Observations Flashcards
Overt Observation
Participants are aware they are being observed
Strengths of Overt Observations
-More Ethical
-Direct questions can be asked
-Note taking
-Less danger
-Easy to get in, stay in and get out
Weaknesses of Overt Observations
-Outsider may not learn all secrets of group
-Unnatural behaviour - Hawthorne effect
Impractical - some groups will not allow entry
Covert Observations
Participant are unaware they are being observed
Strengths of Covert Observations
-Forbidden Fruit
-Normal Behaviour more valid
-No other way
Weaknesses of Covert Observations
-Lack of informed consent
-Privacy
-Deception
-Guilty Knowledge
-Notr taking
-Danger
Participant Observation
Sociologist jooins group and participates in daily activities to gain insights
Strengths of Participant Observation
-Only way
-Rapport
-Empathetic understanding
- High Validity
Weaknesses of Participant Observation
-Time consuming and costly
-Hawthorne effect
-covert will have ethical issues
-judgemnt could become clouded
-lack reliability
-observer effects
Example of Covert PPT Observation
Humphreys Tea Room Trade - interested in social behaviours of homosexual men as they met in public toilets. He didnt want to participate in gay sex so developed role of watch queen and acted as a lookout. He hung around in bars in the gay scene in Chicago and got members to accept him and interviewed them pretending to do a survey on health and found 50% were married and did not reveal they were homosexual
Example of overt PPT observation
Venkatesh gang leader for a day - spent 10 years conducting overt observation of Black Kings crach gang in Chicago. On his first day he approached the gang with a questionnaire and was held at knifepoint until the gang leader arrived who he befriended and he gave him insights. However he witnesses drive bys, drug dealings and beatings. He was given the financial records of the gang giving previously unknown insights into how the economies of gangs work.
Non - Participant Observation
This is where the researcher does not participate or join in with the group, covertly or overtly
Strengths of Non ppt observation
More cost and time efficient
Possible use of quantitative data - mor reliable
More ethical
More objective
Reduces hawthorne effect if done covertly
Weaknesses of Non ppt observation
May not be practically possible
May lack validity as researcher has limited understanding from the outside
Observer effects