participant observation

Question 1

what is participant observation

Answer 1

researcher takes part in an event of the everyday life of a group whilst observing it

Question 2

what is covert observation

Answer 2

study is carried out ‘under-cover’ so researcher conceals their identity to the group

Question 3

what is overt observation

Answer 3

researcher makes their true identity and purpose clear to the group

Question 4

what is structured observation

Answer 4

pre-set list of behaviours is made, and ticked off once seen

Question 5

what is unstructured observation

Answer 5

making a note of all possibly relevant behaviours

Question 6

what is ethnography

Answer 6

studying different cultures and societies

Question 7

what is the Hawthorne Effect

Answer 7

individual/ group know they are being observed and change behaviour accordingly

Question 8

what is a gatekeeper

Answer 8

person who controls research access

Question 9

what is a closed setting

Answer 9

social groups that possess limited interaction and strict boundaries with the outside world

Question 10

what is a field diary

Answer 10

keeping a record of observations

Question 11

what is verstehen

Answer 11

developing understanding

Question 12

what is going native

Answer 12

over-identifying with the group, and developing bias towards them

Question 13

example of participant observation

Answer 13

Thornton made friends with a key individual in her study of the clubbing and rave scene

Question 14

why do interpretivists favour unstructured participant observation

Answer 14

• gain insight
• not artificial
• flexible
• looking for all possible factors
• valid data
• gaining insight and verstehen
• building rapport
• joining the group helps to see it from their perspective

Question 15

why do positivists not favour participant observation

Answer 15

• no patterns identified
• not large-enough sample to be representative
• not replicable or reliable
• biased
• missing behaviours not identified

Question 16

advantages of overt participant observation

Answer 16

• participants can give informed consent, and no deception involved
• allows for verstehen and empathy, thus valid understanding of participants’ behaviour
• qualitative data shows a true picture, which provides a rich, detailed, thorough picture of society
• easy to complete a field diary

Question 17

disadvantages of overt participant observation

Answer 17

• the Hawthorne Effect may occur, lowering validity of the data
• can be time-consuming, stressful and demands skill
• lacks representativeness and reliability, as the sample will be small and observation is open to interpretation

Question 18

disadvantages of covert participant observation

Answer 18

• serious ethical issues e.g. deception
• no informed consent of knowledge of the right to withdraw
• debrief at the end would be needed
• lots of skill required e.g. ability to record whilst participating (needs much training)
• personal characteristics may limit who can be studied, as researcher must blend in

Question 19

advantages of covert participant observation

Answer 19

• might be only method possible, when researching specific groups
• no risk of the Hawthorne Effect, as participants unaware they are being studied, increasing validity of data

Question 20

advantages of structured participant observation

Answer 20

• less personal skills needed, as they simply tick off behaviours
• high in reliability, as produces quantitative data, meaning positivists favour

Question 21

disadvantages of structured participant observation

Answer 21

• less flexibility, reducing validity
• to design tally chart requires skill to operationalise concept they are studying

Question 22

advantages of unstructured participant observation

Answer 22

• produces qualitative data favours by interpretivists to be high in validity
• researcher has great flexibility to record any interesting info, rather than focusing on predetermined behaviours
• less prep required

Question 23

disadvantages of unstructured participant observation

Answer 23

• greater skill required during observation
• cannot be replicated, lacking reliability
• not representative

Question 24

practical strengths of participant observation

Answer 24

• if structured, ticking off behaviours is quick and easy, producing reliable data, more objectivity
• if unstructured, flexibility allows for open-mindedness, which can help to form hypothesis

Question 25

ethical strengths of overt participant observation

Answer 25

- no deception - informed consent given - right to withdraw given - less likely to cause harm - researcher not put in illegal situations - privacy and confidentiality kept

Question 26

theoretical strengths of participant observation

Answer 26

- if covert, high in validity, achieve verstehen, favoured by interpretivists, depth given, gaining insight, - if structured, reliability is gained, less validity

Question 27

practical weaknesses of participant observation

Answer 27

- skill required (observational and interpersonal) especially for covert and unstructured - sociologists can become endangered - need to be able to record data whilst participating - time-consuming - personal characteristics restrict groups they can study - gatekeepers and access - issues with going native - covert, getting in, staying in, removing yourself, stressful, relies of memory, need contact, need to gain acceptance and trust

Question 28

ethical weaknesses of covert participant observation

Answer 28

- participants deceived - no informed consent - not made aware of right to withdraw - could cause harm to vulnerable groups - involvement in illegal/ immoral activities - consider reporting on these illegal activities

Question 29

example study of ethical weaknesses of covert participant observation

Answer 29

James Patrick's study of a Glasgow gang: - limited safety and freedom in career as in hiding from illegal groups - possibly taking part in illegal activities, calling for arrest - harm to researcher and informants

Question 30

theoretical weaknesses of overt participant observation

Answer 30

positivists argue they are unreliable, as too subjective and unrepresentative, lacking objectivity, limiting validity as no accuracy - not truly valid if participants are changing behaviours in the Hawthorne Effect - generalisations cannot be made based on a small study - unstructured lead to low reliability, bias, and lack of objectivity