OBSERVATIONS

OBSERVATIONS

1. Involve watching a situation and recording data from what you see.

2. They are usually favoured by interpretivists as they want to study life in a natural setting.

   • They want to experience emotions and a sense of actually being with the people they are studying.

3. This type of research mostly seeks qualitative data.

   • These sociologists are interested in understanding meanings which participants attach to their actions, decisions, beliefs and views.

4. Participant

   • This involves the researcher joining in with the activities of the group being studied.

5. Non-participant

   • When a researcher simply watches a situation or interaction, and collects data from what they see, without interacting with the group being observed.

6. Overt

   • When the participants are aware that they are being observed, therefore they give consent.

7. Covert

   • When the group being observed is unaware that they are being researched, and the researcher has to adopt a cover story to explain their presence in that situation.

8. Venkatesh

   • Gang leader for a day.

9. Willis

   • Learning to labour.

10. Howard- Griffin

    • Black like me.

11. Parker

    • A view from the boys.

12. Humphreys

    • The tea room trade.

13. Wright

    • The impact on children.

14. OFSTED

    • Observations in the classroom.