observations - research methods

Question 1

what are observations?

Answer 1

observations are simply to see for ourselves what people in different cultures or situations in their everyday life

Question 2

what are different types of observations?

Answer 2

•non participant - groups observed without researcher taking part
•participant - the researcher joins the group and takes part in activities
WITHIN THESE TYPES THERE ARE:
•overt observations - open with their identity
•covert observations- researcher hides their identity

Question 3

what data does it collect

Answer 3

qualitative data

Question 4

who would prefer this method?

Answer 4

interpretivists

Question 5

practical disadvantages

Answer 5

•time consuming - patrick’s participant observation was 4 months long
•researcher needs to be trained - increased costs
•small sample collected

Question 6

practical advantages

Answer 6

•prevents the hawthorne effect
- when subjects of an study attempt to change or improve their behavior simply because it is being studied
•if the researcher is doing an overt observation it allows them to make notes

Question 7

ethical advantages

Answer 7

•overt observations - consent is given

Question 8

ethical disadvantages

Answer 8

covert observations - deception - no consent is given