Participant Observation Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is non participant observation?
The researcher observes the group or event without taking part. The sociologist is open about what they are doing
What is participant observation?
The researcher takes part in the group
What is overt observation?
Their true identity and purpose is known to those being studied
What is covert observation?
‘Under cover’. Their real identity and purpose are kept concealed. False identity, usually posing as a genuine member of the group.
What is GISIGO
Getting in, staying in, getting out
Making contact
May depend on personal, the right connections, or even chance. James Patrick was able to join a Glasgow gang because he looked young and had taught one of the members
Acceptance
To gain entry they must win their trust and acceptance. Griffin tanned his skin to research racism in the Deep South
What is the observer’s role?
Do not disrupt the groups normal patterns
Offer a good vantage point from which to make observations
What is going native?
By over identifying the researcher becomes biased. They may have stopped being an observer and become a member of the group. Eg Jock Young labelling Notting Hill smoking weed
Getting out
James Patrick found the gang violence too much and abandoned the study abruptly. Hard to re enter normal life. Loyalty may prevent them from disclosing all that they have discovered
What are the advantages of overt observations?
Avoids ethical problem of obtaining information by deceit and, when studying deviant groups, that of being expected to join in their activities
Allows the observer to ask naive questions
The observer can take notes openly
What are the two major disadvantages of overt observation?
A group may refuse the researcher permission- may prevent from seeing everything.
It risks creating the Hawthorne effect which reduces validity
What are the practical issues of covert observation?
Advantage- reduces risk of altering people’s behaviour
Disadvantage- requires them to keep up an act. May lead to physical harm if if they are found out if it is a criminal group
Cannot take notes openly so must rely on memory
Cannot ask naive questions
What are the ethical issues of covert observation?
Immoral to deceive people. No consent can be gained.
Some may lie or leave the group without explanation like Patrick which is unethical
They may participate in immoral or illegal activities
Witnesses to such activities
What are the advantages of participant observation?
Valid
Best way to get a true understanding or verstehen
Very flexible- Whyte ‘I learned answers to questions that I would not have the sense to ask’
What are the disadvantages of using participant observation?
Practical -
Time consuming
Researcher needs to be trained
Personally stressful and demanding if it is covert
Requires observational and interpersonal skills that not everyone posses
Many may not wish to be studied so access is difficult
Ethical-
Deceiving people and getting involved in immoral activities
Not representative
Unreliable - qualitative and unique
Studies lack objectivity - going native, loyalty, sympathises the underdog eg Paul Willis romanticising
What are the practical issues of structured non participant observation?
Can be quantifiable - FIAC pupil and teacher interaction
Quick
Cheap
Require less training
Are structured observations like FIAC reliable?
Yes, easy to apply in a standardised way
Are structured observations valid?
Criticised for its lack of validity because making it quantifiable ignores meanings
What kind of observations do interpretivists favour?
Less structured, more flexible qualitative methods. Does not have assumptions.
What are the practical issues with unstructured observation?
Schools are time consuming and complex
Easier to gain permission to observe rather than interview
Limited by school timetable, holidays, Health and safety etc
Busy place so it is hard to covertly make notes
What are the ethical issues with unstructured observations?
Vulnerable people mean that a covert approach is not appropriate.
‘Guilty knowledge’ teacher is obliged to report the wrongdoing but it also breaks the trust that pupils have so they will no longer cooperate or confide
Are unstructured observations valid?
Yes, main strength for interpretivists.
However they may create a false image with the observer
Teachers might be skilled at disguising their feelings and altering their behaviour when being observed
There may be language differences between pupil and observer
Hawthorne effect in unstructured observations
Hard to carry out covert observations in classrooms because you can’t blend in so it means there may be the Hawthorne effect
