Participant Observation Flashcards
Participant Observation is when the researcher ? the group or social s___ that’s being studied.
joins
situation
The aim of a participant observation is to understand what?
What’s happened from the participant’s point of view (POV) and ‘get inside their heads’
Participant observations usually take how long?
months or years
Which type of sociologist favours participant observation and why?
{2reasons}
interpretivists
- ) produces in depth data
- ) establishes social reality
Participant observations can be either c___ or ov___.
covert
overt
The case study for an OVERT participant observation is?
Street Corner Society - Whyte
{Overt Participant Observation}
Whyte did his study in which part of America?
Chicago
{Overt Participant Observation}
Whyte spent time with what type of group? –> 4 characteristics
Poor
Inner City
Males
In a gang
{Overt Participant Observation}
Why did whyte’s research have to be overt?
He was a lot older than the boys in the gang so would stand out if he tried to do it covertly.
{Overt Participant Observation}
who did Whyte use to gain access to the gang?
Gang leader
Doc
{Overt Participant Observation}
Whyte told the gang that he was observing them because?
he was writing a book
{Overt Participant Observation}
What language did Whyte learn in order to fit in with the gang?
Italian
The case study for a COVERT participant observation is ?
Black like me - Griffin
{Covert Participant Observation}
Griffin studied racism in southern America in which time period?
1950’s
{Covert Participant Observation}
Who was Griffin and what did he do?
a white journalist who dyed his skin black
{Covert Participant Observation}
What does Griffin’s ‘black like me’ study show?
the lengths some researchers are willing to go to.
a PRACTICAL strength of participant observations is that what type of groups can be studied?
groups on the edge of society
{PRACTICAL STRENGTH}
c__/deviant acts are unlikely to be revealed when asked ?,
so by doing an observation of such groups you can study them properly.
criminal
directly
{ETHICAL STRENGTH}
how is the researcher able to look into sensitive/unusual topics?
Being in a natural environment inspires honesty
+ by being in their natural, everyday setting the participants are less at risk of harm because they’re in control
The THEORETICAL strength of participant observations is which V?
Verstehen
How does an OVERT participant observation achieve verstehen?
The researcher can ask extra questions and is basically seeing life from the POV of the participants
a PRACTICAL limitation of participant observations is the process of?
getting in, staying in and getting out
{PRACTICAL LIMITATION}
some groups wont be willing to let someone in or are hard to even ?
the researcher must be skilled to a__t and manage to stay in the group
access
adapt
{PRACTICAL LIMITATION}
The act of ? can be very difficult once a _____ has been established
getting out
relationship
A possible ETHICAL limitation of participant observation is?
deception
{ETHICAL LIMITATION} : deception whilst being covert is self explanatory
however
overt participant observation can also be deceptive because the researcher might lie about the nature of their research as seen in the case of?
Whyte - street corner society (book)
a THEORETICAL limitation of participant observation could be which ‘effect’?
Hawthorne Effect
{THEORETICAL LIMITATION} : just by having someone new enter the group,
whether it be c__ or overt, the ? of individuals might change for reasons such as
[2]
covert
behaviour
social desirability/criminal behaviour not wanting to be shown
