Participant Observation

Question 1

Participant Observation is when the researcher ? the group or social s___ that’s being studied.

Answer 1

joins

situation

Question 2

The aim of a participant observation is to understand what?

Answer 2

What’s happened from the participant’s point of view (POV) and ‘get inside their heads’

Question 3

Participant observations usually take how long?

Answer 3

months or years

Question 4

Which type of sociologist favours participant observation and why?

{2reasons}

Answer 4

interpretivists

1. ) produces in depth data
2. ) establishes social reality

Question 5

Participant observations can be either c___ or ov___.

Answer 5

covert

overt

Question 6

The case study for an OVERT participant observation is?

Answer 6

Street Corner Society - Whyte

Question 7

{Overt Participant Observation}

Whyte did his study in which part of America?

Answer 7

Chicago

Question 8

{Overt Participant Observation}

Whyte spent time with what type of group? –> 4 characteristics

Answer 8

Poor

Inner City

Males

In a gang

Question 9

{Overt Participant Observation}

Why did whyte’s research have to be overt?

Answer 9

He was a lot older than the boys in the gang so would stand out if he tried to do it covertly.

Question 10

{Overt Participant Observation}

who did Whyte use to gain access to the gang?

Answer 10

Gang leader

Doc

Question 11

{Overt Participant Observation}

Whyte told the gang that he was observing them because?

Answer 11

he was writing a book

Question 12

{Overt Participant Observation}

What language did Whyte learn in order to fit in with the gang?

Answer 12

Italian

Question 13

The case study for a COVERT participant observation is ?

Answer 13

Black like me - Griffin

Question 14

{Covert Participant Observation}

Griffin studied racism in southern America in which time period?

Answer 14

1950’s

Question 15

{Covert Participant Observation}

Who was Griffin and what did he do?

Answer 15

a white journalist who dyed his skin black

Question 16

{Covert Participant Observation}

Why did Griffin dye his skin?

Answer 16

So that black individuals would feel comfortable speaking to him about their experiences/thoughts of racism.

Question 17

{Covert Participant Observation}

What does Griffin’s ‘black like me’ study show?

Answer 17

the lengths some researchers are willing to go to.

Question 18

a PRACTICAL strength of participant observations is that what type of groups can be studied?

Answer 18

groups on the edge of society

Question 19

{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.

Answer 19

criminal

directly

Question 20

a ETHICAL strength of participant observations is that the researcher can look into what type of topics?

Answer 20

sensitive/unusual

Question 21

{ETHICAL STRENGTH}

how is the researcher able to look into sensitive/unusual topics?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

The THEORETICAL strength of participant observations is which V?

Answer 22

Verstehen

Question 23

How does an OVERT participant observation achieve verstehen?

Answer 23

The researcher can ask extra questions and is basically seeing life from the POV of the participants

Question 24

How does a COVERT participant observation achieve verstehen?

Answer 24

The reseracher is assumingly observing natural behaviour

Question 25

a **PRACTICAL** limitation of participant observations is the process of?

Answer 25

getting in, staying in and getting out

Question 26

**{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

Answer 26

access adapt

Question 27

**{PRACTICAL LIMITATION}** The act of ? can be very difficult once a _____ has been established

Answer 27

getting out relationship

Question 28

A possible **ETHICAL** limitation of participant observation is?

Answer 28

deception

Question 29

**{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?

Answer 29

Whyte - street corner society (book)

Question 30

a **THEORETICAL** limitation of participant observation could be which 'effect'?

Answer 30

Hawthorne Effect

Question 31

**{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]**

Answer 31

covert behaviour social desirability/criminal behaviour not wanting to be shown