observations

Question 1

what are the 4 types of observations?

Answer 1

participant
non participant
covert
overt

Question 2

define participant observation:

Answer 2

researcher joins community/group participating in the activities over a period of time and try to become accepted

Question 3

define non participant observation:

Answer 3

researcher observes the group without taking part
often don’t know they are being studied but allows a natural setting without Hawthorne Effect

Question 4

define covert observation:

Answer 4

study carried out undercover’ where researchers identity is concealed
researcher usually takes part in the group with a false identity

Question 5

define overt observation:

Answer 5

researcher makes their true purpose known to the group and is open about the research

Question 6

AO3 - Whyte

Answer 6

actual research doesn’t necessarily fit in a specific type of observation

Whyte did a semi-covert study

he revealed his real purpose to a key member of the group but not others

Question 7

what are the 3 stages of participant observation?

Answer 7

getting in
staying in
getting out

Question 8

explain ‘getting in’ in participant observations:

Answer 8

need to gain entry
can depend on personal skills

need to be accepted e.g gender, ethnicity, age

shouldn’t disrupt groups normal patterns

Question 9

Griffin- Black Like Me study

Answer 9

in order to be accepted into a group for participant observation he used medication and sun lamps to change his skin colour whilst studying white racism in the USA

Question 10

explain ‘staying in’ in a participant observation:

Answer 10

need to be fully involved in the group

‘go native’ to get in the group

can cause bias if researcher over identifies with the group/actions become normalised

Question 11

Punch- ‘staying in’ a participant observation

Answer 11

whilst trying to be accepted into Amsterdam police he was observing he found himself acting as a ‘policeman’ himself -chasing and holding suspects and searching houses/people

Question 12

explain ‘getting out’ in a participant observation:

Answer 12

can have issues when trying not to harm relationships and being able to become detached enough

some researchers may feel as though they can’t disclose information due to loyalty especially criminals where they can be arrested

Question 13

Patrick- ‘getting out’ in a participant observation:

Answer 13

whilst covertly researching a Glasgow gang Patrick was so disturbed by the violence that he abandoned the study immediately

Question 14

advantages of overt observations:
(4)

Answer 14

avoids ethical problems

allows researcher to ask naive but important questions

researcher can take notes openly

can combine observation with interview methods

Question 15

disadvantages of overt observations:

Answer 15

a group could refuse to let the researcher observe them

risk having the Hawthorne Effect

Question 16

Punch - disadvantages of overt observations:

Answer 16

once Punch had finished his study with the Amsterdam Police they told him ‘they only let them see what they wanted him to’

Question 17

practical advantages of covert observations:
(1)

Answer 17

reduces the risk of people altering their behaviour

Question 18

practical disadvantages of covert observations:
(4)

Answer 18

risk of someones cover being blown as they need some information before joining the group

can’t openly take notes

can’t combine other research methods

although it reduces Hawthorne Effect the addition of a new member can alter behaviour

Question 19

Patrick - practical disadvantage of covert observation

Answer 19

almost found out when he bought his suit with cash instead of credit
when he fastened his middle button of his jacket instead of the top one (which the gangs would never do)

Question 20

Ditton - practical disadvantage of covert observation

Answer 20

studied theft among bread deliverymen and had to use the toilets to record his observations which aroused suspicion

Question 21

ethical issues of covert observations:

Answer 21

deceit

unethical to simply leave the group

researcher may have to do immoral/illegal activities

observer may have moral or legal obligation or duty to report them to the police

Question 22

practical strengths of participant observations:
(3)

Answer 22

flexible

may be the only way to study certain groups e.g gangs

gives insight (verstehen) to understand their situation

Question 23

ethical strengths of participant observations:
(1)

Answer 23

can build a rapport with participants

Question 24

theoretical strengths of participant observations:
(1)

Answer 24

validity as a relationship is formed so get the truth and can provide qualitative data

Question 25

practical disadvantages of participant observations: (4)

Answer 25

very time consuming researcher needs to be trained to recognise aspects of the situation personal characteristics can restrict the kinds of groups that can be studied bias because it can cause lack of objectivity over time

Question 26

ethical disadvantages of participant observations (2)

Answer 26

deception participating in immoral/illegal activities

Question 27

theoretical disadvantages of participant observations (3)

Answer 27

representativeness-usually small sample size reliability- unlikely an investigator can replicate the skills of another investigator some argue it isn’t valid as it can be subjective due to researcher bias and there can be a Hawthorne Effect

Question 28

Whyte - theoretical disadvantage of participant observations

Answer 28

whilst studying ‘Street Corner Society’ Whyte admitted his presence in the group may have changed the individuals behaviour