Observations Flashcards
What does covert mean?
When the participant doesn’t know they’re being observed
What does overt mean?
When participants know they’re in a study/ being observed
What is participant observation?
The researcher becomes part of the study- becomes a participant
What is non participant observation?
The researcher is not a part of the study
What is structured observation?
The participant writes down their findings on a structured sheet/ plan
What is ethnography?
Study of the culture and structure of a group of people in a society, produce highly detailed accounts of
What is a field diary?
When you write up your story observations and put them in a book
What method of observation was Humphrey’s study?
Covert participant observation
Systematic structured
Give a brief description of Humphrey’s study?
Public toilets, parks of American cities
Studied homosexual activity in male toilets from mid 60’s
Humphrey’s disguised as a gay voyeur
Advantages and disadvantages of using observations in Humphrey’s study?
Advantage- he discovered info that developed defense against intrusions of outsiders
Informative observations
Disadvantage- deception, unethical, observer effect
What method of observation did Mayo use?
Over non participant observerion
Give a brief description of Mayo’s study
1930’s into how Hawthorne electrical plant chiacago
Measured impact of variables in the work place- what kind of environment encouraged workers to work harder?
Advantages and disadvantages of observations in Mayo’s study ?
Advantages- no deception
Knew they were being studied so maybe ethical
Disadvantages- Hawthorne effect therefore not real behaviour possibly not valid
