Participant Observation

Question 1

non-participant observation

Answer 1

the researcher only observes e.g two way mirros to look at children playing

Question 2

participant observation

Answer 2

researcher takes part while observing

Question 3

overt

Answer 3

researchers identity and purpose is known throughout

Question 4

covert

Answer 4

‘undercover’ study
The researchers identity and aims are not known to the participants and the researcher has a false identity

Question 5

William Whyte- ‘street corner society’

Answer 5

-semi overt, only revealed information to a key member of the group

Question 6

structured participant observation

Answer 6

-non participant using structured observational schedule to categorise systematically what happens
-preferred by positivists
- the schedule is pre determined and we look at the behaviour and record it into quantitative

Question 7

observation in interviews

Answer 7

looking at the interviewees body language to see if they are lying

Question 8

two issues when conducting a PO study

Answer 8

1. getting in, staying in and getting out of the group being studied
2. whether to use overt or covert observation

Question 9

getting in

Answer 9

• its harder to join groups like criminal gangs than others

Question 10

making contact

Answer 10

-making contact depends on personal skill, good connections or luck
-PATRICK was able to join the Glasgow gang because he looked quite young and knew a member from teaching him previously

Question 11

acceptance

Answer 11

GRIFFIN a white man in 1959 used medication and lamp treatment to change skin colour and went to THE SOUTH OF USA to experience the impact of white racism.
During this time there were segregation and black people faced discrimination

Question 12

what role should the researcher adopt?

Answer 12

• dont disrupt the groups normal pattern
  -offer a good vantage point from which to make observations

Question 13

however…

Answer 13

its not always possible to take a role that has a good vantage point like taking sides of conflictwith the result the researcher becomes personally involves, this can result to ethical issues

Question 14

staying in

Answer 14

researcher has to be involved with the group but also be detached and objective and unbiased

Question 15

‘going native’

Answer 15

over- identifying with the group and becoming a member

Question 16

Punch

Answer 16

he over identified with the patrol group to be accepted and acted like a ‘policemen’ himself e.g. shouting and searching people

Question 17

Another problem

Answer 17

-the longer you spend with the group the more you fail to notice strange things so the observer becomes less observant
- Whyte- “ i started as a non-participating observer and ended as a non-observing particiapnt’

Question 18

getting out

Answer 18

• rentering the world can be difficult ( Whyte, communication) this can be worse with the research was on and off
  -loyalty may prevent full disclosure e.g. criminal gangs– this reduces validity

Question 19

overt observation- advantages

Answer 19

-avoids ethical issues
-allows the observer to ask ‘naive’ questions that only an outsider can ask
-taking notes openly
-you can use interview methods to check insights

Question 20

disadvantages- overt

Answer 20

• group may refuse the researcher permission
  -hawthorne effect- Punch study, the amsterdam police only showed him what they wanted him to see

Question 21

covert - practical

Answer 21

reduced the HE- Humphrey ‘taeroom trade’ study
- you may have to recall personal knowledge of the group
- Patrick using cash instead of credit when wearing a suit
-may lead to physical harm if noticed
- cannot take notes openly
- no naive questions or interview
-addition of a group can still lead to the HE

Question 22

ethical issues

Answer 22

-deceit, you need to gain consent and reveal the purpose of the study, even if its afterwards
-lying to leave ( PATRICK)
-immoral/illegal activities in the group
- as a witness they have a legal duty to intervene or report it to the police

Question 23

advantages of PO- VALIDITY

Answer 23

by observing people we obtain rich qualitative data that provides insight

Question 24

INSIGHT

Answer 24

-‘verstehen’ (empathy)
-PO gives this validity and insight
-Allows the researcher to gain personal experience
- by living as a member of the group we gain insight into their way of life, the closeness = uniquely valid authentic data

Question 25

FLEXIBILTY

Answer 25

• participant observation is much more flexible because there is no fixed hypothesis

Question 26

Practical advantages

Question 27

practical disadvantages

Question 28

ethical problems

Question 29

representativeness- disadvantage

Question 30

reliability- disadvantage

Question 31

bias and lack of objectivity

Question 32

validity

Question 33

lack of concept of structure