Topic 6: Participant Observations

Question 1

Non-participant Observation

Answer 1

Simply observe group and don’t take part in it

Question 2

Participant Observation

Answer 2

Researcher takes part in event or everyday life of group

Question 3

Overt Observation

Answer 3

Researcher makes true identity and purpose known to the group

Question 4

Covert Observation

Answer 4

Study is carried out ‘under-cover’, researcher takes on a a false identity and role

Question 5

What are the two main issues a researcher faces when conducting a participant observation?

Answer 5

• Getting in (e.g making contact, acceptance and role), staying in (e.g ‘going native’ = over-involved = biased) and getting out
• Using covert or overt observation

Question 6

What are the advantages of overt observation?

Answer 6

• Openly ask questions and take notes
• No ethical problems

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of overt observation?

Answer 7

• Group may refuse the researcher permission
• Hawthorne effect

Question 8

What are the advantages of covert observation?

Answer 8

• Reduce risk of Hawthorne effect

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of covert observation?

Answer 9

• Practical problems:
  o keeping up an act risk cover being blown
  o cannot write down notes
  o cannot ask naive important questions
  o addition of member to group can have hawthorne effect
• Ethical problems:
  o immoral to deceive people to obtain information
  o participate in immoral / illegal acts
  o witness activities which must be reported to police

Question 10

What are the advantages of participant observation?

Answer 10

• Practical:
  o build a rapport good for studying ‘outsider’ groups
  o flexible
  o easier to gain access than interviews
• Theoretical:
  o valid data
  o verstehen

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of participant observation?

Answer 11

• Practical problems:
  o time consuming
  o training, observational and interpersonal skills
  o personal characteristics restrict what groups can be studied e.g age, gender, ethnicity
  o difficult to access
• Ethical problems
• Theoretical problems:
  o not representative, reliable
  o ‘going native’ = over-involved = biased
  o loyalty to group or fear of harm may conceal information
  o may be biased in favour of ‘underdog’
  o structuralist theorists argue it ignores wider structural values

Question 12

What are the advantages of non-participant observation?

Answer 12

• Practical:
  o don’t need to put on an act
  o take notes openly
• Theoretical:
  o unbiased
  o analyse social interactions

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of non-participant observations?

Answer 13

• Practical:
  o time consuming
  o Hawthorne effect
• Theoretical:
  o limit researchers understanding as not involved
  o lack reliability
  o not representative