Observations Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is a participant observations ?
The researcher joins in the activities of the group they are researching
What are the advantages of participant observations ?
Strengths :
Groups are observed in a natural setting , the data is more likely to be a true account of the group’s behaviour (theoretical)
Data generated is rich in detail and offers insight into social behaviour. (Theoretical)
What are the disadvantages of participant observations ?
Being open-ended and subjective research , there is no fixed procedure or standardised system of measurement and cannot be replicated (theoretical)
Most participant observations investigate small-scale groups that are not representative of the wider population (theoretical)
The Hawthorne effect - due to how the observer is likely to effect the group’s behaviour , and the research is at risk of going native , meaning the researcher over-identifies with the group (theoretical)
It is difficult to ensure anonymity of the group (ethical)
There are issues with getting into the group , staying in the group and/or leaving the group (practical+ethical)
What are non participant observations ?
The observer avoids any direct involvement with the research group
What are the advantages of non participant advantages ?
Each observation will be subjective , and therefore the results cannot be repeated (theoretical)
They generally use a small-scale research sample (theoretical)
What are overt observations ?
The researcher explains their research intention to the group, so the research subjects are aware they are being observed.
What are thhe pros of overt observations ?
Less ethical issues than covert because the participants know they’re being researched (ethical)
Higher level of reliability than covert (theoretical)
The observer can openly talk notes (theoretical+practical)
Allows researcher to use interviews as well (practical)
What are the cons of overt observations ?
They can be relatively time-consuming (practical)
Hawthorne effect (theoretical)
Difficult to repeat (theoretical)
Usually small sample size so not representative (theoretical)
What are covet observations ?
The researcher keeps their real identity and purpose secret from research subjects
What are the pros of covert research ?
There is no Hawthorne effect (theoretical)
Find out more in-depth detail about why, who, where and when etc. (theoretical)
What are the cons of covert observations ?
Ethical issues - it is immoral to deceive people (ethical)
Researchers have to gain trust and acceptance and this may be time-consuming (practical)
What is getting in ?
You must first gain access to the group and entry and some are easy whereas others are more difficult.
Making contact - Making contact with the group initially depends on personal skills , having the right connections or pure chance.
Acceptance - To gain entry to a group , the researcher will have to win their trust and acceptance. It may help to make friend with a key individual.
The observer’s role - ‘Getting in” poses the question of what role the researcher should adopt. Ideally , it should : be one that does not disrupt the group’s normal patterns , offer a good vantage point from which to make observations
What is staying in ?
Once accepted , the researcher needs to be able to stay in the group and complete the study. The mai issue is that the researcher has to be both involved in the group so as to understand it fully, and yeet at the same time be detached to remain unbiased and objective. One danger of staying in the group is going native. By over identifying with the group , the researcher becomes biased. When this happens they are no longer objective and become a member of the group. Another danger is that the longer the researcher stay sin the group for too long is that their ways may become normal and less strange. After a hole, important behaviours may not be noted just to the fact that the researcher believes them to be normal
What is getting out ?
Getting out of the group s one of the easier processes compared to staying in and getting out since if the research really wants to they can call a halt and leave the research. Nevertheless, leaving the group that you have become close to becomes more difficult. Re-entering one’s normal life can be difficult. The researcher may also find themselves having loyalty preventing them from disclosing all the information they have learned
