Observations

Question 1

What does overt mean?

Answer 1

RPS know they are being studied

Question 2

What does covert mean?

Answer 2

RPS do not know they are being studied

Question 3

What are the ethical issues behind observations? (depending on overt or covert?)

Answer 3

Honesty
Data can be anonymised
Guilty knowledge
Going native

Question 4

Is this method reliable?

Answer 4

no because;

• presence of researcher could influence RPS behaviours
• diff researchers may pick out different things

Question 5

is this method valid?

Answer 5

• ecological valid (natural environment)
• Hawthorne effect (O)
• going native (C)

Question 6

is this method representative?

Answer 6

no because typically uses small scale groups, can’t resemble the target population.

Question 7

Who likes this method?

Answer 7

interpretivists- produces qualitive data and allows them to see people in a naturalistic environment. Produces valid data over reliable data and enables verstehen.

Question 8

Examples of overt observations;

Answer 8

Ventakesh- Chicago gang
Barker- the moonies
King- man in the wendyhouse (NP)

Question 9

Examples of covert observations;

Answer 9

Hammersly- teachers in staff room
Pearson- blackpool FC
Humphreys- homosexual sex in public toilets