Observations

Question 1

What are the 4 types of observation ?

Answer 1

• Participant
• Non-Participant
• covert
• Overt

Question 2

What type of data do observations produce and who are they favoured by?

Answer 2

• Qualitative
• Favoured by interpretivists

Question 3

Evaluate overt observations

Answer 3

Strengths :
P - Access - openly make notes
E- consent
T- representative

Weakness:
P- time-consuming
E- intrusive
T- unvalid - Punch - police officers in Amsterdam, one said after that they only showed him what they wanted him to see

Question 4

Evaluate covert observations

Answer 4

Strengths :
P- cheap
E- Debrief
T- Representative

Weakness:
P- time consuming - Vankatesh - 8 years
E- harm to researcher - Patrick looked at NYC gang and nearly got caught as he buttons the wrong button on his blazer and paid for a suit with cash and not credit
T- valid - Ditton- hard to take notes, had to use bathroom to make notes on bread delivery men theft and they got suspicious

Question 5

Evaluate participant observations

Answer 5

Strengths:
P- only way to access deviant groups - yablonsky
E- confidentiality/ anonymity
T- valid - no Hawthorne effect

Weakness:
P- time consuming - Humphrey tea room trade - go back a year later to interview them
E- no consent / deception - Vankatesh
T- unreliable