical and theoretical limitation
researcher can’t take notes openly - notes are based on memory - invalid data if they forget exactly what happened
covert observation - ethical limitations
deception
researcher may have to get involved in illegal activities if observing a criminal gang - has moral duty to report to police but this would end research
non participant observation - practical strength - money
simplest and cheapest type of observation
non participant observation - practical and theoretical strength
researchers can take notes as events happen - valid
non participant observation - theoretical strength
less chance of bias as researcher not drawn into the group
non participant observation - ethical strength
usually, PPs know they’re being observed - fewer ethical issues to consider
non participant observation - theoretical limitations
tends to be overt - hawthorne effect
as researcher is not involved with group under study, there may be lack of insight - results in researcher imposing own interpretations - affects validity
