Observations

Question 1

Overt Observation

Answer 1

Participants are aware they are being observed

Question 2

Strengths of Overt Observations

Answer 2

-More Ethical
-Direct questions can be asked
-Note taking
-Less danger
-Easy to get in, stay in and get out

Question 3

Weaknesses of Overt Observations

Answer 3

-Outsider may not learn all secrets of group
-Unnatural behaviour - Hawthorne effect
Impractical - some groups will not allow entry

Question 4

Covert Observations

Answer 4

Participant are unaware they are being observed

Question 5

Strengths of Covert Observations

Answer 5

-Forbidden Fruit
-Normal Behaviour more valid
-No other way

Question 6

Weaknesses of Covert Observations

Answer 6

-Lack of informed consent
-Privacy
-Deception
-Guilty Knowledge
-Notr taking
-Danger

Question 7

Participant Observation

Answer 7

Sociologist jooins group and participates in daily activities to gain insights

Question 8

Strengths of Participant Observation

Answer 8

-Only way
-Rapport
-Empathetic understanding
- High Validity

Question 9

Weaknesses of Participant Observation

Answer 9

-Time consuming and costly
-Hawthorne effect
-covert will have ethical issues
-judgemnt could become clouded
-lack reliability
-observer effects

Question 10

Example of Covert PPT Observation

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Example of overt PPT observation

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Non - Participant Observation

Answer 12

This is where the researcher does not participate or join in with the group, covertly or overtly

Question 13

Strengths of Non ppt observation

Answer 13

More cost and time efficient
Possible use of quantitative data - mor reliable
More ethical
More objective
Reduces hawthorne effect if done covertly

Question 14

Weaknesses of Non ppt observation

Answer 14

May not be practically possible
May lack validity as researcher has limited understanding from the outside
Observer effects