Research Methods- Observations

Question 1

What’s the researcher’s role in observations?

Answer 1

Researcher sitting and observing an activity. They are a detached over looker.

Question 2

What do observations appeal to? Why?

Answer 2

Positivists because they like to use a scientific method that produces facts and quantitative data.

Question 3

What is a positive of the researcher being detached and objective?

Answer 3

Less likely to be biased.

Question 4

What is a negative of the researcher being detached and objective?

Answer 4

Can cause ‘artificial behaviour’, with people feeling threatened by researcher.

Question 5

Define a Participant Observation.

Answer 5

Sociologist putting them self in the life style of the group. They join in with activities, and share their experiences.

Question 6

What are Participant Observations used by?

Answer 6

Ethnographers.

Question 7

What are the two types of participant observations?

Answer 7

1. Overt
2. Covert

Question 8

Define an Overt Participant Observation.

Answer 8

Researcher joins in activities but people involved know the researcher is a sociologist.

Question 9

Define a Covert Participant Observation.

Answer 9

Sociologist puts them self in a group and hides the fact that they are doing research.

Question 10

What are Covert Participant Observations often dependent on?

Answer 10

A gatekeeper.

Question 11

What are Covert Participant Observations shaped by?

Answer 11

Social characteristics. (age, gender, class, ethnicity…)

Question 12

Once inside a group, what is important for the researcher to do?

Answer 12

• focus on looking and listening. (shouldn’t force place in group)
• Must maintain balance between getting close to the group and keeping a professional role.
• act naïve (Feilding) so the group will explain
• show interest, may establish rapport (Marvasti)

Question 13

Name 3 strengths of participant observations.

Answer 13

• See things through eyes of group, verstehen and empathy established. (Validity)
• Build a rapport/relationships, generates meanings and experiences.
• Take place over time so allows understanding of a change in behaviour.
• May be only practical way of getting into groups.

Question 14

What do Interpretivists say about participant observations?

Answer 14

What people say and do can be very different. Sociologists can see the truth.

Question 15

Name 3 weaknesses of participant observations.

Answer 15

• observer effect (covert observations may lead to respondents acting unnatural).
• If too close, may risk bias and loose objectivity
• Micro studies, may not reflect wider society
• can put researchers in great danger.

Question 16

What are 2 practical difficulties with observations?

Answer 16

• long, take dedication, acting ability and are expensive.
• Recording observations/convos may be difficult. If covert observation, writing things down may cause suspicion.

Question 17

Why do Positivists disapprove?

Answer 17

• Reliability, no way of knowing if findings are true.
• Representativeness is lacking as group being observed is usually too small.