Participant Obervation Flashcards
1
Q
What is participant observation
A
- when the researcher actually takes part in an event or everyday life of the group whilst observing
2
Q
What are the 2 main issues faced when conducting a participant observation
A
- getting in, starting in and getting out
- whether to use over or covert observation
3
Q
Getting in
A
- to be able to study you must gain entry
4
Q
Making contact:
A
- making contact with the group depend on personal skills
- NED POLSKY: used his good pool skills gaining entry to the world of the poolroom hustler
5
Q
Acceptance:
A
- to gain entry to the group the researcher will have to win their trust and acceptance
- age, sex, class or ethnicity may be an obstacle
- GRIFFIN: used medication to change his skin colour and to pass as a black man in the Deep South of USA to experience impact of white racism
6
Q
Observers role:
A
- it is the role of the researcher that the researcher should adopt
- be one that doesn’t distrust that groups normal routine
- offer a good vantage point from which to make observation
7
Q
Staying in
A
- once accepted the researcher needs to be able to stay in the group and compete the study
- there can be a key problem where the researcher is involved to understand but be detached to remain objective and unbiased
8
Q
‘Going native’
A
- when becoming too involved or going native which will lead the researcher ever to become biased
- when this happens the researched stops being an objective observer and became part of the group
- PUNCH study of Amsterdam police:
- he started over identifying himself as a police (holding suspects, searching houses, cars etc)
- the more time they spend in he group the less strange it is
9
Q
Getting out
A
- re entering ones normal world can be difficult
- WHYTE: found it difficult to return to Harvard after studying a gang so he was unable to communicate
- loyalty prevents them from fully disclosing everything they have learnt due to fear that this might harm members of the group
- E.G. gang members could have prosecution
10
Q
Overt observation
A
- when the researcher reveals his or her true identity and purpose to the group and asks their permission to observe
11
Q
Advantages of overt observation
A
- avoids ethical problem of obtaining information by lying
- allows observer to ask the kind of naive but important that only an outsider could ask
- take notes openly
- use interview methods to check insights for observation
12
Q
Disadvantages of overt observation
A
- a group can refuse the researcher permission to observe them
- it risks creating the Hawthorne Effect
13
Q
Covert observation
A
- the study is carried out under cover
- the researchers real identity and purpose are kept concealed
- they take on false identity and role (as a genuine member of the group)
14
Q
Disadvantages of cover observation
A
- requires to keep an act and need detailed knowledge of the groups way of life even joining it
- can’t take notes openly and must rely on memory and opportunity to write them in secret
- it’s immoral to deceive people whilst obtaining information by pretending to be their friend
- they might have to participate in illegal activities to cover their role
15
Q
Advantages of participant observation
A
- by observing we obtain rich eyal qualitative data that provides a genuine picture
- gives us insight and ‘verstehen’ (empathy) due to rapport with the group and gain trust
- it’s flexible since they need to enter with an open mind as new situations will develop new explanations
- being open minded allow discovery to other things that other methods may miss
