Presentation 10- Observational Techniques Flashcards
Observational Techniques-participant observation
Participant observation is a method in which the researcher is a part of and participates in the activities of the group, people or situation that is being studied.
This is one observational technique which involves the collection of data through direct visual or auditory experience of behaviour.
Observational technique-Observer role
In observational research and especially with participant observation the researcher participant relationship becomes more problematic in that it can take a number of different forms.
A participant observer is a part of the activities being studied and so is in a position to influence the direction of those activities.
The problem of the degree of intervention is often referred to as a question of whether the researcher is first and foremost a participant or an observer
The operations of participant observation
Those who would emphasise the importance of the participation of the observer argued that the investigator plays two roles that of Scientist and that of Group Members.
In order to comprehend fully the activities of the group and the dynamics of the situation the researcher must become fully involved in the group.
If this does not happen group members may not confide in the researcher or he or she may not become aware of the meanings that various actions and objects have for the group.
Issues of participation observation
In order to be fully involved the researcher must act like any other group member and this means intervening in those situations in which other group members might do so.
On the other side of the issue those who exercise observation, over participation argues that the more fully one becomes a group member the less objective one becomes.
The second critical issue in the researcher participant relationship is both practical and ethical. The question is to what extent the people studied should be informed of the investigators researcher’s purposes.
Some researchers take the position that concealment is sometimes necessary in order to conduct scientific work and that researchers must judge whether the scientific gain justifies the deception of human beings and any potential injury, social or psychological they might suffer
three distinct observer roles that can emerge depending on how the issue of observer influence and informed consent are resolved:-
- Complete participation
- Participant as observer
- Observer Participant
The major distinguishing feature of the complete participant role is that the observer status as observer is not revealed to those who are being studied.
The Participant as Observer Role differs from the complete participant’s role in that the researcher’s status as observer is revealed to those who are being studied.
In this role the observer enters a group and participates in their routines but is known to be doing so for research purposes.
Observer participant
This role is similar to the participant as observer in that the observer’s true status is known to those being studied but differs with regard to the length of time the observer spends with the group. The participant as observer role assumes a lengthy period of observation.
The observer as participant role involves brief contact with the group being studied, possibly as short as one day.
The brief contact tends to prelude the deep insightful results that characterise studies utilising the two previous roles.
The observer as participant role is likely to generate more shallow, superficial results.
In fact the brief contact that characterises this role may lead the observer to misunderstand aspects of the group being studied.
Because of these problems the observer as participant role has been less popular for conducting serious social / psychological research
Step 1 and 2 in participant observation research
STEP ONE
The first step is to establish specific goals of the research and to decide that participant observation is the most appropriate research strategy. If you are trying to gain a comprehensive understanding of the values. Perceptions and other subjective elements of a particular group or subculture, then participant observation may well be the most appropriate mode of attack.
Step two is to decide which specific group to study. If you are interested in ex mental patients living in residential centers, with which groups of people will you be involved? One way this issue is commonly decided is simply by the accessibility of the group. But representativeness may also be considered.
Step 3 in participant observation research
Step three is very challenging, gaining entry into the group to be studied. In the complete participant role, this step may be less of a problem because the people do not know they are being studied. However you must be sufficiently like those studied to gain access.
In the other participant roles, however you must find some way to convince the people to agree to accept your involvement as a researcher. Several methods increase the likelihood that people will cooperate. One way is to gain the cooperation of those with more status and power in the group ad use your relationship with them to gain access to others. Example it would be best to approach the directors of a mental health centre and enlist their aid before contacting caseworkers and ward staff.
pt 2 of step 3 in participant observation research
Another way to increase cooperation is to present your reasons for conducting the research to people in a way that seems plausible to them and makes sense in their frame of reference.
Abstract scientific goals are unlikely to be very appealing to an agency director or to a single parent struggling on welfare. You should emphasize that your major concern is understanding their thoughts and behaviours as legitimate, acceptable and appropriate.
Nothing will close doors faster than the hint that you intend to evaluate the group. The door of a welfare recipient may be opened if you tell him or her you are studying the difficulties confronting parents on welfare. It will surely be slammed if you say you want to separate the “good” welfare recipients from the “bad”.
pt 3 of step 3 in participant observation
Cooperation is also enhanced if you have some means of ligitimizing yourself as a researcher.
This might be done through an affiliation with a university that supports your study of an agency that has an interest in the research.
Such ligitimization could backfire if the group you hope to study is suspicious of or hostile toward the organisation with which you are affiliated.
Finally it maybe necessary to use informants to gain entry into some groups.
An informant is an insider who can introduce you to others in the group, ease your acceptance into the group and help you interpret how the group views the world.
Especially with informal subcultures, the informant technique can be a valuable approach.
Step 4 in participant observation
The fourth step in participant observation is to develop rapport and trust with the people being studied so that they will serve as useful and accurate sources of information.
This can be time consuming, trying and traumatic.
It is a problem with which the human service profession can readily identify..
The community organiser attempting to gain the trust of migrant workers, the substance abuse worker dealing with a narcotics addict, and the child welfare worker running a group home for girls can attest to the importance of establishing rapport.
pt 2 in step 4 of participant observation
Although the human services worker can express a sincere desire to help as a means of establishing rapport, the researcher cannot always employ this approach because the researcher’s goals may not include the provision of such help.
In the initial stages of the research , people are likely to be distant if not outright distrustful.
You are likely to make errors and social gaffes that offend the people that you have joined.
More than one participant observation effort has had to be curtailed because the investigator inadvertently alienated the people being studied.
Fifth step in participant observation
The fifth step in participant observation is to observe and record. This can only truly begin once you have established sufficient rapport to ensure that you are gathering useful data.
Elements in developing rapport
1.If the group members view the researcher as a nice person who will not harm them.
2. If the investigator shows through behaviour that he or she agrees with, or at least have some sympathy for, the perspective of the people being studied.
3. If you join your field contacts in some of their routine activities, such as drinking beers or playing cards, they are likely to view you as one who accepts them and can be trusted.
4. Finally rapport can be enhanced if the relationship between investigator and group members is reciprocal, that is both the observer and the group members have something that the other needs and wants.
Example you may gain scientific data from your informants while they in turn, hope to gain some publicity and attendant public concern from the publication of your results.
Unobtrusive observation
Unobtrusive or non-reactive observation are studies where those understudy (before research) are not aware that they are being studied and the investigator does not change their behaviour by his or her presence.
Unobtrusive Observation can take a number of forms:-
Hidden observation.
Disguised observation.
Physical traces.
