Qualitative Research Methods: Overt Observation - Mac an Ghaill Flashcards
Which group of people did Mac an Ghaill use for their research?
Young people from non-white subcultures
How many groups of non-white young people did Mac an Ghaill research?
3
What were the names of the 3 groups?
‘Rasta Heads’, ‘Asian Warriors’, ‘Black Sisters’
What was Mac an Ghaill looking to understand?
The nature of different educational achievement between ethnic groups
What did Mac an Ghaill conclude with the Rasta Heads?
They were anti-schools and led to the identification of racism rather than students being the main problem
How immersed did Mac an Ghaill get in the lives of his participants?
He would go to their homes and eat with them and dance to their music with them
What was a theoretical strength of Mac an Ghaill being heavily immersed in his participants’ lives?
The research would be more valid as Mac an Ghaill was breaking down the barrier between the researcher and the participant
What was a theoretical weakness with the study?
Objectivity
Why was Objectivity a theoretical weakness in this study?
Because Mac an Ghaill had spent a lot of time with them, he could have eventually liked them which could have affected his research
Is Mac an Ghaill more than one person?
No
