PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

TYPES OF OBSERV.
1. Non-pariticipant Observ. = the researcher observes the group or event without taking part in it.
2. Participant Observ. = the researcher actually takes part in the event or the everyday life of the group while observing it.
3. Overt Observ. = the researcher reveals their true identity and purpose known to those being studied.
4. Covert Observ. = the researchers real identity is kept concealed from the group being studied. The researcher takes on a false identity and role.
ADV. OF PO
1. THEORETICAL
  1. VALIDITY- higher validity than questionnaires.Observing allows researcher to gain a true picture of how the group really live .
  2. INSIGHT- PO allows the researcher to gain insight and verstehen (German word for empathy) into the groups way of life through personal experience.
  3. FLEXIBILITY- doesn't have set questions,like questionnaires. Allows researcher to enter the situation with an open mind of what they will find out
2. PRACTICAL
  1. Good method to study groups that society see as deviant.E.G.a teenage gang would expect researchers who come asking questions.
  2. The ability to build a rapport and gain trust makes it a successful method for studying outsider groups E.G. thieves, drug users etc
  3. Good method in situations where questioning is ineffective E.G. racism
DIS ADV. OF PO
1. PRACTICAL
  1. Time consuming.
  2. Requires observational and impersonal skills and personal characteristics depending on the study that not everyone posses.
2. ETHICAL
  1. COVERT Participant observation can be accused of deceiving people in order to obtain information.
  2. Some sociologists may result in participating in illegal or immoral activities during their search. E.G. whilst participating in a study of thieves.
  3. IINFORMED CONSENT- research participants should be offered the right to refuse. They should aslso be fully informed about the aspects of the research
3. THEORETICAL
  1. REPRESENTATIVENESS- PO are of a small sample and is often selected by a chance encounter. This does not provide a basis for making generalisations
  2. RELIABILITY- it isn't possible for the observation to be repeated exactly the same,or even similarly, as the original one because it is not structured
  3. 'Going Native' = becoming over-involved with the group and loosing your objectivity.
  4. VALIDITY- positivists argue that the findings are merely biased impressions of the observer.
THE HAWTHORNE EFFECT= when the subjects of a research know they are being studied and change their behaviour as a result, undermining the validity

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PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

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